Despite performing job-slashing towards its workforce, Uber also launches new features for riders in India, namely Audio Seatbelt Reminder.
Heaptalk, Jakarta — Global ride-sharing giant Uber Technologies announced slashing 200 staff in its recruitment division on Wednesday (06/21) to retain a steady headcount and minimize expenses. The latest job-cutting represents less than 1% of Uber’s global workforce, which currently possesses 32,700 employees.
Previously, This ride-sharing company also performed a previous layoff of 150 employees within the company’s freight services division earlier this year. Refers to the Wall Street Journal, the newest layoff round impacted explicitly around 35% of Uber’s recruiting team.
Nevertheless, this company claimed it was on track to post operating income profitability this year and keeping its workforce flat after headcount frequently fell in the March quarter.
In 2022, Uber has shown positive growth, even exceeding the analyst’s prediction. An increase in the number of drivers and passenger demand drove this growth. According to Bloomberg, this company based in San Fransisco reported developing its income up to 72%, or approximately US$8.34 billion, in the third quarter of 2022. This amount surpassed the analyst estimation worth US$8.1 billion.
Uber’s gross order rate, which includes its ride-hailing, food, and delivery lines, rose by 26% to US$29.1 billion last year. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization reached US$516 million, above the average analyst projection of US$458.7 million.
Despite performing job-slashing towards its workforce, Uber also continues to improve its service for the customers, one of which is launching new features for riders in India, namely Audio Seatbelt Reminder, which functionally encourages riders to fasten their seatbelts before the ride starts.
Uber explained that when a rider books a trip and enters the vehicle, the driver’s phone will send an audio prompt urging the passenger to “please use rear seat belts for your safety.” At the same time, the rider gets a notification from the Uber app on their phone, asking them to do the same before the trip begins.
Following a layoff trend around the ride-hailing sector, Uber’s job-cutting announcement comes a day after its rivals Singapore’s Grab which will also cut its 1,000 employees, approximately 11% of its workforce. This decision is conducted because the company has faced increasing competition in ride-sharing and food delivery services in Southeast Asia.
