💔 Are virtual layoffs ethical? | Ep38 OoO

Hey, Welcome Back!

How would you like to be fired today?

🤖 It’s 2040, and AI is giving you the chance to choose.

And while you may long for a future where choosing the lesser evil is possible, one thing will never change: layoffs suck.

So, it comes as no surprise that the latest rash of layoffs has left people itchy and irritated. As someone who was virtually laid off during the pandemic, the wound was fresh enough to get me thinking.

🤔 Is there a ‘right way’ to fire hybrid employees?

Companies are really struggling to figure this one out.

During this time of mass layoffs we’re seeing everything from being fired publicly, to being let go in a Zoom call. Some of us are even experiencing the mean-girl styled passive aggressive layoff that starts with a cleared calendar and ends in a single scheduled meeting.

It’s episode 38 and this week I’m sharing my thoughts on the ethics of remote layoffs.

🤷🏼‍♂️ Hey, it’s a tricky subject.

Companies seem to be applying breakup rules to something that isn’t the same. But is being fired at home a bad thing? It’s happened to me, and I know which one I’d choose. Any day!

This episode explores virtual layoffs and how tech companies are doing them.

📽️ This Week on Episode 38:

🥺 The walk of shame or crying at home, which is better?

📦 Look at high-profile layoffs happening at Meta, Amazon and Shopify

🙈 Consider Meta’s  transparent approach and Amazon’s mean girl method

💔 Decide if McDonalds did the right thing or bungled their own layoffs

📜 Get the three golden rules of virtual firing

With real-world examples coming from the tech industry, we can all feel happy that at the very least – it’s not ChatGPT firing anyone yet.

Of course, that’s not stopping the average tech hybrid worker from breaking out in stress hives. 🥵

So yes, layoffs suck.

And they can feel deeply personal. But if we can agree that there’s no good way to be retrenched, then maybe the process will be a little less painful.

My layoff was a fork in the road that led me here. And I can look back now and feel grateful that I got through that time and found my way to a job I love.

What about you? If you’ve been laid off recently, how did your company do it?

Enjoy the episode!

🥛 Remember to hydrate -

Andrew

Comment of the Week

We loved this one, thank you Sam! This is the future we’re working towards.

🌟 Incase you missed it, we launched Crossover’s LinkedIn newsletter last week, and already have over 700,000 subscribers! 🌟

Sam joined the rebellion and commented in our first edition.

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