Flock opened buyouts as plate-camera contracts unwind
WIRED reported that Flock Safety opened a voluntary-exit package through 2 October for a workforce of about 1,500, expecting to grant buyouts to most applicants while licence-plate camera contracts unwind. TechCrunch, citing WIRED, wrote that Flock called the packages its most generous yet and that layoffs would almost certainly follow without them, as Florida and Texas said they would stop using the tools.
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A Friday window through 2 October
WIRED reported that applications opened on Friday for a voluntary-exit package running through 2 October, and that Flock said it would grant packages to most workers who apply. People familiar with the programme but not authorised to speak publicly thought a significant share of the roughly 1,500-person staff may try to leave. TechCrunch, citing WIRED, wrote that Flock expects a large share of that staff to ask. The dollar value of the packages, and any cap on how many grants Flock would sign, were not disclosed. The company sells automatic licence-plate camera devices; the buyouts landed while that camera software is losing city contracts.[1], [2]
Packages framed as the alternative to layoffs
Anthony Ha at TechCrunch wrote that Flock called the packages its most generous yet. WIRED, as cited there, said layoffs would almost certainly follow without buyouts. That is Flock's own framing of the choice, not a confirmed headcount of who would be cut if the window closed empty.[2]
Contracts unwind in two states and dozens of cities
WIRED wrote that the company moved while US backlash around its licence-plate camera devices continues: in August the Washington Post identified 46 alleged misuse cases, and Florida and Texas said they would stop using the system. TechCrunch added an advocacy count of 90 cities dropping Flock in August. The two tallies are not the same list: one is alleged police misuse cases in a newspaper count, the other is cities an advocacy group said had dropped the vendor's camera software.[1], [2]
