People layoffs, on the record
Every job cut, severance charge and restructuring People reported in its annual reports, 2023 to 2025, quoted from the filings. Headcount went from nearly 9,500 to approximately 5,156.
Headcount, as reported
| Annual report | Employees | As of |
|---|---|---|
| 10-K for 2023 | nearly 9,500 | As of December 31, 2023 |
| 10-K for 2024 | approximately 8,300 | December 31, 2024 |
| 10-K for 2025 | approximately 5,156 | December 31, 2025 |
Job cuts, severance and restructuring
Our summaryDotdash Meredith continued to incur costs on a voluntary retirement program and recorded adjustments to a reduction in force plan, resulting in a net reversal to restructuring expense for 2023.
Word for word“For the year ended December 31, 2023, Dotdash Meredith incurred a net reversal of $0.5 million to restructuring expense, resulting from charges incurred of $3.7 million offset by reversals of previously recorded accrued costs of $4.2 million.” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryDotdash Meredith management committed to a set of efficiency actions after the Meredith acquisition, including a voluntary retirement program, a reduction in force plan, print discontinuations, the PeopleTV shutdown and office consolidation.
Word for word“These actions resulted in $80.2 million of restructuring charges incurred for the year ended December 31, 2022.” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryDotdash Meredith announced a voluntary retirement program.
Word for word“During 2023, Dotdash Meredith continued to incur costs related to a voluntary retirement program announced in the first quarter of 2022 and recorded adjustments to previously accrued amounts related to a reduction in force plan, for which the related expenses were accrued primarily in the fourth quarter of 2022.” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryDotdash Meredith reassessed sublease assumptions and recorded impairment charges on unoccupied leased office space, a non-headcount restructuring-type charge.
Word for word“During the first quarter of 2023, Dotdash Meredith reassessed the sublease market assumptions and recorded impairment charges of $70.0 million related to certain unoccupied leased office space due to the continued decline in the commercial real estate market, consisting of impairments of $44.7 million and $25.3 million of an ROU asset and related leasehold improvements, furniture and equipment, respectively, which are included in "General and administrative expense" and "Depreciation," respectively, in the statement of operations.” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryImplemented a reduction in force, primarily at the Print business, in the fourth quarter of 2024 to improve efficiencies and align cost structure.
Word for word“As a result of this continuing decline, during the fourth quarter of 2024, we implemented a reduction in force, primarily in the case of our Print business, in an attempt to improve efficiencies and better align our cost structure.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryRecorded severance expense at Print tied to headcount reductions intended to better align resources with strategic initiatives.
Word for word“For the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023 Selling and marketing expense in 2024 decreased from 2023 due primarily to decreases of $163.6 million from Angi, $70.0 million from Emerging & Other and $46.5 million from Search, partially offset by an increase of $41.0 million from Dotdash Meredith.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryRecorded severance expense at Dotdash Meredith Digital, Print and Other tied to headcount reductions, including $4.0 million at Digital, $2.5 million at Other and $6.4 million at Print.
Word for word“The Print Adjusted EBITDA decrease was due primarily to revenue declines and $6.4 million in severance expense in the fourth quarter of 2024 primarily related to headcount reductions intended to better align resources with strategic initiatives.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryRecorded severance expense in Selling and marketing at Dotdash Meredith tied to headcount reductions.
Word for word“The increase in compensation expense was due primarily to increases of $3.5 million in severance expense incurred in the fourth quarter of 2024 primarily related to headcount reductions intended to better align resources with strategic initiatives and $3.1 million in sales commissions resulting primarily from an increase in sales from a legacy agency business due to political advertising sold on third-party publisher platforms.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryRecorded severance expense and transaction costs at Emerging & Other tied to the sale of Mosaic Group assets.
Word for word“Emerging & Other Adjusted EBITDA losses increased 151% to $36.0 million due primarily to $16.5 million in severance expense and transaction-related costs related to the sale of assets of Mosaic Group on February 15, 2024 and an increase of $8.1 million in legal fees, partially off by reduced losses at Newco (IAC's former incubator company), The Daily Beast and Vivian Health, and the inclusion in the prior year period of $2.9 million of losses from Roofing, which was sold on November 1, 2023.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryReported accrued severance from headcount reductions at Dotdash Meredith, and severance payments related to restructuring at Dotdash Meredith.
Word for word“The decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities is due primarily to timing of payments and a decrease at Search in accrued traffic acquisition costs and related payables, partially offset by an increase in accrued employee compensation, due primarily to an increase in accrued severance related to headcount reductions at Dotdash Meredith and an increase in accrued bonuses, an increase in accrued professional fees at Corporate and Angi due, in part, to the Distribution and an increase in an accrual at Care.com related to the resolution of certain legal matters.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryThe company restructured its print business, including reductions in force in the third quarter of 2025 and the fourth quarter of 2024.
Word for word“In response to these trends, we have reduced our exposure to print by eliminating the print component for certain brands, reducing circulation for others, and implementing restructuring actions, including reductions in force during the third quarter of 2025 and the fourth quarter of 2024.” 10-K for 2025
Our summaryPrint headcount reductions lowered compensation costs, while severance costs rose to $3.7 million in 2025 from $2.1 million in 2024.
Word for word“Included in the net decrease in compensation expense is an increase of $1.6 million in severance-related costs ($3.7 million in 2025 compared to $2.1 million in 2024).” 10-K for 2025
Our summaryCorporate recorded severance and related expenses tied to certain headcount reductions.
Word for word“Partially offsetting this decrease in stock-based compensation expense is $15.2 million in separation benefits to our former CEO under the Employment Transition Agreement and $2.7 million in severance and related expenses driven by certain headcount reductions.” 10-K for 2025
Our summaryPeople Inc. Digital severance costs rose to $4.5 million in 2025 from $1.5 million in 2024 to better align the business with strategic growth priorities.
Word for word“The increase in compensation expense was due primarily to an increase in salary-related expenses driven by an increase in headcount and an increase of $2.9 million in severance-related costs to better align the business with strategic growth priorities ($4.5 million in 2025 compared to $1.5 million in 2024).” 10-K for 2025
| Fiscal year ended | Severance costs | Restructuring charges | Cash paid for restructuring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-12-31 | $55.9 million | $80.2 million | $31.1 million |
| 2023-12-31 | — | $79.7 million | $25 million |
People filed 1 restructuring notice (Form 8-K, Item 2.05) since 2016. This page shows what the company reported to the SEC, not news reports or state layoff notices.
Read from People’s annual reports (10-K for 2025, 10-K for 2024, 10-K for 2023) and the financial data it files with the SEC, as of 2026-02-20. Every quotation is word for word from the filing linked beside it; how these pages are built and checked. The full record is in its company data sheet.