In the last few months, news reports have been over flooded with big numbers on layoffs from companies, people aspire to work in. For many bright youngsters, out of college, it is a dream to work in tech companies like Google, Amazon and Meta. And for people working in these companies, the fulfilled dream becomes a matter of pride.
Before the unprecedented layoffs took the employees in the tech industry by surprise, a job at one of the above companies was a ticket to a secure future and a matter of prestige. Ask any IIT graduate from the computer science stream, a job at a company like Google meant a gateway to a fulfilling life and a chance to show off in front of relatives.
But the dim layoff wave at the big tech companies has made employees working at their dream companies rethink the term 'job security.' While some have taken the layoff in their stride, many have been left shocked with a 'why me' question looming on their minds.
From best-performing executives to employees on maternity leaves, the laid-off crowd is as diverse as one could imagine. And if anybody thought that experienced employees are immune from the mental and emotional turmoil of being laid off, the situation is not merry for this category of employees either.
While top companies like Google, Meta and Amazon have promised certain severance packages and job assistance to mitigate the financial damage of a job loss in today's economic conditions, laid-off employees have been sharing their experiences over the last few months on the sudden and abrupt nature of the layoff process that leaves them numb and shocked.
Take for instance, Dianna's case. Working at Amazon for more than eight years was an experience filled with gratitude for her. However, being laid off from the company came with a bag of mixed feelings. Feelings of shock and despair engulfed her as she was unable to log in to her computer post-lunch one fine afternoon.
As many news articles reported, the lay-offs are sudden, void of explanation, and leave many in a state of confusion about what is actually happening. No access, meant, no goodbye…no thank you for everything, added Dianna in her LinkedIn post.
For Aakriti, an ex-Googler, who celebrated her 5-year Googleversary a few days before being laid off, the 'access denied' message just 10 minutes before a scheduled meeting left her in a state of denial and days to get over.
Layoffs are hard. And being laid off from a top tech company does not imply employees have a plush post-termination life as many would assume. In a scenario where an employee had just started his career and moved to a new city with his family and kids, sudden layoffs can easily take his financial stability for a toss.
Dan Harten, an ex-Meta and ex-Amazon employee makes a valid point in his LinkedIn post where he says,
"one of the worst things someone can say to someone who has been laid off is "Oh, you worked at or Medtronic you should be fine."
This statement dismisses the pain and uncertainty that comes with losing a job, and it ignores the fact that no job is truly secure. Just because someone worked at a big-name company doesn't mean they are immune to layoffs or financial hardship, he adds.
Make no mistake, top companies like Google, Meta and Amazon offer a lot when it comes to career and skill progression for employees. Such companies set a benchmark when it comes to giving opportunities to grow personally and professionally. But are they meandering when it comes to setting the right precedent when it comes to dealing with the human angle of layoffs?
Shouldn't these companies be setting the right standard when it comes to conducting a layoff process?
When such companies are hailed for their company culture and ethos, shouldn't the top brass at the helm of affairs consider conducting a layoff process with empathy as an extension of their core values and ethos?
As impacted employees grapple with the questions, it is for the companies to set the right example as it can create a positive or negative perception for a prospective employee for years to come.
