Canva is restructuring its global workforce, affecting 1,271 employees or 22% of its staff, as the Australian design platform responds to slowing growth and changes in the technology industry.
Co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins announced the changes in a November 3 message to employees, describing the move as the most difficult moment in the company's 13-year history.
The restructuring will involve job cuts, changes to existing roles and the relocation of some employees to centralized hubs. Canva has not disclosed how many workers will lose their jobs or how the affected positions are distributed across countries.
Slowing Growth Prompts Organizational Changes
Perkins said Canva's growth had slowed for the first time in a decade, adding that smaller adjustments would not be enough to prepare the company for its next phase.
She also cited new technology that is changing how people create and use digital products, although her announcement did not explicitly mention artificial intelligence.
Canva will combine its Product, Growth and Platform teams into a single Product Organization, reduce management layers and consolidate specialized roles into broader responsibilities.
Sydney will also become the primary base for more product teams. Starting January, most employees under hybrid arrangements are expected to work in the office two to three days a week, depending on their locations.
Support Package For Departing Employees
Canva said employees leaving under the restructuring will receive at least six months' salary, inclusive of statutory entitlements, regardless of their location.
The support package also includes 12 months of healthcare coverage in countries where the company currently provides it, continued access to its employee assistance program, career coaching, interview preparation and one year of LinkedIn Premium.
Departing employees may also keep their company-issued MacBooks, while those who joined within the past year will have their one-year vesting cliff removed.
Canva is also establishing a Collective Fund offering US$10,000 grants to departing employees interested in starting businesses or community projects. Applications for the grants will remain open until December 14.
Philippine Workforce Awaits Details
The Philippines is one of Canva's major global operations. The company's careers website lists more than 1,000 employees in the country, with Manila serving as its first office outside Australia since 2014.
Customer Happiness is its largest Philippine team, alongside employees in design, sales, people operations and other functions.
However, Canva has yet to disclose how many Filipino employees will be affected by the restructuring.
