Mike Cannon-Brookes · Co-founder & CEO
Who is Mike?
Mike Cannon-Brookes is the 6th richest Australian and Atlassian's co-founder. Nobody's pretending mass layoffs are a good time, but as far as these things go, his redundancy package is pretty decent.
Who is Richard?
Richard White is Australia's 13th richest man and WiseTech's founder, sitting seven rungs below Mike. Somehow he can't find it in his heart to give an inch more than the National Employment Standards minimum.
Richard White · Founder & Global Chairman
Same industry. Same country. Two completely different packages.
AtlassianMike Cannon-BrookesWiseTechRichard WhiteBase payout to impacted workers
Atlassian16 weeks' salary minimum, plus 1 week per year of service — no cap. Inclusive of statutory entitlement.
WiseTechStatutory NES scale only: 4 weeks (1 yr) rising to a 16-week peak (9–10 yrs), then dropping back to 12 weeks for 10+ years of service.
Time given before final day
AtlassianOne month's salary paid in lieu of notice.
WiseTechNES minimum: 1–4 weeks based on tenure (+1 week if aged 45+ with 2+ years of service).
Treatment of in-flight bonus
AtlassianProrated FY26 bonus paid out on exit.
WiseTechNot offered.
Annual & long service leave
AtlassianAll accrued annual and long service leave paid to termination date.
WiseTechStatutory entitlements only.
Internal role exploration
AtlassianActive redeployment exploration across Atlassian before exit.
WiseTechEmployees will be given a reasonable opportunity to explore and express interest in suitable alternative roles.
Help replacing the work device
AtlassianAUD $2,709 (≈ USD $1,900) gross payment to buy a personal laptop, on return of the company one.
WiseTechNot offered. Hand back the laptop, walk out the door.
Sign-on, relocation, discretionary payments
AtlassianAll repayment obligations waived — no clawback of sign-on, relocation or other discretionary payments.
WiseTechNot addressed. Standard contractual clawbacks apply.
Career transition assistance
AtlassianOutplacement services through Atlassian's company-sponsored vendor.
WiseTechNot offered.
Support for sponsored employees
AtlassianAUD $6,000 lump sum to assist repatriation. No evidence of spend required.
WiseTechNot addressed.
Future-dated or planned leave
AtlassianBooked or evidenced parental leave honoured as an additional separation payment, up to 26 weeks' salary.
WiseTechNot addressed.
What's actually going on
WiseTech is currently offering only the legal minimum under the Fair Work Act. Comparable tech employers like Atlassian and Block have done significantly better. A decent package is a signal of respect for the people who built the company.
Staff want to raise concerns, push back on assumptions and contribute ideas without fear it'll cost them their career. Healthy companies make room for that — especially mid-transformation.
Years of experience, judgement and institutional knowledge can't be replaced by automation without serious consequences. Workers want straight answers on how knowledge will be retained, who is accountable for product quality, and what happens if the AI assumptions turn out to be wrong.
This redundancy process has dragged on for months. Workers describe significant stress, anxiety and fear about whether they'll still have a job from week to week. Employers have a legal duty to manage psychosocial hazards — including the harm caused by prolonged uncertainty and poorly managed restructures.
What Professionals Australia is asking for
“Australian technology professionals helped build this company and continue to underpin its success — they deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.”
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