How layoffs work behind the scenes

How managers pre-select employees to be laid off.
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I’m Lily, a product designer (UX) in San Francisco. With no connections, I hustled and broke into Silicon Valley after arts school. My story has been featured in Apple News and Business Insider.
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[@graveljaw]

Absolutely true. A good reminder that we’re laborers hired to generate profit. The concept of loyalty, etc, are designed to prevent people from jumping around to get higher pay. Layoffs often result in the company shooting themselves in the foot if/when management had no idea how things got done or who was critical. Instead, they surrounded themselves with a "shield" of select people. (Another sign a layoff is coming) The short of it is this: Do NOT take it personally! Businesses can’t function without us and the odds are high that you will end up in a better position down the road. 💪

[@addanametocontinue]

I think we've mostly suspected that layoffs are not random. The people who are laid off weren't drawn out of a hat, they were specifically chosen over other people because their position's elimination would hurt the company less. What's new to me is that the bad event is anticipated ahead of time and these lists are in place long before the layoff happens--if it happens.

[@DollTown11]

Absolutely agree! I even saw that my manager’s behavior towards me had changed in meetings, 1:1s, everywhere. I still stuck around, I really should’ve listened to my gut feeling and left!!! Nobody agrees that they have submitted the names and that it was always in their hands to let people go.. There is a political angle to this too, they may keep the more friendly, upbeat people and really not care about what they are capable of delivering.

[@nomadstar5454]

Great video. I would also add that those that were selected for layoff months ahead most likely will not be assigned to special tasks/projects. If this pattern is true for you, make sure you assess your work situation closely.

[@df-ln8sn]

Big company vp that trim the fat get huge bonuses! layoffs usually occure the end of the year!

[@tomiisan8g155]

I was laid off by a big tech company at the end of July and this absolutely checks so many boxes. My manager told me themselves that layoffs may happen. I was told everything would be fine, then the next day that it may not be. Days later me and others were laid off. As mentioned, my manager said oh they didn't expect it, and it's such a shock, but they weren't convincing. They definitely knew long before. It definitely hurts to know that, but feels much better to no longer be there.

[@finn3102]

Agreed! It does indeed hurt to come to the realization that your manager did in fact make the decision to lay you off. Although they always feign total innocence. When I was laid off late last year, it felt like the worst day of my life. All of a sudden I am a 50+ year old unemployed man, wondering where the tide is going to take me. I know it is cliche, but being laid off turned out to be the best thing that happened to me in a long time. It got me out of a toxic and near dead-end environment, and I ended up landing a dream job. Much higher pay, perks and better benefits. Most of all, the people and culture at the new job are amazing.

[@tomiisan8g155]

@@finn3102 I'm almost 42 and still not clear on the next steps, but definitely seeing where the tides take me. I've long since looked past where I was and looking forward to what's to come! Your store definitely motivates me, and I'm sure many others!

[@AndreLindo]

This sounds very familiar. When I worked at Panasonic, there always rumors about these things happening and about the list or department. I still think they should warn people that layoffs are happening. Just like they get time to plan, we need time to plan as well. Sigh

[@myphone9831]

They do have to warn in certain states if the company is a certain size and they plan to lay off a certain percentage

[@masonsoutdoorsportsmenadve4933]

That would be ideal, but many people can turn evil and sabotage the company before leaving.. 🤔

[@davidtucker3538]

My previous company had given people some notice. The system administrator was laid off and ended up deleting the entire production database.

[@transitengineer]

Sorry, to be so late to the party but yes, I agree 100 percent. This is just what happens when you work for a private company. Around the year 1999 when, I was age 39, we could tell that, our work unit was not really being valued by our Senior Vice President. When we had four (4) sections each with their own manager and staff, he felt it would be better to only have the four managers and none of the staff employees. Over the next three (3)-years as staff departed due to death, retirement, or new employment outside of the company ... they were never replaced. So, when they started to push me out the door, I had decided my next job should be with the government at the City, County, State, or Federal level and, this was the best career decision of my life. I never had to worry about a layoff ever again (smile...smile).

[@DeidreDevelops]

Wow this video is timely!! This just happened to me at my company! Thanks for explaining. I suspected a similar process

[@THEPOSSUMNUTS]

Employees that operate unsupervised for long periods of time and struggle to meet minimum objectives of daily and weekly tasks are the first to go. Those positions can be filled at a later time with more qualified, focused, disciplined, and competent employees

[@hedonepicurea4327]

The sad part is when people lie to workers vs telling the truth. Currently handling a massive downsizing and a few idiots caused a lot of people to not be compatible with the company's direction.

[@Vsjxnndhxk]

CEOs are the ones who should be laid off it's their decision-making that costs the company

[@user-lu6yg3vk9z]

Of course not they get a millions of dollars for failure

[@adamc.7795]

This is getting too much to read about. I sympathize and empathize with everyone.

[@ThatGuyYouKnowUKnow]

Layoffs (aka firings) are like a divorce. It may seem like she just thought it up but has been planning it weeks or years in advance.

[@kasimupitts1850]

It really makes sense

[@jhors7777]

Thank you for posting this helpful video

[@A2Kaid]

Layoff non critical / support roles.

[@adamc.7795]

Did you manage to stay in SF after all you went through recently? I haven't set foot in that city since late 2019. I don't know why I still live in LA county as a remote worker, prob too afraid to sign a new 12 month lease in another part of CA given all this very frustrating news of recession, etc. It's so frustrating because we went through a whole shut down due to covid, then jobs rebounded, and now this again!

[@Designalily]

I'm still in SF! That new rent control law is the best thing that's happened for tenants.

[@adamc.7795]

@@Designalily Good! Oh right it's for apartments built before 2004 I think, statewide? Can only go up %5 plus "inflation"?

[@stephtraveler7378]

There are two sides to every business: the revenue side and the expense side. ALWAYS be on the revenue side. When public traded companies (Google, Facebook, et al) are under pressure to make quarterly profits, the first place they cut is expenses. Biggest expense is LABOR. Heads gotta roll. Once they start, they do it every year. It becomes part of their "wall street" model.

[@Designalily]

What do you consider the revenue side for Google or FB? Product creation = generates revenue

[@user-lu6yg3vk9z]

Be on the sales.

[@bigstick8699]

Bruh, sales get cut too

[@pnwrunning]

You tapping/slapping on the wall at 5:00 grounded the video for me as a viewer....interesting. Felt more concrete than just listening to a 2D talking head.

[@Designalily]

Feedback noted. Thank you for sharing this!

[@gbond-yk9pw]

24y

[@gregmcqueen4540]

Great video, very informative and I’d like to add how beautiful you are 😇😌

[@lusmas99]

Here are my thoughts about this video. Your delivery of the last word of the sentence is almost always emphasized, unnecessarily so. Don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds like "a 13 year old". Good luck.