Airbnb

Performance review cycle feels...different this year.

This is my third performance review cycle at Airbnb and it feels way more intense than before. Normally it's a bit of a formality, setting goals and discussing career progression. This year, though, there's a LOT of emphasis on 'impact' and 'deliverables'. My manager keeps bringing up 'doing more with less' and has been pushing back on some of my stretch goals, saying they're not 'core to the business objectives'. It feels less about growth and development and more about justifying my existence. Heard some whispers about 'talent optimization' during all-hands, which sounds like corporate speak for something more concerning. Anyone else feeling like the review process is suddenly a high-stakes evaluation of your necessity?

·2026-07-22T16:01:23.66787+00:00·2

·2026-07-22T16:01:21.344623+00:00·2

Hiring slowdown and budget cuts, anyone else seeing this?

Been at Airbnb for a couple of years now, and it feels like things are definitely tightening up. We had a pretty aggressive hiring plan for Q3/Q4, but suddenly a lot of those reqs are going on hold or being 're-evaluated'. My manager's been tight-lipped, just saying 'budgetary constraints' and 'strategic realignment'. Seeing a lot of travel budgets slashed too, and discretionary spending is basically zero. It's not outright layoffs, but the vibe is definitely shifting from 'growth at all costs' to 'conserve and consolidate'. Anyone else in different departments experiencing something similar? Wondering if this is company-wide or just my little corner.

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Layoff Report

Sudden freeze on internal mobility applications?

I was looking to make an internal move to a different team that seemed to be growing, but my application just got rejected immediately. HR flagged it as 'currently on hold' and my current manager didn't even seem surprised. This is weird because usually internal transfers are pretty encouraged here. Then I heard from someone in another department that their team also just got a memo to pause all new internal hires for the next quarter. It feels like they're not saying it out loud, but something is definitely shifting with staffing. Anyone else running into this?

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·2026-07-21T13:50:43.639528+00:00·2

·2026-07-21T13:50:35.570237+00:00·2

Anyone else getting the 'we're optimizing' talk that feels like a prelude?

Lately, there's been a lot of internal messaging about 'driving efficiency' and 'streamlining operations'. On the surface, it sounds like standard business speak, but the vibe feels... different. It's not just about doing more with less, it feels like there's an underlying current of 're-evaluating headcount' or something similar. My skip-level mentioned it again in our last 1:1, framing it as a proactive measure. Anyone else hearing this or seeing signs that it might be more than just buzzwords?

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·2026-07-21T13:30:38.805339+00:00·2

Seeing some odd reshuffling in product teams. What's going on?

Been at Airbnb for a few years now, and typically our product roadmap and team structures are pretty stable. But recently, I've seen a couple of significant reassignments and project pivots that seem out of the blue. It feels like there's a lot of internal movement, but it's not clear what the end goal is. Some teams are being asked to drop existing work to pick up 'strategic priorities' that weren't on the radar a month ago. Is this just normal business churn or am I missing something? Wondering if anyone else has insights into what's driving these changes. Feels a bit unsettling.

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Anyone else feeling the pressure from leadership on 'efficiency' lately?

Lately, feels like every other all-hands or leadership update is about 'doing more with less' or 'optimizing our resources.' It's not just a buzzword anymore, it feels like a directive. We're being pushed to hit aggressive KPIs while headcount seems to be stagnant or even shrinking in some departments. My manager keeps talking about 'streamlining processes' but it just translates to more work for the remaining people. Anyone else experiencing this, and what are your thoughts on where this is heading?

·2026-07-21T13:30:35.661616+00:00·2

Salary

Comp discussion – seeing a lot of internal movement but what about external?

Curious to hear what folks are seeing regarding compensation. Obviously, the general tech market is a bit wild right now. But internally at Airbnb, I'm hearing about a lot of role changes and some internal re-leveling happening. It makes me wonder if we're seeing a more targeted approach to compensation adjustments rather than broad market-rate increases. What are people seeing for external offers in similar roles? Are recruiters still making competitive offers, or have you seen a noticeable dip? Trying to get a pulse on whether the internal comp discussions are reflective of the broader market or if there's a different strategy at play. It's hard to gauge without concrete data points, and frankly, it's a source of stress for many. Any insights on recent offers, or even anecdotal data from colleagues who have moved roles externally, would be super helpful. Trying to understand the landscape better.

·2026-07-21T13:21:56.470951+00:00·2

Is anyone else noticing a shift in how projects are prioritized?

Hey everyone, been at Airbnb for a few years now and things are definitely feeling different lately. Usually, we have a pretty clear roadmap and project intake process. But lately, it feels like priorities are shifting on a weekly basis, and sometimes projects that seemed like a huge focus just… disappear. It's making it really hard to plan and even harder to feel like the work we're doing has long-term impact. I've heard whispers about budget reviews and reallocations happening behind closed doors. Is this just me, or are others experiencing this kind of uncertainty? It’s creating a lot of anxiety, especially with the general market sentiment. Feels like the ground is constantly shifting under our feet and it’s tough to maintain momentum. Anyone else in a similar boat or have any insight into what might be driving this change?

·2026-07-21T13:21:52.200705+00:00·2

·2026-07-21T13:16:34.808402+00:00·2

Performance review cycle feels... different this year.

Just went through the last performance review cycle and it felt way more intense than usual. There was a lot more emphasis on 'impact' and 'alignment with business goals,' which I get, but the tone felt different. My manager's feedback was also much more detailed, almost like they were building a case for something. I'm wondering if this is just me, or if others are noticing a shift in how performance is being evaluated, especially with the current economic climate. Feels like there's a lot more scrutiny than before. Anyone else feel like their review was under a microscope?

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Hiring freeze rumors swirling - anyone seeing this?

Lately, I've been hearing more and more chatter about a potential hiring freeze across a few departments. My team hasn't had any open reqs approved in weeks, and usually, we're always looking for more engineers. My manager is being super tight-lipped when asked about future headcount. It feels like budgets are being squeezed everywhere. Has anyone else heard anything concrete, or is this just the usual pre-budget season anxiety? Trying to get a read on the broader company sentiment here.

·2026-07-21T13:16:27.98681+00:00·2

·2026-07-01T10:01:47.496799+00:00·2

My manager's been acting super cagey about team structure moving forward

Okay, so I'm in Trust & Safety, been here ~3 years. For the past month, my manager keeps dodging direct questions about our team's roadmap for Q3/Q4. When asked about headcount or potential reorgs, they just give platitudes about 'adapting' and 'streamlining'. I heard through a skip-level that some roles might be consolidated. It's making it really hard to plan my work and feel secure. I haven't seen any official comms, but this level of evasiveness is really unsettling. Anyone else's management team being this weirdly secretive? Trying to figure out if this is a company-wide thing or just my department.

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Anyone else feeling the 'quiet cutting' vibe at Airbnb?

Been here about 5 years now, on the Product side. Lately, it feels like there's been a massive slowdown in hiring, and a lot of open requisitions just... disappearing. My team's been asked to do more with less for months. Performance reviews felt extra scrutinized this cycle, and people are whispering. It's not official layoffs, but the atmosphere is tense. Anyone else on the engineering or marketing side noticing something similar? Feels like a slow bleed instead of a sudden cut, which is almost worse. Is this happening elsewhere or am I just paranoid?

·2026-07-01T10:01:45.621426+00:00·2

Layoff Survivor Guilt - is anyone else really struggling?

So, I made it through the last round of cuts (or what I suspect was one), but I'm honestly finding it hard to focus on work. Seeing so many talented people on the Talent Directory is just...rough. My team lost two really key people. I'm in Product and now feel like I'm doing the work of three people. It's not just the workload though. It's the guilt. I keep wondering why *they* were let go and not me. Were they not 'performing'? Did they just not align with 'business needs'? I feel like I should be grateful, but I mostly just feel awful and stressed. Anyone else in the same boat and have any advice on how to cope? My therapist's booked solid for weeks.

·2026-05-28T10:02:08.911843+00:00·2

·2026-05-28T10:02:06.493559+00:00·2

Anyone else's manager suddenly acting super weird?

Okay, I need to know if this is just me or if anyone else is experiencing this. My manager, who has always been pretty chill, is suddenly breathing down my neck about every little thing. Like, asking for updates multiple times a day, questioning my priorities, and just generally being…intense. I've been here in Engineering for almost 5 years and never seen him act this way. Is anyone else seeing changes in their managers' behavior? I'm starting to get a really bad feeling about this. Are they prepping for something, or am I just paranoid? I'm trying to figure out if I need to polish up my resume.

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·2026-05-28T07:48:24.593266+00:00·2

Rant: Seriously, what's with the sudden performance review obsession?

Okay, maybe I'm just paranoid, but has anyone else noticed a sudden uptick in performance review scrutiny? Suddenly everyone's under a microscope, and feedback seems harsher than usual. My manager, who used to be super chill, is now nitpicking every little thing. Is this just them covering their butts before potential layoffs? Or are they trying to build a case to fire people before needing to offer severance? I'm so stressed. Been busting my butt to get ahead, and now it feels like it's all for nothing. The whole atmosphere is toxic right now. I can't focus on my work and I'm actively looking for a new job, that's how bad it is. This culture is a joke.

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Layoff Report

Just got laid off - what severance package did you negotiate?

Well, it finally happened. Got the news this morning. I was a Product Manager, level 6, been with the company for 2.5 years. Honestly, I wasn't completely shocked given the recent restructuring. They offered the standard package (2 months salary, benefits continuation for a month, and some outplacement services). Has anyone had success negotiating a better package? What arguments did you use? I was thinking of pushing for at least 3 months given my tenure and contributions to a key project. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

·2026-05-28T07:48:21.561223+00:00·2

Is anyone else feeling super anxious about potential Q3 layoffs?

I know things have *looked* okay lately, but I can't shake this feeling. I've been at Airbnb for almost 4 years now, on the Engineering side, and I remember how out-of-the-blue the last big round was. The company line is always "we're doing great!" right before the axe falls. Anyone hearing whispers or seeing concerning trends? I'm specifically worried about my team in San Francisco. It feels like we've been spread thin and haven't backfilled key roles. Makes me think they're planning on making do with less. Maybe it's just my anxiety talking, but I'd love to hear if others feel the same.

·2026-05-28T07:48:18.301071+00:00·2

Layoff Report

Heard some concerning whispers... Layoffs incoming?

Okay, so I usually don't buy into the rumor mill, but a couple of things have me worried. First, my manager's manager, the VP, suddenly canceled all one-on-ones for the next two weeks. Second, there's been this weird push for 'efficiency' lately, with lots of talk about 'streamlining processes' and 'eliminating redundancies'. Feels like the kind of language they use before a big announcement. I'm in the Marketing department, been here for 3 years. Anyone else hearing anything similar? Or am I just connecting dots that aren't there?

·2026-05-24T05:35:23.138046+00:00·2

Salary

Severance package details? (Considering jumping ship)

I'm a PM in the Homes division, and I've been getting recruiter emails like crazy lately. Honestly, I'm tempted. The only thing holding me back is the potential severance if (when?) the company decides to do another round of layoffs. Does anyone know the details of the current severance package? Is it still the standard X weeks per year of service? Trying to figure out if it's worth sticking around for a few more months just in case. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

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·2026-05-24T05:35:20.898114+00:00·2