RetailIN

Meesho Layoffs

April 2020

Meesho announced a layoff affecting 200 employees (28% of its workforce) in April 2020. The company operates in the Retail sector.

People Affected

200

Percentage

28%

Announced Date

Apr 8, 2020

About

In April 2020, the social commerce startup Meesho laid off over 200 employees, representing more than 28% of its then 700-strong workforce. This drastic measure was a direct response to the severe business decline caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown in India, which halted sales of non-essential items. The layoffs, advised by investors, primarily affected key account managers responsible for vendor onboarding, as well as staff in customer support, operations, and marketing. The company aimed to convert fixed salary costs into variable expenses by outsourcing vendor acquisition. Additionally, Meesho was considering significant salary cuts for senior employees to navigate the financial crisis, highlighting the pandemic's severe impact on the e-commerce and social commerce industry.