Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz. image: Sportsfile (Web Summit), under Creative Commons license

Events platform Eventbrite is cutting its headcount by as much as 45%, according to a source familiar with the matter. The job cuts come amid a coronavirus pandemic that has undeniably affected the events industry. Sometime last month, Eventbrite had to withdraw its financial forecast as a result of the growing impact of the pandemic which has much prevented the holding of live events, events that account for most of Eventbrite’s business.

“The global pandemic and the impact on the live events industry is unprecedented,” Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz noted in a press release that announced the withdrawal of the company’s financial forecast. She was very right. A 45% workforce reduction isn’t something that’ll conventionally occur without a severe business slowdown. Recent times have been tough for companies whose businesses depend majorly on day-to-day activities which include events and travel. Job cuts amounting to hundreds have sort of become a norm as of late. Eventbrite is known to have more than 1,000 employees meaning a 45% slash would affect at least 450 people.

Eventbrite’s layoffs come on the heels of many other well-known companies also resorting to job cuts. Among recent job cuts include about 400 jobs at Compass, more than 400 at scooter company Bird, 250 at Thumbtack, about 100 at Getaround, nearly 200 at Knotel, and more than 100 at StubHub. Fitness startup ClassPass also recently furloughed or laid off more than half of its staff.

According to a source, Eventbrite’s layoffs were announced by its CEO in a company-wide meeting, where she told employees that those affected would be informed by phone calls.