On October 7, 2024, every human being who works at Automattic was made a co-owner of the company.
On that date, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg announced the granting of 200 A12 shares to every single Automattician.
The A12 program is unusual in several respects. The shares are more liquid than common shares or options, and the program includes an internal marketplace with a twice-a-year window: after a one-year vesting period, employees get a chance to buy more shares every six months, or sell shares every three months. That opportunity to sell remains even if an employe leaves the company.
“For your entire life, you are now a shareholder of Automattic,” Mullenweg said while announcing the move to employees. “You are an owner. And I want you all to have the mentality of an owner.”
The stock grant serves as a thank-you to the many Automatticians who declined the company’s generous six-month severance offer, as well as an inducement for all employees to think like owners, while still putting customer needs above all else.
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