WiseTech’s AI job cuts spark employee frustration over delays

Months after announcing sweeping job cuts tied to its AI transformation strategy, WiseTech Global is facing mounting frustration from employees over delays, uncertainty and what some staff describe as poor communication during the redundancy process, as per a report. 

The ASX-listed technology company revealed in February that it planned to eliminate up to 2,000 jobs, which is nearly 30% of its workforce, as it accelerated the use of artificial intelligence across its operations. 

At the time, Richard White, executive chairman, Wisetech argued that AI was dramatically increasing productivity.

“Individually, people can do far, far more work with AI than they could have done nine months ago,” White said.

But nearly three months later, many employees are still waiting for clarity on their future, with reports suggesting consultation timelines have repeatedly shifted.

Employees speak out

According to reports, consultations originally scheduled for 18 May were pushed back to 25 May, while planned communications around the delay were not delivered on time.

The situation came to a head earlier this week when a Sydney-based software engineer publicly criticised the company on Microsoft Teams, saying the prolonged process was taking a serious emotional toll on workers.

“I cannot, in good conscience, keep this information to myself any longer,” the employee reportedly wrote. “This delay is likely to have a severe impact on many of our colleagues who are already deeply affected by the extremely drawn-out process we find ourselves in. These are real lives and families being affected. We are human.”

The message quickly highlighted growing anxiety among employees who say the extended uncertainty has become increasingly difficult to manage.

Management defends process

“We want to ensure that the right decisions are being made, not rushed decisions,”Zubin Appo, chief executive, Wisetech  said.

He added that the company was focused on maintaining quality throughout the transformation process rather than comparing itself with how other organisations handled redundancies.

However, another employee challenged that explanation, arguing that transparency and timely communication should form part of any “high-quality process”.

“If you believe this couldn't have been executed any better, I believe your expectations are not high enough from the company and its senior management,” the employee said.

‘Not a cost-cutting exercise’

The firm has maintained that the changes are part of a broader organisational transformation rather than a simple cost-reduction strategy.

A company spokesperson said redesigning future workforce structures “takes time to work through”. “Because this is true organisational transformation, and not a cost-cutting exercise, it takes time to work through the process of redesigning our future portfolios,” the spokesperson said.

“At this stage, no final decisions have been made about any individual roles. We recognise that a process of this scale, nature and complexity creates uncertainty for our people.”

Wider lessons for employers

The unfolding situation has once again placed the spotlight on how organisations manage large-scale workforce changes, particularly as AI-driven restructuring becomes more common across industries.

Employment experts say clear and consistent communication remains critical during periods of uncertainty.

As companies continue to reshape their workforces around AI, the backlash facing WiseTech reflects a growing challenge for employers: balancing technological transformation with employee trust and morale.