Checkr, a prominent background-screening platform last valued at $5 billion, has implemented a significant workforce reduction, affecting 382 employees. This decision comes amidst a subdued hiring landscape for many companies.
The layoffs, disclosed exclusively to TechCrunch, span across all departments and various hierarchical levels within the San Francisco-based startup. Confirming the layoffs via email, a Checkr spokesperson highlighted the economic conditions impacting hiring decisions as the primary driver behind this restructuring effort.
“In response to economic conditions that have impacted companies’ hiring, we made the difficult and painful decision to reduce the size of our team. This will allow us to operate more efficiently and ensure the long-term health of our business,” the spokesperson stated.
This reduction in workforce, amounting to 32% of Checkr’s total employees, follows Checkr’s acquisition of Inflection, the parent company of GoodHire, a background-checking platform catering to small- and mid-sized businesses, two years ago. The acquisition, reportedly valued at $400 million, aimed to bolster Checkr’s service offerings.
Backed by prominent investors like Durable Capital Partners, Fidelity Management & Research, and Coatue Management, Checkr’s platform enables companies to conduct comprehensive background checks on potential hires, encompassing driving and criminal records, as well as basic identity verification. Its clientele includes well-known names such as Uber, Netflix, and Airbnb, with its customer base expanding rapidly over the years.
In response to the layoffs, Checkr has provided affected employees with a minimum of 10 weeks of severance pay, continued health insurance coverage, and support for career transition and mental well-being.
While Checkr did not disclose details about its financial runway or fundraising plans, the startup has previously raised a substantial amount of funding, totaling $679 million to date, with its latest funding round of $250 million announced in September 2021.
