Just days after 159 employees accepted a six-month buyout offer, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg has issued a new, aggressive ultimatum. Late on October 16, the company extended a nine-month severance package to any staff member willing to resign immediately, providing a tight four-hour window for employees to make their decision.
The Cost of Leaving: Total Platform Ban
The offer comes with severe professional strings attached. According to internal Slack communications reported by 404 Media, Mullenweg explicitly stated that those who accept the buyout will lose access to both Automattic and WordPress.org. This effectively bars departing employees from contributing to the open-source project under their existing IDs, signaling a total severance from the WordPress community.
Mullenweg instructed interested employees to finalize their departure by sending a direct message stating: “I resign and would like to take the 9-month buy-out offer.” He assured staff that no justification for their departure was required, noting, “I guess some people were sad they missed the last window.”
Context of the Internal Conflict
This second wave of buyouts follows a period of intense internal friction triggered by Mullenweg’s public dispute with hosting provider WP Engine. The CEO previously characterized the firm as “a cancer to WordPress,” igniting a firestorm that has led to legal action, trademark disputes, and the blocking of WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org resources.
Executive Exodus
The first round of resignations already saw significant leadership departures within the organization. Notable figures who exited the company include:
- Daniel Bachhuber, Head of WordPress.com
- Naoko Takano, Head of Programs and Contributor Experience
- Daniel Walmsley, Principal Architect for AI
- Josepha Haden Chomphosy, Executive Director of WordPress.org
Automattic has not provided official comment regarding how many employees accepted the latest nine-month offer. According to the company’s website, the current headcount stands at 1,731, down from 1,732 just hours prior to the announcement. As the legal battle with WP Engine continues, the company is reportedly mobilizing legal counsel to defend its trademark positioning.