Sohu COM layoffs, on the record
Every job cut, severance charge and restructuring Sohu COM reported in its annual reports, 2015 to 2017, quoted from the filings. Headcount went from approximately 10,600 to approximately 9,300.
Headcount, as reported
| Annual report | Employees | As of |
|---|---|---|
| 10-K for 2015 | approximately 10,600 | December 31, 2015 |
| 10-K for 2016 | approximately 10,000 | December 31, 2016 |
| 10-K for 2017 | approximately 9,300 | As of December 31, 2017 |
Job cuts, severance and restructuring
Our summaryChangyou reduced its employee count, which fell 41.9% between the end of 2014 and the end of 2015, after laying off employees focused on international markets and the platform channel business other than 17173.com.
Word for word“The number of Changyou’s employees increased 35.3% between the end of 2012 and the end of 2013 as it expanded its business into mobile games, the platform channel business and international markets, but decreased 11.0% between the end of 2013 and the end of 2014 and decreased 41.9% between the end of 2014 and the end of 2015, as Changyou emphasized the development of mobile games and laid off a number of employees who had been focused primarily on international markets and the platform channel business other than the 17173.com Website.” 10-K for 2015
Our summaryChangyou's employee count fell in 2016 as it emphasized mobile games and laid off employees focused on international markets and the platform channel business.
Word for word“The number of Changyou’s employees decreased by 11.0% in 2014, by 41.9% in 2015, and by 13.0% in 2016, as Changyou emphasized the development of mobile games and laid off a number of employees who had been focused primarily on international markets and the platform channel business.” 10-K for 2016
Our summarySohu restructured the sales team of Sohu Video, which led to an impairment loss on purchased video content and related assets.
Word for word“In 2016, the Group recognized $22.9 million in losses for impairment related to Sohu Video’s purchased video content and Changyou purchased content and license rights to games.” 10-K for 2016
Our summaryChangyou cut its workforce in 2015, 2016 and 2017 by laying off employees focused on international markets and the platform channel business, as it shifted emphasis to mobile games.
Word for word“The number of Changyou’s employees decreased by 41.9% in 2015, by 13.0% in 2016, and by 13.0% in 2017, as Changyou emphasized the development of mobile games and laid off a number of employees who had been focused primarily on international markets and the platform channel business.” 10-K for 2017
Our summarySohu recorded impairment losses on Sohu Video content in 2017, mainly because Sohu Video restructured its sales team and changed its content strategy.
Word for word“The impairment losses incurred were mainly due to Sohu Video’s restructuring of its sales team and a strategy shift from purchasing expensive head content to self-producing content.” 10-K for 2017
Sohu COM has filed no restructuring notice (Form 8-K, Item 2.05) since 2016. Companies file one only for a cut they judge material, so many announced layoffs never appear as one. This page shows what the company reported to the SEC, not news reports or state layoff notices.
Read from Sohu COM’s annual reports (10-K for 2017, 10-K for 2016, 10-K for 2015) and the financial data it files with the SEC, as of 2018-02-28. 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.