Thread regarding Open Text Corp. layoffs

@9ka Do we have word on any departments being held to that? I think we have development/engineering because of Athena. Rumors past that team seem to be sparse. The order-side is only now starting to get the tools to potentially mitigate new hires. And depending on which order-side department we're actually pretty likely to have our AI only be side-tools. They'd need to implement agentic AI directly into SMAX to be a threat.

Renewals may continue to be automated - I wouldn't know if that's more bot automation or AI though.

I don't like it, but between the steps that were in the works and a (routine or not) layoff set we're getting the setup to see if the new CEO keeps that rule. If we keep it and the CEO fails to understand how we're structured they're probably going to make that choice -or- try and make our own riiiiight as AI copyrighted material/art theft cases start. Because between that and spending, a lot of AI could be a burst bubble.

"First, the AI replacement angle that keeps getting floated around various forums doesn’t hold water from what I can gather."

If you mean the AI replacing humans angle, the former CEO announced earlier this year that there is a hiring freeze and that no new positions (not replacements) would be opened until the hiring manager proved that the job required a human rather than AI.

My guess is that the board this year will mandate that RSUs only go to M6 and higher and for everyone else there will be an increased budget for Navigator rewards via Work Human. Maybe there will be perfect attendance rewards for employees that go into the office 5 days a week. Or bonuses for managers that quote Mark B’s blog or passages from his self published books.

@12q Not everyone at HMF lost their bonus. I have no clue how it was decided but on an all hands, many were surprised that some did and some didn’t when a manager congratulated everyone for making their bonus.

@11b You mean we HMF lost the bonus scheme that we had for years for a single year pay rise. That take it or leave it deal.

Who gives a cr-p about their stupid rsu's. They are completely worthless under the current mgmt.

@fg my VP told me that the way it works is that during the first board meeting of the year, the board approves a special pool of employee RSUs. HR then has to come up with a model to distribute those RSU’s “equitably”. The reason every high-performing can’t receive these share units is because the pool is preapproved before the performance evaluation are complete completed.

By the way, this is not only at Opentext. This is how RSU‘s work in the industry.

@ex as an organization, Opentext has given restricted share units to a significant proportion of its high performing managers for the last three years. Micro focus employees were not eligible because of the special compensation model they had that ran until last year. You guys got a special bonus that Opentext employees were not eligible for.

@c1 you are correct. The standard protocol is that bonuses are offered to directors and above. There are a small handful of managers who are also eligible for special programs.

Don't forget managers being forced by the ELT to label direct reports as low/under performing. We were told we had to have 5%. There were no low performers left, they were cut 6 layoffs ago. Nonetheless we were forced as managers to have 5% as low/under performers.

@mt Calibration

@fg I can confirm this. we could only pick 2 of our entire team to give exceptional rating to, even though many of them deserved it.

the down vote on @fg posts confirms its true. thanks spin flunkies.

I wonder if Mark may try to take the company private. He has experience with that working here: https://web.archive.org/web/20060610141347/http://garnetthelfrich.com/

https://web.archive.org/web/20060615174533/http://www.garnetthelfrich.com/team.htm

See “broken and orphaned” comment here:

https://web.archive.org/web/20060513115131/http://www.garnetthelfrich.com/

@fg - you struck a nerve. Must be true.

@fg Ask Mark about his HR calibration process…..

I've heard some managers say RSU's can only be given to one person on a team, regardless of how many rock stars you have.
That's why so many people pretend to work, because their performance makes no difference in their pay.

OT is looking to hire in India https://www.reddit.com/r/developersIndia/s/SJi07Z5Xg3

@f2 exactly, that’s the point. Mark and the ELT are only looking out for themselves. Get the stock above $30 any way possible. That is the “OpenText Way.” Throw peanuts at everyone else using Navigator rewards that you need to pay tax on. Mark wants one big beautiful AI project that will solve everything. However the only people that are passionate about this is the ELT. They get “wowed” from PowerPoint presentations and videos by Sandy Ono’s team with goats, titanium and aviators but don’t have a clue how to start or finish anything. Shannon Bell is smart and it a matter of time before she leaves since she is being asked to perform miracles. Get ready for the SKO show in 2 weeks!!!!! And Mark is coming to Waterloo to make sure everyone is in the office because he too cares about crowd size.

even with that said, RSU's are a way the company can give you a "bonus" that doesnt amount to anything. They are useless until they vest... 3 years from their given date. If you happen to be a part of a RIF, or leave of your own accord before they vest, they literally aren't out a single penny.

RSU's are only granted to those who get "exceptional" on their review. When i was there, it could have been a max of 10% of headcount across the whole IT org.

@c4 I’m heritage Micro Focus and no, managers do not get RSUs. IMO RSUs might be given to the highest stack-ranked team member only (note ‘member’ singular as you are only allowed to have one high performer. Yes, just another of the many demotivating actions by our misguided overlord). Almost everyone else on another part of the bell curve gets jack.

@c4 Sales excluded, right?

If you are above entry level and not getting RSUs, you are the next on the chopping block. All the Knowledge Workers and Managers are getting RSUs.

@c1 non managers at the right level also get bonuses.

BONUSES? What are these bonuses you speak of? Only managers and higher get them in my area.

Once folks RSUs vest, many folks will leave. The Next Generation of Information Management is capturing all communications to train digital workers. That’s all emails all phone calls recorded and converted to text all online chats….SMAX++.

Maybe OpenText will merge with Vonage. Just like Sears and K-Mart. That worked out well, right? Business journalist need to demand a demo of how their inter workings of OpenText are using OT tools and saving the company a billion dollars a year. Seems like DOGE math to me.

Mark B is getting upset!

You are so full of sh-t.

To the Journalist:
Thank you for your post.
IMHO, your assessment is fairly accurate. Since this is the first day of FY26 your source is also correct with 2026 layoffs however I predict one sooner.
Typically they do one early in the fiscal year, then spring, then late in the FY.

Also I agree that it's the bigger players who may take a look to acquire.

Negotiations will determine if a bigger player buys them whole, then sells off or closes the PL's that are not profitable. Or they buy a carve out.

As you and others point out their selling of an original AI solution is rather mind boggling.

Watching for this article to be released. We’re behind you if you speak up. The teams are exhausted—this isn’t a Canadian sweatshop, and it shouldn’t feel like one.