Stellantis Layoffs: Mandatory WFH Day Turns Into Layoff Shock for 400 Employees

According to the report, the Atuo company notified its employees on Thursday, "We will be holding important operational meetings that require specific attention and participation"

Stellantis, the Italian-American automaker, has recently cut over 400 positions across its engineering, software, and technology divisions in the United States. However, it is not the layoff that has caught everyone's attention; it is the way in which employees were fired that has drawn attention. As reported by Fortune magazine, Stellantis implemented a mandatory remote work day on Friday, March 22, coinciding with the timing of the workforce reduction process.

According to the report, the Atuo company notified its employees on Thursday, "We will be holding important operational meetings that require specific attention and participation.”

The notice added, “To ensure everyone can effectively participate, we have decided to implement a mandatory remote work day.” White-collar employees who participated in the remote call were informed that their employment was being terminated.

“It was a mass firing of everybody that was on the call," stated a mechanical engineer who was among those laid off during the meeting, as reported to Fox News. The engineer indicated that Stellantis is shifting jobs overseas, particularly to India, Mexico, and Brazil.

“So they continue to push low-cost countries that are more efficient for the company and more profitable,” he added.

The automaker, which includes brands such as Jeep, informed the Wall Street Journal that employees affected by the layoffs have been provided with a comprehensive separation package and support for transitioning. The firm said in a statement, “As the auto industry continues to face unprecedented uncertainties and heightened competitive pressures around the world, Stellantis continues to make the appropriate structural decisions across the enterprise to improve efficiency and optimise our cost structure.”

The recent layoffs at Stellantis have brought renewed attention to the ongoing debate surrounding the proper etiquette and protocol for handling layoffs. In recent months, much discussion and scrutiny has been regarding the most appropriate methods for companies to communicate negative news to their employees.

In 2022, amidst Elon Musk's acquisition of X (formerly Twitter), numerous employees found out about their job losses when they were unable to access their work email accounts.