In September last year, African’s biggest software developer outsourcing firm — Andela decided to lay off over 400 junior software developers in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria as the company makes big changes from within –in a new strategic move. News reaching our desk indicates that the company is still struggling to find job placements for the more junior engineers, on top of the internal communication issues that have long troubled the software firm.
An internal email issued on February 26th confirms that Andela has launched a voluntary exit programme targeted at all “idle” developers. This means Andela is requesting the Eng 1 and Eng 2 developers currently in its employ who are yet to secure placement to leave at their own will if they so wish. The voluntary exit option is being offered to all the software engineers who are still struggling to get placed at Andela Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya.
The Eng 1 and Eng 2 developers who fail to apply for the exit option may face redundancy after March 20th and may be summarily laid off by Andela with a less favourable exit package.
Speaking with Weetracker, Andela confirmed this development stating that it is taking the necessary steps to address the current imbalance between the Andela Engineer Bench and global demand for engineering talent. They said;
We have a number of Eng 1 and 2 currently not placed and to those we have offered a voluntary exit option. Andela has offered a voluntary exit program to a select number of engineers across Lagos, Nairobi, and Kampala. Engineers who opt-in for the voluntary exit program will receive an enhanced package, as well as ongoing job placement support, should they require it
In the internal memo circulated to the employees, the voluntary exit programme will see the engineers leave Andela with a rather decent package that includes;
- Prorated March pay
- 1-month pay
- Accrued benefits
- 15 days per year of service plus 1.5-month ex gratia (in accordance with Kenyan law)
- 3-month medical cover
- Accrued “Fellow” savings payout
- Placement support
It further clarifies that those who qualify for the exit scheme have to apply before March 13th and the applicants will be notified of their approval or rejection between March 13th and March 17th. The statement reads in part;
We are approaching the bench reduction differently. For the engineers who we don’t expect to place, we have offered the option to resign; they will receive an enhanced package through a voluntary exit program. Depending on how many engineers decide to take this package, we will evaluate the need for additional next steps.
So this means that not every one who applies will be let go, the company reserves that right to decline a developer’s exit application especially if Andela feel that the candidate does not meet the exit criteria or the company feels that the candidate may soon get a placement with one of its partners. Developers whose applications will be accepted will have until March 20th to exit the company with the severance packages we’ve outlined above.
By Q3 2019, the software outsourcing firm made major changes to its already tidious recruitment process that aimed to only on-board software engineers that would easily be placed in a short period of time. In the same period, Andela said it hired 126 engineers and launched 166, thanks to the restructure.
