Laid off from Spotify.
Spotify's December 2023 cut was brutal in scale and unusually generous in terms, and its CEO later admitted the company cut deeper than it could absorb. Both halves of that story matter if you worked there.
At a glance
What's been reported about Spotify severance packages
- About 5 months · Average severance in the December 2023 round
- Covered through the severance period · Healthcare
- About 25% · Share of the company cut in 2023's three rounds
- About €130M to €145M · Q4 2023 severance and restructuring charges
The latest
No major round since December 2023
The December 2023 cut of about 1,500 roles remains Spotify's defining round, its third that year. Months later, Daniel Ek acknowledged the layoffs disrupted operations more than anticipated, a rare public admission of the cost side of cutting.
Previous rounds
How Spotify has handled layoffs in the past
Spotify compressed what other companies spread over years into one calendar year. Roughly 6 percent in January 2023, a podcast-division cut mid-year, then 17 percent in December, about a quarter of the company gone in twelve months. The December memo was published in full, which means the package is on the record, an average of five months of severance, PTO paid out, healthcare through the severance period, and career and immigration support.
The aftermath became its own story. By the next earnings call, Ek admitted the December cut disrupted day-to-day operations more than anticipated, which is about as close as a CEO gets to saying we cut too deep. For anyone watching for the next round, that admission has been the strongest signal that another 2023 isn't the plan.
The generosity had structure worth copying into your own checklist anywhere you work. Severance scaled with tenure around a high average rather than a thin floor, healthcare ran through the severance period rather than ending at termination, and visa holders got dedicated support rather than a grace-period countdown alone. If your employer's offer is missing one of those pieces, Spotify's public memo is evidence the piece exists.
Recent Spotify layoffs
December 2023 · About 1,500 roles, 17% of the company, the third round of the year
Ek's memo promised an average of about five months of severance, paid-out unused PTO, healthcare covered through the severance period, immigration support for visa holders, and two months of career support. Spotify disclosed €130 million to €145 million in related charges.
January and June 2023 · About 6% in January, then roughly 200 podcast-division roles mid-year
Terms not published at the same detail as December's.
Quick answers
What severance did Spotify pay in the December 2023 layoffs?
An average of about five months per Ek's published memo, plus paid-out unused PTO, healthcare covered through the severance period, two months of career support, and immigration support for visa holders. Averages hide ranges, so individual offers varied with tenure and role.
Has Spotify done layoffs since 2023?
No round comparable to December 2023 has been reported since. Ek publicly acknowledged in 2024 that the cut disrupted operations more than the company expected, which is context worth knowing when weighing how Spotify approaches any future reduction.
What severance has Spotify given laid-off employees?
About 5 months (average severance in the december 2023 round). Ek's memo promised an average of about five months of severance, paid-out unused PTO, healthcare covered through the severance period, immigration support for visa holders, and two months of career support. Spotify disclosed €130 million to €145 million in related charges. Packages change between rounds, and your separation agreement is the only version that counts.
Where do I file for unemployment after a Spotify layoff?
In the state where you worked, not where the company is headquartered. Spotify's biggest U.S. hubs are New York, California. Severance usually doesn't block you from filing, and benefits run from your filing date, so file the same week.
Should I sign the severance agreement right away?
Not on the spot. First pin down how much review time you actually have. If you're 40 or older, federal law gives you 21 days to consider an agreement that waives age claims, 45 in a group layoff, and a waiver signed under a shorter deadline can be invalid. If you're under 40, no federal window applies and the deadline in your packet may be real, so confirm it in writing and ask for more time if you need it. Use whatever window you have to read the release terms, especially non-disparagement and no-lawsuit clauses, and don't stall past a real deadline, because offers can be withdrawn.
Can I collect unemployment if I got severance from Spotify?
Usually yes, though some states delay benefits until severance pay periods end, and lump sums are treated differently than salary continuation. Check your state's rules on our state benefit pages, and file immediately either way so your claim date is locked in.
Help for people recently laid off from Spotify
- File for unemployment in the state where you worked. Benefits run from your filing date, and severance usually doesn't block you. Spotify's biggest hubs: New York, California. Somewhere else? Every state is here.
- Don't sign the severance agreement on the spot. Find out in writing how long you have to review it. At 40 or older, federal law guarantees 21 days, 45 in group layoffs. Under 40, the packet's deadline may be real, so ask for time rather than assume. Read our severance breakdown first. The clauses matter more than the number.
- Mind the health insurance window. Losing coverage opens a 60-day special enrollment period, and an ACA plan usually beats unsubsidized COBRA. Compare your options before the employer coverage lapses.
- Get your real runway number. Severance plus savings divided by reality. The calculator takes five minutes.
- Know which clocks are already running. Severance review windows, COBRA election, visa grace periods, and 401(k) rollovers all run on federal deadlines that started at termination. All five deadlines are here.