3 Jun 2025
commercetools Response
1yWe’re genuinely sorry to hear that your experience didn’t reflect the culture we work hard to foster. We know no company gets everything right for everyone, and we take feedback seriously even when it’s tough to read.
That said, we’d like to clarify a few points so others reading this get an accurate picture. While layoffs are always painful — and we fully understand the frustration they cause — they’ve only happened twice in our 10 year history. The most recent one did not impact 100 people. It was communicated transparently across multiple internal channels, including a company-wide All Hands, a live AMA with our executive team, and follow-up sessions with individual leaders for each org.
Let’s face it: layoffs are a particularly awful experience, no matter the context. But in both cases, we’ve been upfront about the reasons and created space for people to ask questions anonymously or directly.
On remote work: commercetools has always been a hybrid company. After significant growth in 2021, we began hearing more from employees who felt disconnected and wanted more in-person time with their teams. Based on that feedback, we introduced a three-day office cadence for those living near hubs. This was not to be more “family-like,” but to be a stronger global team. That decision reflects input from hundreds of people with different needs, working styles, and levels of experience. And while it’s a more structured approach, we haven’t stepped away from the flexibility we’re known for. For example, if someone is navigating health needs, school commitments, or other life circumstances, we continue to make accommodations just as we always have.
We may not always get the tone or timing perfect, but we never try to sugarcoat hard moments or push a narrative that doesn’t match reality. We’ll keep showing up, listening, and being transparent through the good times and the hard ones.
Thanks again for your feedback, and for the time you spent with us.