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Ask HN: Who's Most Likely to Get Laid Off During Layoffs?

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Re: Ask HN: Who's Most Likely to Get Laid Off During Layoffs?

#4
post #3

Those that are under performing and those that are paid the most.

This would suggest that everyone laid off in recent waves were mostly under performers or over paid?

That's typically what I've seen. If you are indispensable you won't get laid off as easily.

Re: Ask HN: Who's Most Likely to Get Laid Off During Layoffs?

#6
post #3

Those that are under performing and those that are paid the most.

This would suggest that everyone laid off in recent waves were mostly under performers or over paid?

A better phrasing might be "if someone was laid off in recent waves, then there is a higher probability that they were an under-performer, or over-paid, compared to the workers who were not laid off".

(And try not to use the phrasing "everyone X were mostly" near old math teachers.)

Re: Ask HN: Who's Most Likely to Get Laid Off During Layoffs?

#7
post #5

People in the part of the org that's cut. In my experience most layoffs aren't about cutting x% across teams, they're about the company deciding that they don't need entire functions altogether and getting rid of entire teams.

The most recent cut in my org was x% across functions. (Just one data point tho…)

Re: Ask HN: Who's Most Likely to Get Laid Off During Layoffs?

#9
I've only been laid off once, and it was from one of the top 10 multinational companies in the world. Head office in New York decreed a headcount reduction. I was positively not highly paid and did above average work. I had an excellent relationship with both my direct manager and the country managing director. But my manager's manager disliked me for being outspoken and pushing back on bad decisions. So he made the effort to hit me with a heavy handed legal document and a generous severance payment.

Contrary to common opinion, I think that politics trumps concerns about performance or pay levels.

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