Byju’s Lays Off 500 Workers at WhiteHat Jr, Toppr: Details

Edtech main Byju’s on Thursday stated that lower than 500 folks have been laid off at WhiteHat Jr and Toppr, however sacked staff have claimed that 1100 workers had been retrenched at Toppr alone.

The layoff at Toppr comes alongside Byju’s group agency WhiteHat Jr retrenching 300 staff along with the resignation of 250 staff from the corporate in April-May.

“To recalibrate our business priorities and accelerate our long-term growth, we are optimising our teams across our group companies. This entire exercise involves less than 500 employees from across Byju’s group companies,” Byju’s spokesperson stated.

Toppr’s sacked staff stated that they received a name from the corporate on Monday and had been requested to resign, failing which they are going to be terminated with none discover interval.

“I am part of the Chemistry subject matter expert. My entire team has been laid off. Toppr has promised 1 month’s salary for those who resign and no salary for those who don’t. Around 1100 people have been laid off at Toppr,” a Toppr worker, who didn’t want to be named, instructed PTI.

A question to Toppr co-founder Zeeshan Hayath on his WhatsApp didn’t elicit any response.

When contacted, WhiteHat Jr spokesperson stated that the choice has been taken to realign enterprise priorities and speed up outcomes with a deal with long-term development.

“As part of our back-to-work drive, most of our sales and support employees have been asked to report to Gurgaon and Mumbai offices from April 18. We have made exceptions for medical and personal exigencies and have offered relocation assistance as required.

“Our academics will proceed to make money working from home. We proceed to spend money on creating related curriculum for college kids and construct a robust instructor group with excessive recruitment and coaching requirements,” WhiteHat Jr spokesperson said.

Byju’s acquired Toppr for about $150 million (roughly Rs. 120 crore) in July last year.

Another employee, who has been laid off by Toppr, said that earlier this year everyone was assured by the top management, including Hayath, that there is a high growth opportunity for the employees in the company.

“However, we have now been getting some indication about low enterprise after offline courses resumed throughout the nation. I’ve labored at WhiteHat Jr additionally. Online schooling is unable to match offline class,” the employee added.

Edtech firms Unacademy, Vedantu, Lido, Frontrow etc have cumulatively laid off thousands of people this year.