Behind the Scenes of a Layoff

At some point during the span of your professional life, you will probably be laid off. Whether for economic reasons or for being on the wrong end of a corporate tug-of-war, almost everyone loses a job through no fault of their own during the course of their career.

CNET News posted a great article exploring the layoff process in a tech company, which is especially relevant now that the United States is officially in a recession. The anonymous chief executive of a Web 2.0 company reveals the difficulties in balancing financial health and employee well-being.

Most interesting is the discussion of the “proper” method to lay off a worker. The CEO suggests a goodbye gathering to acknowledge the departing employees’ services to the company, and that a company makes a reasonable effort to help the newly unemployed find work.

But how many of you out there have actually experienced such generous behavior? Many laid-off employees are often swept under the rug in secret, creating a negative buzz that sweeps through an office. I’m interested to hear your worst layoff story, and what you would have done differently if the tables were turned.

Posted by Bill L.

Comments

[Tom]

I worked in a company (total 18 including the 2 owner directors). There was a 50% turnover of staffin 12 months.

Some only lasted 3 months, I lasted 11 months and eventually everybody left.

A company run by idiots, eventually they sold it for a fraction of what it was worth.

Moral of the story. Treat people with respect.