Spotify Slows Down Hiring and Boosts Safety Measures in the Uncertainty of Today

The world is as VUCA as can be today, and companies like Spotify are among the first to react to the new challenges. In response to the unpredictability of the situation, the Swedish streaming giant decides to slow down its growth. It will keep hiring in order to expand, but the updated plans suggest that it’s going to hire 25% fewer employees than formerly considered.

The source of this information is an internal email that sheds some light on the reasons why Spotify decided to hold its horses and slow down its expansion. According to this letter by Daniel EK, the SEO of Spotify Technology SA, the company needs to “be a bit more prudent” during the next few quarters, so it won’t hire as many professionals as planned earlier.
Though the instability of the world is now quite obvious, Spotify uses sources more reliable than pure intuition. As another Spotify top manager Paul Vogel says, the understanding was triggered by the results of the investor conference that took place in May.

For Spotify, the global crisis coincides with certain internal issues. As the service introduces podcasts, the problem of hate speech became even more evident for its users and partners. Spotify hopes to solve it by forming the Safety Advisory Council which can use third-person help for solving issues like that Joe Rogan’s podcast, which got scandalously famous after spreading some COVID-19-related misinformation. The Council will consist of experts from all over the world who will keep an eye on Spotify’s actions and develop optimal ways to manage situations like this.

Do you think these decisions will make Spotify a safer place and a more stable entity to trust with your music and podcasts? What do you consider likelier: issues with keeping up with the market or moral questions that arise after each scandal? Welcome to the comments section, where you can speak your mind!