X, formerly Twitter, has settled the severance payments for the staff laid off from its African headquarters over a year ago. This was announced by the agency representing them. The employees, based in Accra, Ghana, had been terminated in November 2022, just a few months into their roles.
Threatening legal action for unpaid redundancy, the 20 staff from Africa had recently relocated to X’s new office in Accra. The company, led by Elon Musk since 2022, faced global layoffs of over 6,000 employees. The Sacked X Africa Staff receive their compensation.
Agency Seven Seven, providing legal representation, confirmed the successful negotiation of redundancy settlements and repatriation expenses. While the payout amount remains undisclosed, the agency stated the employees are pleased to move forward.
Last year, sacked staffers shared how X’s treatment had affected their mental health and finances. The settlement comes after negotiations began following media coverage of the issue. X had previously claimed full payment to ex-employees.
“They express great satisfaction in finally receiving their rightful compensation, putting this chapter behind them, and looking towards the future,”.
Carla Olympio from Agency Seven Seven
Last year, dismissed employees expressed that their treatment by X had negatively affected both their mental health and finances.
“It’s challenging when the world’s richest man owes you money and resolution,” remarked one of the affected staff members.
Why the Lawsuit as Sacked X Africa Staff receive compensation
The Africa-based staff highlighted that initially, they were informed they would be paid for an additional month despite contract termination. However, they were promptly denied access to their emails, and subsequent salary payments were withheld.
According to Ghanaian employment regulations, employees should receive redundancy payments and must receive a three-month notice period before redundancy.
The staff has been in a frustrating battle for compensation, with some having relocated from neighboring countries, such as Nigeria. They found themselves stranded in Ghana with their families due to contract termination.
In a rare interview last April, Mr. Musk informed the media that X had reduced its workforce to 1,500 employees. That is from nearly 8,000 at the time of his company acquisition. Despite Musk’s public announcement of three months’ severance pay for laid-off employees, the Africa-based staff members denied the claims.
According to Agency Seven Seven, negotiations with the dismissed Africa-based staff only started after coverage by the media. Last year, X faced a lawsuit filed by ex-employees in a California court. They alleged the company’s refusal to pay at least $500 million in promised severance packages.