Are the rumours of all the DJI layoffs and down sizing true?

[Robbyg]

Sorry if this was posted before but I did not see it. I was hearing stories about DJI releasing about 40% of their staff in some really awful ways. Like people showing up for work and then being told to leave and escorted out by security. I was reading that it is happening at all there locations and factories. Any truth to this, as I hear it is not just a Covid issue but a complete restructuring of the company.

 

[msinger]

Not sure which stories you've been reading, but other news sites have been posting stories like this:

Drone-maker DJI rubbishes reports of mass layoffs, says it is busy meeting demand amid pandemic

"DJI is busy with new projects and will bring huge surprises to global consumers soon,” said DJI spokesman Xie Tiandi in a statement on China’s Twitter-like social media platform Weibo on Thursday. “We don’t have time to deal with absurd and false speculation."

 

[Robbyg]

It's interesting because so many websites are running this story and are saying that they are getting there info from ex employees. Meanwhile DJI keeps on saying it's not true. I know how stuff works in China so I know that either side could be lying.

 

[Aaron24]

I’d be inclined to believe the employees over the company in every instance.

 

[sar104]

It's interesting because so many websites are running this story and are saying that they are getting there info from ex employees. Meanwhile DJI keeps on saying it's not true. I know how stuff works in China so I know that either side could be lying.

Which websites are reporting this?

 

[Robbyg]

Just check Google.
https://www.google.com/search?sourc...hUKEwibsOSlptDpAhVChOAKHZ6pDKkQ4dUDCAY&uact=5

The staff rebuttals about being fired and not a work from home as DJI saying comes from a source I cannot link because I cannot find it again, but it had twitter conversations posted between ex employees and some drone enthusiasts. You can see other people Quoting the employees here:
sUAS News
Phantompilots

I saw it mentioned on another forum while browsing and it was the same theme that if you go to linkedIn and look up employees you know at DJI you will see many of them are now looking for new jobs. A lot of guys seemed to be mad that some guy named Ken was also fired. I don't follow the drone scene all that much anymore but came across this stuff just by accident and then felt a need to confirm it here.

 

[sar104]

Just check Google.
https://www.google.com/search?sourc...hUKEwibsOSlptDpAhVChOAKHZ6pDKkQ4dUDCAY&uact=5

The staff rebuttals about it only being a fired and not a work from home as DJI saying comes from a source I cannot link because I cannot find it again, but it had twitter conversations posted between ex employees and some drone enthusiasts. You can see other people Quoting the employees here:
sUAS News
Phantompilots

I saw it mentioned on another forum while browsing and it was the same theme that if you go to linkedIn and look up employees you know at DJI you will see many of them are now looking for new jobs. A lot of guys seemed to be mad that some guy named Ken was also laid off. I don't follow the drone scene all that much anymore but came across this stuff just by accident and then felt a need to confirm it here.

I asked because I had already checked that. Those are all about the denial from DJI - I don't see a single news article reporting layoffs.

 

[BigWillie]

This could be the competition trying to discredit DJI. It happens all the time to the larger, more popular businesses. When a company lags behind the leader in the industry, regardless of what the industry is, sometimes, desperate measures are taken and I believe this is the case. As hot as DJI is right now, I just can’t see they laying off people in A time when they are the #1 drone maker on the planet. That would be like Apple laying off employees right now. I think this falls under ‘Fake News’. Just my opinion.

 

[Robbyg]

I asked because I had already checked that. Those are all about the denial from DJI - I don't see a single news article reporting layoffs.

Well I did list a drone news website. I think if your waiting for something from CNN or the AP your probably not going to see it. Thousands of companies are cutting back on staff right now and DJI is certainly not big enough to stand out in that pack. Anyway lets see what happens, if its real I am sure at some point the info will come out.

 

[Robbyg]

This could be the competition trying to discredit DJI. It happens all the time to the larger, more popular businesses. When a company lags behind the leader in the industry, regardless of what the industry is, sometimes, desperate measures are taken and I believe this is the case. As hot as DJI is right now, I just can’t see they laying off people in A time when they are the #1 drone maker on the planet. That would be like Apple laying off employees right now. I think this falls under ‘Fake News’. Just my opinion.

I doubt that. It actually makes a lot of sense for DJI to be cutting back right now. I don't think drone sales are all that hot right now and a trade war with China seems to be heating up on multiple fronts.

 

[alopeznj]

Every body I know is buying drones in this pandemic. Keeps people sane so DJI is flurising.

 

[sar104]

Well I did list a drone news website. I think if your waiting for something from CNN or the AP your probably not going to see it. Thousands of companies are cutting back on staff right now and DJI is certainly not big enough to stand out in that pack. Anyway lets see what happens, if its real I am sure at some point the info will come out.

Yes - you did - an older story from April 7 in sUAS news:

"Multiple sources, are telling sUAS News that US repair and support staff have been laid off or are leaving by the end of this month (April)."​

Of course no hint of who those sources might be, and it didn't happen. So I'll ask again - what are the "so many websites" carrying this news story? Can you name even one? And if you look at the results of your Google search you will notice that lots of news websites have news about DJI.

 

[alopeznj]

If this is a concern I would email DJI Corp. Headquarters . Doubt you will get a straight answer but its a start.

 

[method007]

Does it matter? If they downsized it’s due to a reduction in sales forecasts. Assuming that’s accurate, it’s not like there will be less availability of drones. People are buying less so they produce less, but they won’t suddenly produce less than demand.

 

[Robbyg]

Yes - you did - an older story from April 7 in sUAS news:

"Multiple sources, are telling sUAS News that US repair and support staff have been laid off or are leaving by the end of this month (April)."​

Of course no hint of who those sources might be, and it didn't happen. So I'll ask again - what are the "so many websites" carrying this news story? Can you name even one? And if you look at the results of your Google search you will notice that lots of news websites have news about DJI.

You really seem to be worked up about this.
It's pretty simple. DJI says they are working from home and evidently some staff members are reporting on social media that they are really out of a Job.

You say it did not happen and you seem certain of that. I assume your going by what DJI has stated? I have no idea who is telling the truth so that's why I asked the question.

Does anybody know who Ken is? He seems to be very popular with the US customers. Maybe someone can find out if he is still working for DJI.

 

[BigWillie]

I doubt that. It actually makes a lot of sense for DJI to be cutting back right now. I don't think drone sales are all that hot right now and a trade war with China seems to be heating up on multiple fronts.

 

[BigWillie]

You could be right RobbyG, I was just stating my thoughts on it, like you are. Who knows, but with all of the thoughts and opinions going around, it does make for an interesting thread. All in care about is that my MA2 flies without issues. As long as the quality of the product remains the same, I really don’t care about DJI layoffs, they are a part of doing business, especially during this pandemic. Some people get too worked up over things that are out of their control. So what if there are lay offs within DJI, what are we as pilots going to do about it, call DJI and have them rehire those people back? For me, I’m more interested in the firmware update to my SC so I can use it with my MA2. Again, just my opinion. Fly on everyone.

 

[sar104]

You really seem to be worked up about this.
It's pretty simple. DJI says they are working from home and evidently some staff members are reporting on social media that they are really out of a Job.

You say it did not happen and you seem certain of that. I assume your going by what DJI has stated? I have no idea who is telling the truth so that's why I asked the question.

Does anybody know who Ken is? He seems to be very popular with the US customers. Maybe someone can find out if he is still working for DJI.

Not worked up - I simply could find no basis at all for the assertion that this was being widely reported. As I said - I couldn't find even a single report of it.

 

[Mavic Mac]

Might as well throw in my 2¢. Every day reading these forums there are a good number of new pilots checking in. Checking the Forum Statistics member count has increased over 2,000 in the last few weeks. That doesn’t take into account all of the other drone forums and the people that buy drones and don’t post that info. So maybe right now between the number of sales and the pandemic the sales for DJI have slowed. From a business prospective maybe they felt it was necessary to lay off people.