Pinterest CEO Bill Ready just fired a group of engineers who built an internal tool to track layoffs at the company, escalating tensions during what he calls a "critical moment" for the visual search platform. The terminations came days after Pinterest announced it would cut less than 15% of its workforce to fund its AI pivot, according to audio obtained by CNBC. The move reveals how quickly workplace transparency efforts can clash with executive authority during tech's latest restructuring wave.
Pinterest CEO Bill Ready didn't mince words when he addressed the company last Friday. Several engineers had just been shown the door for building an internal software tool to monitor layoffs, and Ready wanted everyone to understand why.
"Healthy debate and dissent are expected, that's how we make our decisions," Ready told staffers during a companywide meeting, according to audio obtained by CNBC. "But there's a clear line between constructive debate and behavior that's obstructionist."
The drama started on January 27, when Pinterest announced it would lay off less than 15% of its workforce and slash office space as part of a broader restructuring. The goal: redirect resources toward artificial intelligence projects that leadership believes are essential for survival. The company expects the cuts to wrap up by September's end.
But the announcement left employees with more questions than answers. At a follow-up meeting, Pinterest's technology chief tried to address concerns. Staffers wanted specifics - which teams were getting hit, whether more cuts were coming. According to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity, leadership offered little clarity.
That's when several Pinterest engineers took matters into their own hands. They built an internal tool to quantify and track the layoffs themselves, attempting to create the transparency they felt was missing. fired them on Friday. It's still unclear exactly how many employees lost their jobs for the effort.
