J.R. Weigand’s Post

Rivian is going through another round of layoffs. Over a dozen workers began posting on LinkedIn about cuts at the company on Wednesday afternoon. A spokesperson later confirmed the layoffs. "We continue to work to right-size the business and ensure lignment to our priorities," they told Business Insider. "As a follow-up to some of the changes we made to teams in February, today we shared some additional changes to groups supporting the business. Around 1 percent of our workforce was affected by this change. This was a difficult decision, but a necessary one to support our goal to be gross margin positive by the end of the year." At the end of 2023, Rivian employed nearly 17,000 workers in North America and Europe. This is Rivian's fourth round of layoffs in recent years. Rivian cut 10% of its staff in February, 6% in February 2023, and another 6% in July 2022, BI previously reported. In March, Rivian delayed the opening of a planned factory in Georgia, opting to build its recently announced R2 vehicle at its existing factory in Illinois. Rivian is one of several electric-car makers grappling with slowing demand for EVs. Elon Musk told staff that Tesla was cutting more than 10% of its workforce earlier this week.

After an incredible first week at Brightsmith | B Corp™, I've connected with many amazing leaders in the Future Mobility market. The energy and optimism for growth are still electrifying! ⚡ I’m on a mission to help those affected by the recent Tesla, Rivian and other industry layoffs. 🌱 The push towards Net-Zero transportation is unstoppable, and there’s a place for everyone in this revolution. 🚨 Were you or someone you know impacted? Let’s turn this challenge into a new beginning. Reach out to me – together, we can navigate this transition and find your next venture 🌟 Let's drive the future forward, one opportunity at a time! 🌟 #ev #evcharging #emobility #futuremobility #energytransition #tesla #rivian

“This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a former Rivian employee who was laid off.” Here is what I gathered: 1. The former employee was not phased by the initial layoff announcement as they had gotten used to so many layoffs prior. 2. A coworker reached out and told them to read the email. 3. Wednesday night before the official announcement was a sleepless night, and they dreamed of being fired. 4. Thursday morning, a stakeholder messaged with tedious tasks to complete a few hours before finding out if they were going to be laid off. 5. Instead of completing the requests, this former employee along with others were just on the lookout for a meeting invite. 6. In the meeting, they were laid off within 5 minutes and the computer locked out within an hour of trying to exchange contact information with coworkers. 7. Per the former employee: “I was filled with anxiety the entire day. I kept thinking, "How many times can I possibly go through this annual culling of the herd?" This past year, I thought: "Oh my God, can I make major life decisions? Can I buy a house knowing that I might not have a job because every 12 months we have another layoff?" _________________________________________________________________ This isn’t any way to navigate through your career journey. Anxiety, being undervalued, and constant uncertainty is what this professional experienced. The greatest question: "How many times can I possibly go through this annual culling of the herd?" Why get used to being laid off instead of creating your own opportunity? Read full article here:

Lean Horizons Consulting, LLC talks about this a lot. How do you expect anyone to be part of improvements if they are just working themselves out of a job? In this announcement, more layoffs are coming to Rivian. They learned they could do the same amount of work with 2 shifts instead of 3. 'Thursday, the company confirmed “a small number of salaried positions” were eliminated. According to Rivian, most layoffs are due to manufacturing efficiency changes in April, when the company learned it could produce the same number of vehicles with two shifts instead of three.' Good luck getting everyone to buy in now. Why can't they use the extra personnel to ramp up R2 production? Or, even better, can those salaried employees help with sales, marketing, engineering, or customer support? They could support more sales now without adding any extra overhead. RJ Scaringe is a good leader. This seems a little short sighted though. Rivian is a beautiful truck, and their tech is only getting better. If you can accelerate the R2 timeline, you should do that. There's certainly no problem with beating expectations. Customers are waiting for a more affordable Rivian option. I know I am.

Being affected by the recent company wide layoffs from Tesla hasn’t been anything short of heart breaking. Unlike the initial thousands that were let go last Monday, I was relieved to think my role was still active. I was even asked to adjust my schedule for the following weeks to accommodate the the loss in staff. As I worked throughout the week and weekend, my store leader had a one on one with me saying that “despite the recent reduction in headcount, additional cuts must be made and your position has been affected.” The weightlessness I felt hearing this is unlike anything else I’ve experienced. The only credence I could appreciate in that moment was that I had someone speak to me rather than being sent an email. I LOVED my work at Tesla. I was passionate about the products I helped sell, educated guests who were curious about Tesla and EV’s, and be an overall brand advocate. I showed up early and on time everyday, never had a bad review, received accolades for my performance, had strong relationships with other team members in different departments etc. I’ll never forget the day when I got the job offer to join Tesla. It felt like I had finally landed a role within a company that I could be proud of. I understand that for a company to grow it needs to make difficult decisions. However, because of the sheer volume of people they let go they didn’t look deeper in to the individuals that would no longer be working for them. For those fortunate to still be with the company, I wish you great success going into this next phase. It looks like it will be met with great difficulty but will lead to fruitful results. Thank you to Tesla for the opportunity you’ve afforded me for the past 2 years and 6 months, it was truly privilege… With that out of the way, it’s time to brush off the dust and start re-tooling my resume. I’m open to work.

Important Update: Rivian Layoffs Today Dear LinkedIn Community, As a recruiter deeply embedded in the automotive industry, I am disheartened to share news of the layoffs at Rivian. These times of transition can be incredibly challenging for individuals and families alike. If you or someone you know has been impacted by the recent layoffs at Rivian, please know that my inbox is open. As a recruiter with extensive industry connections, I am here to offer support, guidance, and assistance in any way possible. Whether it's exploring new opportunities, polishing resumes, or providing interview tips, I'm dedicated to helping you navigate through this period of change. Let's leverage our collective network and resources to aid those affected by these unfortunate circumstances. Together, let's turn this moment of uncertainty into new opportunities. Stay resilient, #Rivian #layoff #help #Automotive #professionals

A week ago, I shared my thoughts about the recent Tesla layoffs. This post gained more popularity than I expected, and I want to thank you all for the support I received and the job recommendations. It was definitely a tough week, processing things and contemplating the next steps. Reading your thoughts, opinions, and stories—some positive, some negative— helped a lot and made me realize that sharing our opinions is valid. There's no right or wrong when it comes to expressing what we think; it mainly reflects our individual experiences. I'm glad that my post reached out to many people who felt identified and resonated with my story. I must say that I have no regrets about taking the opportunity at Tesla and never will. It was exhilarating to know that this opportunity came my way, even though the company is facing restructuring challenges. Tesla's rapid growth means that there's always a possibility of changes, and these layoffs were inevitable. Despite the efforts of my team to keep me onboard, unfortunately, they had to let me go this time. This situation also brought tough moments for managers and for those who stayed. Inside, we had a big collaborative team where everyone was essential. I approached this opportunity with excitement and energy to further my career. From day one, I was enthusiastic about the projects and put my trust in collaborating with other designers and engineers who shared the same passion and mindset. It felt like the right place for me at that moment. I can't believe it myself, but I'm also starting to miss the long commute on the shuttle from SF. Leading projects I never imagined I would be a part of, collaborating at such a fast pace—those six months at Tesla felt like a year of experience. The opportunity came to an end for reasons beyond our control and had nothing to do with our performance. So, if I were asked if I would join Tesla again, I would definitely consider it. Maybe this time with different terms or in a different team, department, or sector, but I would definitely experience it again. Nothing is permanent, not our jobs nor our unemployment. The main message of my post is to never let situations like this define your talent. We all have much to offer; we are each a small piece of these big companies. Without us, none of this would be possible. Keep believing in your value, and I trust that our next opportunity is waiting for us. When people talk about Tesla, they often talk about the amazing people there. It's not just about the company, but the brilliant and extraordinary people from all over the world that make things happen. This opportunity came to an end, but I'm excited for what's next, confident that it will be the right one, even if it's not at Tesla. I bring that experience with me and look forward to meeting more extraordinary and talented professionals from other companies and collaborating with their teams on exciting projects! #teslalayoffs #opentowork

Here's a viewpoint - as Sandy Munro says "If Ford, Aptera, Rivian are your customers, do you need a marketing team? If your chargers are the best on the market and are running at 99.9% uptime, do you need R&D & NPD engineers? ...... Elon said he WILL be building more charging stations." I can see the reasoning behind this view, but other opinions are, of course, valid. Such as what do you do when your product is no longer the best on the market and you start to lose customers? That's not the best time to be hiring a new R&D / NPD team.

Could this news of layoffs, attributed in part to a lack of foresight regarding the rapid decline of early adopters and unfulfilled infrastructure promises be signaling a looming reckoning and the moment where someone will acknowledge the massive elephant in the room—namely, the funding and sustainability of massive battery plants partly funded with tens of billions in taxpayer dollars? Consider this, Fisker, Rivian, both appear to be having serious problems according to news reports. Any Google search will yield numerous articles regarding CATL, a company which represents nearly 37% of global EV battery manufacturing and is also somewhat aligned with BYD, which has doubled it’s battery manufacturing capacity from 6 to 12% in less than three years. Both CATL and BYD represent over 50% of the global EV battery manufacturing. The smart money has odds on backroom conversations taking place as increased commoditization creates the possibility of many losers and few winners.

Navigating the Waves of Change: A Call for Ethical Considerations in Layoffs and a Beacon of Hope for the Future In recent times, the winds of change have swept through many of our lives, most notably affecting my colleagues and me at Rivian Automotive. This experience has prompted me to reflect deeply on the dual facets of our current reality: the ethical implications of company-wide layoffs and the untapped potential that such challenging times reveal in us. The Ethical Crossroads of Layoffs Layoffs, especially on a company-wide scale, pose profound ethical questions. They touch on the responsibility of organizations towards their employees, the balance between financial sustainability and employee welfare, and the long-term impact on company culture and societal values. It’s crucial for us, as a professional community, to engage in open and thoughtful discussions about these matters. How can companies navigate economic hardships while honoring their commitment to the workforce? What measures can be put in place to support those affected? A Testament to Resilience and Potential On a personal note, the recent layoffs at Rivian Automotive have been a catalyst for introspection and growth. This period has been an opportunity to push myself towards new horizons, to refine the skills honed in a rapid, lean, and innovative environment. It has been a time of discovery—unearthing new talents, recognizing my own gaps, and overcoming them through mentorship and the brilliance of those around me. To my fellow colleagues who are navigating this transition, remember that this is not an end but a beginning. The resilience, adaptability, and innovation that defined our time at Rivian are qualities that will propel us forward. We’ve thrived in an environment that demanded excellence, and now, we carry those lessons and experiences with us into new opportunities. An Invitation to Potential Employers To potential employers, this is an open invitation to consider the wealth of talent emerging from this transition. My colleagues and I bring with us the spirit of innovation, a proven track record of adaptability, and a relentless drive to excel. We are ready to bring our high performance and unique skill sets to new teams and challenges. Let’s Connect and Collaborate I invite you to join me in this discussion—whether to share your thoughts on the ethical considerations of layoffs or to explore the potential for collaboration and new beginnings. To my peers affected by recent events, let’s view this as an opportunity to redefine our paths and to showcase the true extent of our capabilities. #RivianAutomotive #CareerTransition #EthicalLeadership #Innovation #Resilience #NewBeginnings #Layoffs #CareerAdvice #JobSearch #Networking #Resilience #MentalHealth #InnovationCulture #Leadership #HumanResources #CorporateEthics #ChangeManagement #Principles Ray Dalio