Good point! I would theorize that it is much much less bad for employee morale, of the employees who aren’t fired, to think “the economy is terrible and the company is in a difficult position and everyone is doing layoffs” when their colleagues are fired as compared to the times are good version, “the company is growing and making more money and we’re doing awesomely - why did they fire my colleagues who I always thought did fine work”
the company is in a difficult position and everyone is doing layoffs
Is Google really in a bad position? Microsoft? Others who are doing layoffs? Or can they do them, bring down expenses, and juice the stock price under the cover of "everyone is doing it"? I don't know, but it is a bit head-scratching (to me at least) that profitable companies would be doing double-digit percentage layoffs
I agree with you and don’t think they are in bad positions at all!! Also, I think companies need to fire deadweight at some point or else the company will collapse - and crises are the “less bad” time to fire the deadweight you want to, as compared to good times.
Note: I’m not supporting this and I’m not saying I think this is a good move; I’m just observing there may be this more subtle logic at work, in the minds of management making these decisions.
I think companies, especially Google, should have thought about the implications of massive hiring associated with things like X, then shutting them down en mass creating a situation where you have staff playing musical chairs trying to find a place to land.
Just like waiting for that yearly performance cycle to notify someone how they've been underperforming against particular criteria, it's bad to wait for this bulk layoff opportunity to get rid of the "deadweight".
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Good point! I would theorize that it is much much less bad for employee morale, of the employees who aren’t fired, to think “the economy is terrible and the company is in a difficult position and everyone is doing layoffs” when their colleagues are fired as compared to the times are good version, “the company is growing and making more money and we’re doing awesomely - why did they fire my colleagues who I always thought did fine work”
Is Google really in a bad position? Microsoft? Others who are doing layoffs? Or can they do them, bring down expenses, and juice the stock price under the cover of "everyone is doing it"? I don't know, but it is a bit head-scratching (to me at least) that profitable companies would be doing double-digit percentage layoffs
I agree with you and don’t think they are in bad positions at all!! Also, I think companies need to fire deadweight at some point or else the company will collapse - and crises are the “less bad” time to fire the deadweight you want to, as compared to good times.
Note: I’m not supporting this and I’m not saying I think this is a good move; I’m just observing there may be this more subtle logic at work, in the minds of management making these decisions.
"I think companies need to fire deadweight "
I think companies, especially Google, should have thought about the implications of massive hiring associated with things like X, then shutting them down en mass creating a situation where you have staff playing musical chairs trying to find a place to land.
Just like waiting for that yearly performance cycle to notify someone how they've been underperforming against particular criteria, it's bad to wait for this bulk layoff opportunity to get rid of the "deadweight".