https://zeldman.com/2024/10/04/i-stayed/ Skip to the content Search Zeldman on Web and Interaction Design Since 1995. Formerly "The Daily Report." Menu * About * Friends * Privacy Policy * Subscribe to Zeldman.com Search Search for: [ ] [Search] Close search Close Menu * About * Friends * Privacy Policy * Subscribe to Zeldman.com Categories automattic business Career Community glamorous jobs Open Source Own your content I stayed. * Post author By L. Jeffrey Zeldman * Post date 4 October 2024 * 8 Comments on I stayed. My insight into corporate legal disputes is as meaningful as my opinion on Quantum Mechanics. What I do know is that, when given the chance this week to leave my job with half a year's salary paid in advance, I chose to stay at Automattic. Listen, I'm struggling with medical debts and financial obligations incurred by the closing of my conference and publishing businesses. Six months' salary in advance would have wiped the slate clean. From a fiduciary point of view, if nothing else, I had to at least consider my CEO's offer to walk out the door with a big bag of dollars. But even as I made myself think about what six months' salary in a lump sum could do to help my family and calm my creditors, I knew in my soul there was no way I'd leave this company. Not by my own choice, anyway. I respect the courage and conviction of my departed colleagues. I already miss them, and most only quit yesterday. I feel their departure as a personal loss, and my grief is real. The sadness is like a cold fog on a dark, wet night. The next weeks will be challenging. My remaining coworkers and I will work twice as hard to cover temporary employee shortfalls and recruit new teammates, while also navigating the complex personal feelings these two weeks of sudden, surprising change have brought on. Who needs the aggravation, right? But I stayed. I stayed because I believe in the work we do. I believe in the open web and owning your own content. I've devoted nearly three decades of work to this cause, and when I chose to move in-house, I knew there was only one house that would suit me. In nearly six years at Automattic, I've been able to do work that mattered to me and helped others, and I know that the best is yet to come. I also know that the Maker-Taker problem is an issue in open source, just as I know that a friend you buy lunch for every day, and who earns as much money as you do, is supposed to return the favor now and then. If a friend takes advantage, you're supposed to say or do something about it. Addressing these imbalances is rarely pretty. Doing it in public takes its own kind of courage. Now it's for the lawyers to sort out. On May 1, 1992, a man who'd been horribly beaten by the L.A. police called for calm in five heartfelt, memorable words: "Can't we all get along?" We couldn't then, and we aren't, now, but my job at Automattic is about helping people, and that remains my focus at the conclusion of this strange and stressful week. I'm grateful that making the tough business decisions isn't my responsibility. In that light, my decision to stay at Automattic was easy. P.S. We're hiring. * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) * Click to print (Opens in new window) * Like Loading... * Tags opensource [350a70e175305fac28923] By L. Jeffrey Zeldman "King of Web Standards"--Bloomberg Businessweek. Author, Designer, Founder. Talent Content Director at Automattic. Publisher, alistapart.com & abookapart.com. Ava's dad. View Archive - --------------------------------------------------------------------- - 9/13/01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 replies on "I stayed." [bb4708eb2c8bae33] Matt West says: 4 October 2024 at 9:50 am Thank you for staying. While our paths don't cross often at Automattic, I'm very grateful to share this house with you. Loading... Reply [fb8804f0aeb62d02] Henrique Iamarino says: 4 October 2024 at 9:54 am Beautifully put, Jeffrey. I stayed, too. Sad but hopeful and grateful, just like you. Loading... Reply [0e724fea23788ffd] Menaka S says: 4 October 2024 at 10:03 am I'm glad that you stayed Jeffrey! In spite of everything that could've lead you leave! Courage to you and us! Loading... Reply [9ca67b86283488d4] Luke Dorny says: 4 October 2024 at 10:04 am I'm a huge fan, J. I'm proud of all of your continued work helping the web become greater than those dark and gangly times from before. Loading... Reply [09806480a4670bb2] Leroy Rosales says: 4 October 2024 at 12:05 pm Did you really just compare yourself to Rodney King? Loading... Reply [350a70e175305fac] L. Jeffrey Zeldman says: 5 October 2024 at 8:43 am No, sir. I would not do that. I'm sorry my meaning was unclear to you. Loading... Reply [0994d5e2e158a24b] Samuel "Otto" Wood says: 4 October 2024 at 5:49 pm That is a tough call, but you do what it's best for you, and nobody can judge that. Loading... Reply [79473f69faf51895] Luke says: 5 October 2024 at 4:13 am Sorry, I don't understand how you can support your boss who is forcing people to choose sides, wielding complete power over a community, and is credibly accused of extortion and attempting to blackmail a successful female exec into joining your company. And you want to pass that off as courage? As being strong? As making tough decisions? You know who else they say about that, right? T for me but not for thee. And you could have just taken the money! Loading... 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