It appears that MyFamily.com has made the decision to conduct sweeping layoffs of its employees again today. This is not their first time; they having done so in 2000 and 2004. It remains a tragic loss for the employees and families involved as they find themselves suddenly without income. Those that remain, if 2001 is any indication, will find themselves overwhelmed with work as they try to do 2 jobs at once.
Not only do I have acquaintences employed there, but also friends. Some were kept on, while others were let go. All in all, this day goes down in the books as one dreary day… 
Hi Dennis,
Remember me? At the time you knew me as the Ancestry Affiliate Manager, I was Amy Roberts. Things have definitely changed around this area (Provo) and for me personally. You are right - things were tough for many of my former colleagues after the 2000 layoffs (of which I was a part), but the company seemed to do well since then.
I found out about the layoffs through Paul Allen’s blog (not the area newspapers, interestingly enough), which in turn pointed me here to your blog. It was good to see your name and see (after reading through many of your entries) that you’re doing well. I hope that 2006 finds you meeting your goals and increasingly successful.
I wish you all the best - Amy
- Amy Swensen
I worked at Myfamily.com many years ago.
Do you have details? How many people were affected? in what departments?
Also, I’d love to talk to Amy who posted above about affiliate marketing. I’ve been writing about it lately. email me grocerybike@gmail.com.
Thanks
Janet
- Janet Meiners
Amy, I remember you well. A group of us affiliates occasionally bring you up in our conversations, wondering if anyone had had any contact with you. Hope everything is going well for you, and that you’re enjoying the married life.
Feel free to email me at surnameweb@mchsi.com at any time. Would love to know if you’re still doing affiliate marketing.
- dennis
Janet, the only thing I’ve was told was that the layoff was extensive. I can vouch for at least 5 departments in which I knew somebody that was let go, or reassigned. I doubt that Tim left any stone unturned.
- dennis
Salt Lake Tribune - Business: “MyFamily reorganization
affects around 10% of jobs
Reorganization and expansion of the MyFamily.com family of genealogy Web sites and services divisions has resulted in a turnover of about 10 percent of the company’s 500 jobs.
Spokeswoman Mary Kay Evans said Wednesday that about 50 employees left the Provo company last week, even as about 60 new positions were opened.
Employees have been invited to apply for the new jobs, she said.
The work force shift came as MyFamily.com proceeded with plans to split into five business units - the original MyFamily.com Web site, Family History, Heritage Bankers (a direct sales company acquired last fall), Commerce (online/offline sales) and International.
The International division is growing fast, planning this year to add Italy, France and Germany sites to those already serving Britain and Canada.
- Bob Mims “
- Hugh Watkins
Has anyone heard that MyFamily is outsourcing jobs to foreign countries?
MD
- M. Daniel
MyFamily has been outsourcing jobs to foreign countries for years. It has nothing to do with the recent layoffs, as it appears while being “widespread,” these layoffs were relegated to specific departments, most noticeably, marketing. That’s not to say that some of those marketing jobs won’t be outsourced.
Most of the “outsourced” jobs have to do with imaging and indexing of the records being made available on the Ancestry.com website. This also explains why some of the specifics from the indices are often wrong. MyFamily is relying on a group of data inputters that speak and read English as a second language. Their mis-understanding of the intracies of the writing, and lack of understanding of the English naming system, can often lead them to interpret characters in old documents improperly.
- dennis