US-based tech company UKG is cutting about 2,200 jobs, which equates to about 14 percent of its workforce.
The move aims to sharpen the company’s focus on critical growth areas.
UKG CEO Chris Todd emailed the layoffs to employees, which the Business Journal subsequently reported.
As of June, the company, one of the largest software developers in Massachusetts, employed 15,882 people.
Todd said he “originally planned to share these changes next week, however, due to news and speculation related to this action circulating internally, we chose to accelerate the timing to today.”
He said the layoffs are “focused primarily in the US across all departments.”
“These changes will allow us to redirect resources and invest in key areas of product innovation while enhancing how we support our customers”
A company spokesperson said: “While decisions that impact our team are not ones we come to lightly, these changes will allow us to redirect resources and invest in key areas of product innovation while enhancing how we support our customers.
“We are committed to supporting our colleagues through this transition.”
This is not the first round of layoffs for UKG.
Last year, the company cut about 265 roles, roughly 1.7 percent of its workforce.
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Domenic Locapo, a spokesperson for UKG, noted in an email that “a lot has changed in the world of workplace and HR technology since we formed UKG three years ago.”
“To capture the opportunity in front of us, we need to invest in the right areas.
“We realised that there are some areas where our teams had duplication, were not aligned with our future vision and roadmap, or places where we can be more efficient.
“By taking these actions, we are positioning UKG to continue to be successful into the future.”
Formerly known as Kronos, the company rebranded as UKG, or Ultimate Kronos Group, following its merger with Florida-based Ultimate Software in 2020.
