Recruiter Indeed expected to cut as many as 70 jobs in Ireland

As many as 70 jobs are expected to go from the Irish unit of Indeed as the online recruiter prepares to cut around 8 per cent of its global workforce.

In a message to staff on Tuesday, seen by The Irish Times, Indeed told staff that about 175 employees will be involved in the consultation process initially. The US company anticipates between 60 and 70 workers will then be called to an individual consultation with management over their future with the company in June.

In line with its statutory obligations Indeed notified Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke of its plans on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the department said. “The department received a collective redundancy notification in relation to potential redundancies at Indeed on May 14th. Any further queries should be directed to the company.”

The department did not comment on the number of jobs cuts Indeed is targeting but it is understood to be in line with the message sent to staff.

An Indeed spokesman declined to comment.

Indeed’s client success department is likely to be the most impacted, sources with knowledge of the decision have said. Sales roles, particularly at the sales director level – a middle management position within the organisation – are also expected to be shed, along with corporate function roles in areas like finance.

The broad-based nature of the cuts would seem to tally with Indeed chief executive Chris Hyams’ statement on Monday, setting out the reasoning for the decision to reduce its global workforce by around 1,000.

Mr Hyams said cuts made last year had been due were mostly to a subdued hiring market globally. He said while the global outlook has improved the business is not yet set up for sustainable success and “is still too complex” with “significant duplication of effort and too many organisational layers” slowing decision-making.

Among other things he said Indeed would “significantly” restructure its R&D team, and would be eliminating most of the sales roles at its Foster City, California, offices.

The Financial Services Union (FSU), which represents some of the 1,000 Indeed workers based at its European headquarters on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay in Dublin and on St Stephen’s Green, met members on Tuesday to discuss their next steps.

“We have met members affected today who are rightly shocked and angered by this announcement,” said Gareth Murphy, head of industrial relations at the FSU. “There was no indication this was coming, and in fact the company has been very positive about its performance and financials in recent weeks.”

Mr Murphy said the FSU has now written to Indeed asking it to engage with and respect a Labour Court recommendation from last year. Kevin Foley, Labour Court chairman, said last May Indeed “should engage constructively to address matters raised by the workers through their trade union” in any future rounds of redundancies at the Irish arm.

The recommendation came off the back of a complaint by the FSU over the US group’s handling of job cuts and the severance packages offered to staff.

“Our members are asking for a voluntary-led process to try to avoid compulsory redundancies and for improved redundancy terms from last year,” Mr Murphy said.

The 30-day consultation period is due to begin next week.