A 10-year Uber veteran who rose from a rideshare driver to a corporate role shared a moving reflection after being caught in the company’s 10% mass layoffs. Finding out via a 4 AM email, he recalled his decade-long journey and urged impacted colleagues to stay hopeful.
The individual continued that he was impacted by the mass layoffs at Uber,, which reduced the workforce by 10%. For the last 10+ years that I have been with Uber, I have often said if I had my way I would never work for another company, that I believe in the people, the mission, the product, and the vision. However, 18 months after joining, his position was downsized, and he shifted to another team. Then, on Nov 12, 2018, my birthday of all days, I was laid off in Lightspeed (for those of you who were here and remember). I was 6500 miles from home with minimal support structure, but I was able to scramble and find a role on a fledgling compliance team.
It appears, unfortunately, that I will not get to have my way. Soon after, he shifted to working in the corporate offices after the team running the Eats business in Seattle at that time liked some of his suggestions. The man recalled, “Uber sent me on my first international trip ever (didn’t even have a passport!). A panic attack on the plane, and a rough first week, but soon I was making friends that I still visit to this day. That team was GSAT, which became GOC, which is now ECAS. He continued his work with the new team but was unfortunately impacted by the recent layoffs at the company. I’ll miss all of you still there, and wish you all the best.”
“Today was unfortunately my last day at Uber (unless I can find something on another team). “To my fellow former Uber employees impacted today, be proud of what we built, this is just business, it’s not personal, and we’ll all find a path. The sun will rise tomorrow, as rough as today was.
