Canva restructure affects 1,271 roles, 22% of its workforce, through job cuts, relocations and role changes

Canva, the Australian-founded design platform, announced a restructure on Wednesday 4 November affecting 1,271 people, or 22% of its global workforce. This report draws on ABC News, BBC News and the Guardian. ## What Canva announced In an email to staff, co-founder and chief executive Melanie Perkins said the affected staff would either lose their jobs, be asked to relocate to centralised hubs or change roles, the BBC and the Guardian report. She did not specify how many jobs would be cut, the Guardian reports. Perkins called it "without doubt the hardest moment in our thirteen-year history" and said the company's growth had slowed "for the first time in a decade". "Sadly, it will also mean saying goodbye to teammates and friends who have helped build Canva into what it is today," she wrote. Sydney will become the primary home for more of Canva's product teams, and from January most hybrid staff are expected to spend two to three days a week in the office, ABC News and the BBC report. The company, which has staff in 37 countries, did not mention artificial intelligence in the announcement, ABC News and the Guardian report. ## Support for departing staff Canva announced that departing employees will receive at least six months' salary and, in countries where staff receive the benefit, a further 12 months of healthcare cover, the Guardian reports. They can also apply for US$10,000 grants to start a business or pursue a community project, ABC News and the Guardian report. ## Context Backers Blackbird Ventures and Airtree reportedly cut their valuation of Canva from A$60 billion to about A$49 billion earlier this year, the BBC reports. Atlassian cut 1,600 jobs earlier this year, ABC News and the Guardian report.