How Companies Are Pushing Out Workers While Avoiding 'Layoffs' | WSJ Your Money Briefing

More companies are finding ways to trim their staff without classifying them as layoffs.
WSJ careers and management reporter Chip Cutter joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why, and the tactics companies are using to shed workers.
0:00 Why are companies letting workers go without laying them off?
1:14 How do performance reviews work with layoffs?
1:59 What rights do employees have in situations like these?
2:47 What impact has the pandemic had on companies’ staffing?
3:20 Is there a stigma associated with layoffs?
5:10 Where have these staff reductions been happening?
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#Layoffs #Employment #WSJ

[@alimfuzzy]

It's very common for corporations to bully employees out of their jobs. Those that can get rid of the most staff get bonuses. I've seen it happen.

[@chickenlittle4344]

This is a good thing to know as a youth. In business college we are being taught about "constructive discharges" however, I now know to also keep an eye out for poor performance reviews, unobtainable bonus models, and other discreet signals to usher employees out. It's insane that people are being incentivized to "get creative" when it comes to letting people go.

[@Valoric]

I reckon these layouts are accelerating thanks to the anticipation that AI is gonna be massive. Hoping it falls flat again like last time and it bites them in the ass.

[@alimfuzzy]

@Chicken Little you also have the opposite with employees putting in false bullying claims so it is harder to fire them without repercussions. It really comes down to the morals of the individual... but I definitely saw it much more at management level at most major corporations.

[@NS-xt5wv]

It happened to me, they really tried to bully me out a few month before they would have a major layoff, but luckily I knew my rights and I kinda showed them that they can’t really do that unless they pay me out really well, which they did. So if you know this is the case, I recommend you keep showing up at work and ignore them until they pay you the severance. Always check your employment contract before signing up with ANY corporation too to make sure you’re insured against such things.

[@profdc9501]

If you think you are undergoing constructive dismissal, keep careful notes on the meetings you have with your supervisors, what happens during those meetings, and make sure you show up for work and don't give them any other reasons to fire you, such as showing up late for work or not working the number of required hours. If you are put on an employee improvement plan, or it is otherwise suggested to you that you may be let go, get any statements in writing. Make sure it is known to you what must be done by you to satisfy their requirements on paper. If there's a lawsuit, you can use this document to determine if you are being unfairly treated or targeted for dismissal. Don't be intimidated by implied threats. If there's going to be a threat to your job by them, get them to put it out in the open and own it and the consequences of the threat. If things get really bad, you may have to send a certified letter to your employer (with return receipt) to request such documentation. If they don't provide it, it's on them. Of course, if it comes to this, I'd started looking for a new job right away, if not yesterday. They don't want to pay severance or unemployment. Don't be bullied. They clearly show they don't owe you anything by treating you this way, and you certainly don't owe them anything.

[@eddiemalvin]

At our company, an "undesired" employee basically has two options: - Find another job and voluntarily leave - Wait to be forced out, receive a healthy severance package, unemployment insurance, job search assistance, etc. I guess you can see why people choose to "quiet quit" instead.

[@kgal1298]

Pretty much I also think anyone younger than 45 understands the game at this point and it makes more sense to wait for the severance. My last job laid me off and I already had another job lined up so not only did I get a new job I got a nice severance package and didn't need to pay for cobra and like 3 managers I work with knew and were mad at me, but like I was playing the game so I don't feel bad I'm sorry if you no longer feel you have an upper hand. I'm sure at some point I'll lose my upperhand, but I'll always find ways to regain it.

[@eddiemalvin]

@@kgal1298 Smart move. Always play your full hand. I know of numerous individuals at my company who rejected relocation offers and received 6-12 month severance packages then immediately landed new jobs with signing bonuses. They basically double-dipped and it changed their lives. That's a perfect example of "Turning Lemons in to Lemonade".

[@Priva_C]

I was let go and they're claiming no severance because the reason isn't a layoff. It was a PIP that I passed a couple of years ago. No severance, no heath insurance or job search support. Please don't let this happen to you. Leave because they'll find a way to make you look incompetent when it's convenient and this shock will devastate you.

[@eddiemalvin]

@@Priva_C I would legally challenge any performance-based dismissal regardless of whether it was deserved or not. Many companies do a horrible job of keeping an audit trail and they don't want the hassle, cost and negative public attention associated with a legal challenge. I've seen employees who were rightly accused of harassment on the job that end up getting payouts. No company wants to be accused of letting that happen on their watch. It may not be fair, but it's definitely reality.

[@NS-xt5wv]

It happened to me, they really tried to bully me out a few month before they would have a major layoff, but luckily I knew my rights and I kinda showed them that they couldn’t really do that unless they paid me out really well, which they did, I also gently threatened them with a lawsuit. So if you know this is the case, I recommend you keep showing up at work and ignore them until they pay you the severance. Always check your employment contract before signing up with ANY corporation too to make sure you’re insured against such things. Unfortunately most employees don’t know their rights and don’t know how to protect them, they bend over the authority of the organization which they shouldn’t be doing! Companies NEVER have your interest in mind, NEVER, remember that. I started my own business with this severance pay, best decision in my life.

[@alexander15551]

This is the employer’s version of “Quiet Firing”

[@williamv3403]

This is an underrated comment

[@sf-spark129]

a quote of the day!

[@turingsam]

In my last job in a super huge corporation, my whole tech team left (including myself). The pay and hours were very good, but the kind of BS you had to stand from "leaders" and "gurus" with no idea about coding or math was incredible. The reality is that the the department was created in 2020 when the rush for data analytics and cheap money was out of the roof. People with no idea were put as directors of teams created from thin air. Obviously after a year, the projects had become Frankensteinian and you had to constantly fight against management to steer those sinking boats. As the wheel of lies and overpromises from management was getting faster, it was obvious that somebody will have to explain how so much money was burnt for nothing. Management became bullies and force us to fix stuff with constant patches to keep the can down the road. If you spoke up, you were put on a corner and atmosphere became supertoxic. At the end, people with great talent and skills gradually left to protect their mental health. Nowadays those projects are maintained by an army of contractors who don't care at all (rightly so), the code is a complete mess, and the analytics and models reported are garbage.

[@polysopher]

Wow you are describing my workplace.

[@TOKObee]

Almost sounds like we worked for the same company lmfao

[@ignoreance]

Very very similar to my experience as a data analyst at a multi-billion dollar company

[@annielin2894]

I just got promoted and it is such a mess my new manager is starting to bullying me now I sense the push me out! I don’t want to look for a new job I am so burned out frond cold calling

[@CollinsCorp]

OK but if you quit, do you get unemployment and if you don’t get unemployment, how do you support yourself until your next job? Do you rely on savings?

[@SirNilooo]

This has been happening at Amazon warehouses . They are going around the whole LAYOFF situation by changing people’s schedules around, like for example in our shift, overnight, they sent out an email to over a dozen associates telling them that they pretty much had to switch to morning shift or resign. This way, on paper, it would show that the associate decided to leave the company as opposed to being let go, technically.

[@troyhung4307]

Lol, just don't show up to work and apply for other jobs

[@lancelotf.x3619]

was that a threat? unfair redundancy.. as it is the company force an unfair term change.

[@tranger4579]

This is why they don't want unions. I'm unionized and my employer can't to squats about without 48 hour notice and no major changes to the schedule I bid on. It's locked and my vacations are put in at the beginning of the year and locked to where they cannot be changed or removed per union contract. I love being unionized.

[@brain4thoughts]

Wow that's crazy 🤪

[@northernlightz5319]

@Troy Hung you don't get it, do you? 😓

[@mrav8r]

Formal layoffs are more expensive to the employer than sliding the employee out the door with a more difficult environment. Employers must pay for unemployment insurance for laid off workers.

[@stevenhake7500]

Can't employees just not care about their jobs and collect a paycheck in that scenario?

[@mrav8r]

@@stevenhake7500 I suppose it depends on the employee. Formal layoffs can take many months for the manager to gather enough evidence to let the employee go legally. How long can you not do work in front of your boss?

[@do9138]

Make THEIR environment difficult if they do that to you. While the boss is playing golf on company time, leave a nice little brown "gift" on his carpet.

[@stevefritz5182]

This happened to me. Big company 80k plus employees. We were told we could no longer work remote (pre-pandemic by about three weeks) and had to decide on any of six centers we could work. However, they didn't wait for reply. They terminated our access immediately and made no effort to follow up. Before that, ironically, it was my job as a manager to shuffle out anybody over 60. We gave them an offer of severance if they would accept a "bridge" program to train a replacement for one year. People took it because they felt they would have been shown the door otherwise. The VP that made these two decisions is no longer with the company. She went from VP in a company with 80k workers to CIO of a company of 300 workers. It took her over a year to find that position. Heaven help them.

[@davidcarp5935]

So why didn't they want people over 60? I need to get to the bottom of this "we don't want old people" BS

[@benjamindover4337]

If they fire someone the person might file for unemployment insurance, which the company then has to pay for. Thats why they passively aggressively harass employees into quiting instead of firing them.

[@madonna816]

This!

[@jibarabicha4853]

Yes! That was the one big elephant in the room the reporter just decided to gloss over.

[@Nighthawk-8050]

Exactly that's what's happening at my job now

[@Chicago48]

Not correct. If laid off, you qualify for unemployment. If you're fired for cause, you don't get unemployment.

[@brain4thoughts]

True

[@marissat9953]

I totally relate to this story. My company started to do this to and when I said it was a tactic to push people out, they looked at me in shock like "How did I know?" They think we are stupid but we aren't. I'm holding on until I get my finances together so I can leave corporate....I'm done with these games....

[@dimastjohn203]

Why is there no coverage by the WSJ of the firing on an entire generation of older Pharmacists from companies like Kroger, CVS and Walgreens? It's the biggest worker story of the last decade. How much is the Pharmacy industry paying to cover up this story?

[@lambertois11]

American Tech companies have layoffs tens of thousands of workers. But strangely they seem not to show up in official American unemployment data. Why…? The bulk of the tech layoffs in the USA, were foreign workers with H1B visa. The foreign workers with H1B visa are not permanent employees. They are considered contract workers. An important caveat, the foreign workers with H1B visa who are layoffs, are not included in the official unemployment statistics.

[@addanametocontinue]

I doubt this claim. Last I checked, there are only about half a million legal foreign workers in the US. Ignoring this data, most layoffs are for the purpose of cutting costs. Foreign workers aren't the best paid, so why let go of them?

[@FutureCommentary1]

EVEN IF that were the case the tech sector doesn't employ that many people compared to overall workforce.

[@lambertois11]

@@frankthefkintank Hey man you really need to think twice before you post comments on KZbin!!!

[@mmaranta785]

Companies like the workers with the H1B visas because they are kind of like slaves for 6 years

[@lambertois11]

@@mmaranta785 Yes it is legalized slavery !!!

[@sunvegeta]

I was a casualty of the lay offs done at the beginning of February. I'm currently unemployed, and actively seeking a new job.

[@chickenlittle4344]

Keep on grindin' and applyin', King. Life's a wave. Sometimes you're on top, other times you're face down on rock bottom. I have faith that you will be prosperous.

[@jbar_85]

You’ll find something. Rumor has it, there are still 11 million job openings.

[@TheNaturalebeauty]

Try govt

[@usetherightbrain.]

you should never be complacent with any job that you are an employee, always get as much as possible where you are, improve and learn from every one around you, always keep options open, be be prepared to learn new things, or to move on even if it is laterally than 'better">the sorrow created by you leaving then would be the best revenge. Do it now, starting tomorrow, planning where and how you new job could be and then make it happen if you need to. BTW you don't owe your employer anything!!, be a poker player , keep your cards hidden.

[@tranger4579]

I have a friend that was involved in a lawsuit with her former employer. Her employer got a wiff that she had become debt and mortgage free. Her immediate supervisors started pestering her constantly about stepping down and forcing herto quit. It ended up in a settlement which she said was a substantial amount. Needles to say the immediate supervisors were terminated and the company downsized it's work force shortly after the settlement.

[@JohnDoe-vh4rt]

Why would a company want an employee to leave when they learn of the employee becoming debt-free?

[@tranger4579]

@@JohnDoe-vh4rt debt free employees are not as desperate and debt ridden employees. Its harder for management to control them or coax them into doing more than their job requirements are.

[@do9138]

@@JohnDoe-vh4rt Because they know we won't work ourselves to death to pay bills. They WANT us in debt. Do you know what happens to your credit rating when you pay off all your debts? It goes DOWN. The system is rigged, and anyone who can't see that is naive.

[@Scriptorsilentum]

@@tranger4579 some yrs ago i recall some crass remarks that just BEGGED for responses about money at a call-centre outfit. really inappropriate to discuss personal finances. mind yer own gd business. rent or own? whatzit to you? myob. for two weeks mgmt was not very subtly probing my financial state. tried to fire me for insubordination in hr till i said you stick your nose into something very personal - like my money - it's done on my terms, not the company's and not to invade people's privacy. they backed off but i noticed the definite chill from two of the top asskissers: their gambit didn't work so they just tried to get more creative. subtle hint i was already talking to a lawyer - i was - and one of them disappeared the other got reassigned to a different site. lasted another year till i went back to school and got better work. talk to a lawyer before you answer any personal questions. know what you can do or not do first, then make your plan.

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

I noticed that companies are not offering full-time jobs, just around 38 or 30 hours per week to avoid paying benefits. Or just hire short term contract workers

[@joekerr3638]

1099 jobs are on the rise

[@evangephone-two7877]

At least in Canada, forcing changes on a worker is considered "constructive dismissal" and legally is the same as if they fired you.

[@Kay-kg6ny]

The U.S. definitely needs that kind of worker protection at the national level.

[@jillclarke7264]

Many companies consider bullying an management skill. It's nasty and greed based as always.

[@4040smokey]

This.

[@deathwish0000]

The sick part is that this kind of inhumane behavior goes way back to the early days of industry. Legally, they can't beat us up physically anymore like whipping, punching, pistol whipping, slapping, or spitting in our face before firing us like our ancestors. They're still allowed to beat us up, or break us down psychologically and financially. Capitalism.

[@nickns732]

Sounds like “Quiet Layoffs” to me

[@vladrazym9955]

Also, companies can save big on lay-off related compensation packages they provided to those who were fired, sometimes it can be 3-6 months of payments

[@jiggeplaya7182]

My company is currently doing this. They’re doing an amazing job killing morale, nobody wants to come to work. Seems like yesterday it was an amazing company to work for.

[@Cadychan]

"Well, workers don't really have rights..." Maybe we should fix this bit first?

[@bastardogrosso4311]

Some of these tactics were used in Australia by AEMO (2011-16) under the former CEO (the late Matt Zemma) and his henchmen (the former People & Culture GM and the former COO). So many staff (in the late 30's and many more older ones) were affected and their lives were abrupted. The practices were stopped only when Matt Zemma suddenly dropped dead (LITERALLY) of heart attack in July 2016, and his henchmen then left AEMO. Rumours had been circulating amongst the staff (current and former) that the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future finally caught up with Matt.

[@LivingAwake]

Companies made this famous in the 80’s, led by Jack Welch’s approach to forced rankings of the lowest 10%. He said no matter how good your team is, there is always someone in the bottom 10% and you should fire them. Yea, there is an entire generation today that has no clue what it’s like to work through that era.

[@benjamindover4337]

The same thing happens now. But they also fire the top 10% too, so that managers can make sure nobody is rising up to replace them.

[@LivingAwake]

@@benjamindover4337 yep, continuous improvement!

[@lancelotf.x3619]

right.. it is being used everywhere there not a deamn shit legal protection for employees.

[@rickrandall3174]

And Fortune Magazine named Welch the "Manager of the Century" for his expertise in destroying jobs and careers.

[@ThriftyCHNR]

@@LivingAwake GE then became a turd

[@bmanpura]

It's been like this for a while. Opening your own small business is a good opportunity, and with goverment handing out incentives for small business, it's probably nicer to work by yourself.

[@do9138]

Yep. I just loaned my friend $17,000 to keep his business alive, and he closed it anyway. I'll never see a dime. Yeah, small businesses are a GREAT idea if you have some sucker to support you.

[@bmanpura]

@@do9138 That bad huh? You can grow a good new business in a small town Indonesia for at least with that much money. Lending is a whole different beast than opening your own though - I had a few loans that will never pay back as well.

[@do9138]

@@bmanpura Yeah, but the friend I loaned it to brags about the properties he owns in South Africa and about being a millionaire.

[@yuanhu6031]

As someone in silicon industry I found the name "chip cutter" very interesting, lol.

[@sahilchib5842]

Yeah

[@kitk888]

I did 8 years across KPMG and PwC and they are surgical at these tactics. Used to see it happen all the time to people who would be top performers YoY then …. Suddenly leave the business…in times of downturn

[@JohnDoe-vh4rt]

Why would the company want to get rid of a top performer?

[@kitk888]

@@JohnDoe-vh4rt from what I understand they were assessing what the delta would be between boiling the ocean associated with formal layoffs so the partners could dovetail out the other side

[@lnman000]

Alright, that's wallstreetjournal making sure they don't mention the unemployment insurance

[@BUG25985]

one of my jobs pushed a lot of people out via an early retirement benefit plan - my department had a lot of older people so it made an impact definitely

[@edwins.9609]

Thank you for reporting this

[@maddisonmad2710]

This video has been quite eye opening

[@DanDannyDanielleBob]

The typical playbook is: 1. Reduction in force (RIF) and report expected earnings increase to the street and enjoy stock improvement; 2. If problems persist, put folks on performance improvement plans (PIP) and then cut with a lower package, if any vs 1 and management is selling stock while this is happening; 3. Official RIF#2 to juice earnings numbers before spinning off and selling parts of the business. If it goes further then the company is a zombie, something about their core business isn't working anymore. In normal times this cycle takes about 2 years at large well funded companies

[@joyful]

i've seen this happen so many times. re-orgs, consolidation of teams. people see what's coming and start interviewing instead of waiting for cuts. also getting rid of consultants but simply ending contracts early. this is something i've seen very recently. a ton of consultants were cut from the IT department and projects were put on-hold for at least 2 yrs. it's so easy for large corporations to get rid of people. all while not trying to make their work more efficient or streamlined. just cut people instead of improving.

[@nnplee]

This happens a lot in the banking and finance, investment firm sector too

[@banditonehundred]

Thank for the tips

[@charliebrown6590]

I was put on a PIP early in my career….I never thought about leaving but I focused on becoming more valuable to the team…it worked and caused my career to surge!

[@saurabhtaware3740]

Story about layoffs, reporter name Chip Cutter. I'm impressed.

[@sami-iami]

Wow I’m surprised to see WSJ covering stuff like this

[@rosemariebredahl9519]

The unfounded undermining an employee's future job recommendations (which is in effect a warning sign with inferred threat that things could get worse if they stay), should be subject to lawsuits for harassment, psychological abuse, hostile workplace, Etc.. Re avoiding formal layoffs, the employers' unemployment insurance rates don't rise (because their employees stressed into resigning don't qualify for unemployment benefits!)! Heinous.

[@leedirtybriches]

Too many office managers, not enuff sausage makers.

[@hkhatri12]

Sometimes HR/P&C department will not allow the direct manager to give highest rating to the employee. I know of one specific case where P&C told the manager that he shouldn’t give 4/4 score to their direct report. Even after back & forth, the P&C changed the rating on their end since manager wasn’t going to reduce the rating.

[@TwizJex]

It's been happening outside of US too, where my company bully employees out of their jobs.

[@Scriptorsilentum]

figure out who is doing it and who is pushing it. find out what cars they drive. make sure they have interesting rides home. just a thought. it's been done in my area.

[@Chicago48]

He doesn't mention Unemployment benefits.

[@TomNook.]

I like how you're expanding the News Briefing Universe. In the future, perhaps have a collab with Zoe Thomas, the original Avenger

[@tjbellah349]

I can tell you why they don’t wanna admit to actually laying people off. It’s all connected to the public share price.

[@senatorhung]

uh, seriously ?? it goes the other direction. a pretty good rule of thumb is that layoff announcement = boost in stock price (as long as the rest of the business appears solid).

[@devchintu]

V well covered

[@Stopinvadingmyhardware]

Swingline Stapler That was the hint.

[@anthonyjenkins-fr9xm]

This news coverage! Remind me of the movie 🎬 up in the air, staring George Clooney.. Does anyone remember that movie movie. A must watch...

[@addanametocontinue]

I'd rather willingly choose to find another job while still being employed than to get laid off and having to stress over finding a job. Even if a company lets you go and you can collect unemployment, it's only a fraction of what your normal pay was: you're still end up losing. I can state that changing somebody's job description is a good way to get rid of them. My job description was changed a few months ago and I've been looking for another job since. I don't like the new responsibilities, it's not what I signed up for.

[@ignaciomayenthegoldenrule9618]

Hygiene factor removal? Removing comforts?

[@mangoman5864]

1:45 how is that a "signal"? isn't that psychological torture ?

[@Philosific]

I was fired from my job in Oct. they framed it as that i committed “act of Fraud” which i certainly didnt do. They had put me on a PIP prior and i was on track to meet the PIP, then they called me in a meeting and said because i was on a PIP, any such as that was immediate termination. I know i didn’t. I also have a few of their training calls that would show i didnt do anything outside of their taught process. I am in Texas so with at will employment so i didn’t think it made sense to get an Attorney. This was in October. Does anyone think it would make sense to legally pursue this?

[@DC-wg1cr]

Bring up non-compete contracts!

[@worldcitizeng6507]

By only hiring contract workers

[@thomas4315]

The Inflation Reduction Act created the CAMT, which imposes a 15% minimum tax on the adjusted financial statement income of large corporations for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022. The CAMT generally applies to large corporations with average annual financial statement income exceeding $1 billion

[@benowens9590]

J.R.: What about employee rights? Chip.: Well, they don't have rights.

[@noirskate]

By making the work environment more difficult for employees to work in…many of these companies will be able to achieve their headcount goals along with increasing work productivity

[@anonymous4gent]

Yeah, my manager last year told me I bring negative energy to meetings in my performance review lol. Edit: ex manager.

[@kgal1298]

I keep checking warn notices and tech is doing even more this month sucks, but this is what happens when you not only spook people with talks of a recession but over employ during the the pandemic.

[@Parthsean]

Where is Zoe Thomas?

[@TamagoHead]

HR and employee management is a complicated issues, especially in tech. - Bill Gates & Elon Know how to code. The growth companies likely didn’t invest in building out an internal structure in terms of honest peer reviews, and the problem is that you can’t manage IT people if you don’t know how to code your way out a wet paper bag.

[@Kay-kg6ny]

Elon Musk has proven very publicly that he does not know anything substantial about coding, especially at the scale of a large company. He also demonstrated that he doesn't know crap about management strategy, corporate law, ANYTHING.

[@kagitsune]

We need to talk about how "quiet firing" is the real problem.

[@AlgoNudger]

Is being a digital nomad the best option? 🤔

[@skinykeny]

2 months in a row I received 1/3-1/2 the calls my co-workers got, I could hear what they said, they weren’t saying or doing anything different than I was saying…but a couple of bad months killed me. My last day at my old company and my first day at my new company were the same day.

[@kingzaire2444]

What’s the value of an employee evaluation if it’s only going to be weaponized by employers.

[@itzeltorreson]

I appreciate your approach to teaching.. To my understanding this just proves how much we need an edge as investors because playing the market like everyone else just isn’t good enough, we just need to hold onto our hopes and wait to see how things turn out because market movements are almost always unpredictable. In my portfolio, I'm noticing more red than green and my retirement is edging closer by the day.

[@vuhoahua]

As with my big financial decision ,it’s important to keep your guard’s up for economic risks. However,smart planning,time management and seeking advise from a financial adviser can help keep you and your money safe and also help plan your retirement.

[@aadenmarousek]

Right now the markets are going berserk right now. This is the best time to watch them, get to know them better, and strike when the opportunity presents itself. I learned that from my mentor, ’Deborah Divito Welch’ she's seen dozens of market cycles over the past few decades, and she has a feel for how they move, why they move, and what comes next.

[@pamelamonarch]

@@aadenmarousek Fantastic! can u share more details?

[@akirakrusemark]

@@aadenmarousek Thanks, I just googled her and I'm really impressed with her credentials; I reached out to her since I need all the assistance I can get.

[@aadenmarousek]

She’s a hlghIy-sought out advlser, so I’m not certain she’s acceptlng new intakes, but you can give it a shot. It wouldn’t be proper to just Ieave her number Iying around, but she has a webpage you can look at if you googIe her name.

[@mrmakeshft]

Its the most obvious economic standard of cutting this department at corporate and thats just to save one job. This is why people are stuck in a cycle of birth childhood (-ish) regret and die…If your lucky you see 80-100 but 60-70 is normally the cuttoff

[@TKGZONE]

Employees need to push back and group together against big Corp if you want any meaningful changes. Or the employee will always get abused cuz they know it's your livelyhood

[@Kay-kg6ny]

ABSOLUTELY. Unionize!!!!!

[@Jorge-mg7or]

Sounds great. But then you vote Democrat or Republican over and over again and wonder why the laws to unionize aren't more favorable to the worker. It's like George Carlin said about Washington: 'it's a BIG club and you ain't in it'.

[@rondrake3720]

Even in government this is now being done

[@armorbearer9702]

I would prefer the company telling me that they are laying me off. It would look better on a resume and interviewing for future jobs.

[@eleanorponder278]

If you are older, they give you a boss right outta college to run you off.

[@le_th_]

Companies will do ANYTHING to NOT have to pay unemployment. They'll give false poor employment reviews. I took a department from failing to number 1 in sales the US, something this company who had been in business since the late 1800s had never happened (or so I was told prior to it happening), and I was given a poor performance review. All I could do was laugh. The more I succeeded, the more my boss and her boss hated me. They hated me because I did what they told me could never be done (and it wasn't that difficult to do it, to be honest). I was so busy fixing all the things that were wrong in this particular department that I failed to notice that each problem I solved, was another narcissistic injury to my bosses boss. lol So many fragile narcissistic egos in the business world get wounded when the underlings succeed in ways they apparently didn't. My boss' boss was one of those women who married one of her direct reports...not kidding. smh After 20+ years climbing the ranks of this company they finally had to pay her to take a different position, so she wouldn't go to our competitor. It was a massive narcissistic injury to her. She had been very successful, but in 2013 she wasn't willing to change, to see that business was mostly going to be conducted online going forward, and she resented those of us who were pointing out how that shift was already happening in 2012. smh She's been a realtor in the SF Bay area now for the last 5-6 years because, despite being in the tech capital of the world, she refused to allow younger executives to help her shift the business online. I've never seen a senior manager so unwilling to learn, and so quick to shoot down anyone who had a suggestion about, how to transition a business to online. smh

[@j887276]

All about profits and shareholders, don't want a layoff scare worrying investors 😩

[@tonywinston9647]

Cutting the slackers.

[@sinebar]

The last company I worked for as an engineer they called it a "career advancement opportunity". 😂

[@nashsanadiki3104]

It’s official this Friday will be the first time I’ve receive 8$ from my primary source of income I work at Walmart what excuse can justify only 1 shift a month

[@nashsanadiki3104]

@@Alvare2 if it were easy for me to get another job I’d have one, been applying since my hours were cut back in November

[@nashsanadiki3104]

@@Alvare2 of course my city offers a program for those with a mental disability and are seeking employment. Honestly if I was'nt on Adhd medication I would be able to work overnight, but unfortunetly cant

[@YoRAHeem]

Process of attrition.

[@___asd159gh43]

Uber's Drizly laid off just under 100 people so they wouldn't have to file in Mass for layoffs.

[@alexlifeson8946]

Forced quiting. It's rampant.

[@southpole4776]

My company asked me to return to the office. I ain't going back when I know that i can find remote work with slightly lower pay. There are better things to do in life if there is enough money to survive

[@theodoreroberts3407]

I figure, when the checks stop rolling, I'm out of work. It doesn't matter what they want to call it.

[@dipenb4u]

Good content but WSJ should do podcast instead of YT video if it's just going to be voice recording.

[@stevenhake7500]

Name an industry that doesn't have a labor shortage. I'll wait.

[@touristtea6076]

Not saying this doesn’t happen but since when did “you need to improve” equal they must want me to quit? We all have that co-worker that sucks. Maybe some people suck at that job? The remote thing could’ve failed since they had to switch so fast.

[@carolinestanczuk]

It's making my head spin as European. uSA is a really crazy place i absolutely don't get... Lack or contract, holiday, insurance, maternity/paternity leave... Company can't pressure me to change my employment hours, salary and place of work, position...

[@TheMrgoodmanners]

Its a third world country clad in a gucci belt. USA has more in common with brazil than it does western Europe

[@UnCoolDad]

Chip Cutter! 🤣🤣🤣

[@hilee7390]

2:17 In this high-interest rate era, many companies reduce recruitment because should be paying more Interest and principal to banks. Therefore, such advice is a painful & irresponsible word for whose workers are being Laid -off.

[@2005deluxe]

They arev transfering you to a vendor that will fire you after your first review.

[@jamesbarry1673]

In the country with shrinking population employers have to be very careful what they do.

[@randyc9700]

Eagles- Get Over It

[@romankravchenko4736]

Correct title should start: "how to push out.."

[@chrisklugh]

When the Tech Industry goes in the way of Gig Work. Everything is becoming Gig Work. No more Careers.

[@auro1986]

not how, ask why. ask why won't you hire and fire people based on who you like and dislike when there are so many to pick from the job market? they all have studied the same thing by schools and colleges made by the "system"

[@Giveittomikey]

absolutely disgusting

[@paulsaragosa371]

Cutting out of the haircut and then great clipping s

[@brocklanders6969]

Over 50 are first to go...

[@TomtomLucky]

What if? Or Maybe?

[@mind-of-neo]

So they don't have to pay unemployment. Same with reasonless firings. You can only get unemployment if it was officially layoff. Disgusting.

[@4040smokey]

Yep, that part wasn't mentioned in the vid for some reason.

[@teresas.4541]

Learn to mine

[@primeholyassasin20]

Suits at the top seem afraid to face their workers. Can’t trust anyone these days but your closest friends it seems.

[@lepidoptera9337]

I know somebody who had to lay off a large fraction of staff once. He was crying afterwards. If you think that firing staff is easy for a motivated manager who wants the company to succeed, then think again. Layoffs are usually a necessity. They are not a choice and by rational criteria most CEOs and boards wait far to long before they start layoffs.