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The Layoff

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Re: The Layoff

#61

Post by gcr »

necovek wrote: post #53
KronisLV wrote: post #12

That was interesting. I'm reminded of the sci-fi story called "Manna" that I read a while ago, which explored a bit of a dystopian future, where advancements in technology eventually made a lot of people unemployed: https://marshallbrain.com/manna Actually, the Wiki page has more info on it, for those that don't have the time to read it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manna_(novel) The story is from 2003, but hearing…

Do you have any sources for layoffs "due to AI/LLM advances" other than layoffs-in-one-sector-to-replace-with-AI-experts which I can find plenty of, but which are not really due to efficiency improvements?

What’s the difference? AI-motivated job cuts are widespread in all sectors, and companies are phrasing them as “efficiency improvements.” This is only possible because of recent advances in LLM capability. If anything, skilled experts are slightly less likely to be replaced by AI (with notable exceptions for visual artists)

“IBM Plans To Replace Nearly 8,000 Jobs With AI” https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ibm-plans-replace-nearly-8-17...

“Around four in 10 [business leaders surveyed by ResumeBuilder] said they'll conduct layoffs as they replace workers with AI, with Dropbox, Google, and IBM have already announced job cuts for that very reason“ https://www.businessinsider.com/layoffs-sweeping-us-these-ar...

“A recent Goldman Sachs study found that generative AI tools could, in fact, impact 300 million full-time jobs worldwide, which could lead to a "significant disruption" in the job market” https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-jobs-at-risk-replace...

Re: The Layoff

#62

Post by DebtDeflation »

matwood wrote: post #50
vasco wrote: post #13

"We won't share a list of the affected employees because some of them might not want the information to be public" was the biggest bullshit I've heard recently - no fiction needed. Discovering that people you worked with for years have been laid off only because you randomly notice their slack is deactivated has to be one of 2024s gifts to humanity.

We're people really told before, or did everyone simply find out because they were all in the office together? I know when I worked in a big company 20 years ago I would have no idea who was let go in another office.

I can't remember lists ever being revealed to employees. I would usually find out when an email bounced back.

Re: The Layoff

#63

Post by maccard »

franciscop wrote: post #24
vasco wrote: post #13

"We won't share a list of the affected employees because some of them might not want the information to be public" was the biggest bullshit I've heard recently - no fiction needed. Discovering that people you worked with for years have been laid off only because you randomly notice their slack is deactivated has to be one of 2024s gifts to humanity.

This has been one of my most surprising/weird experiences working for US startups. In the other two countries I've been, at the very least my manager sat with each of us, or in group, or some sort of announcement when someone I was working with would stop (either voluntarily or involuntarily). Seeing names and 1-1 conversations just disappear from Slack without anyone saying anything is very bizarre. But I had to lea…

I've pushed for 30 day retention in slack for this very reason.

Re: The Layoff

#65

Post by jplrssn »

Arbortheus wrote: post #35
vasco wrote: post #13

"We won't share a list of the affected employees because some of them might not want the information to be public" was the biggest bullshit I've heard recently - no fiction needed. Discovering that people you worked with for years have been laid off only because you randomly notice their slack is deactivated has to be one of 2024s gifts to humanity.

Someone at my work created a secret bot that scrapes the outlook contacts list and diffs it from the previous day, each day. This way we get daily updates whenever a new person is onboarded or offboarded. As employees we now have more clarity about the state of layoffs and hiring decisions that most of the management team does. I suggest doing the same within your org if you can.

Someone had done this at a previous company I worked at. You’d subscribe to a mailing list and get a daily/weekly summary of joiners, leavers and title changes. Pretty useful.

When management eventually found out they were seemingly supportive, but in the next layoff they made sure to reach out to the owner to make him “pause” the tool just before the layoffs started.

When the mailing list was unpaused again the laid-off folks weren’t mentioned, as if they’d never existed in the first place. Felt very 1984-esque.

Re: The Layoff

#66

Post by tleb_ »

tr3ntg wrote: post #59

This was a really fun read. I’ve only read a couple short stories ever that so narrowly focus on the technology of today, but I think it’s great. Such an effective and entertaining way of discussing what’s in the news cycle.

I agree the format is interesting. What are some other examples of short stories about technology, recent or less so?

Re: The Layoff

#69

Post by Clubber »

"the rest of the year's worth of pay in one lump sum, to keep your corporate laptop, and COBRA coverage for the rest of the year should you need it. You will also get double the value of any unspent paid time off, including the time you would have gained during the rest of the year."

OMG I would love this kind of severance, in February no less. I'm accustomed to hearing about severance that goes from from jack squat to 2 weeks severance + 1 week per year worked, no insurance, no laptop, and maybe you unpaid vacation time that didn't carry over.

Lay me off, baby. Daddy's going on a 10 month paid sabbatical!

The worst that are affected are the people who didn't get laid off and now have to do the work of all the people that did. Double the work with no extra pay, what's not to like?

Re: The Layoff

#70

Post by halfmatthalfcat »

sys_64738 wrote: post #56

[Spoiler alert - look away now if you haven't read the story] I'd expect the logical extension to this to wholly be using AI for the managerial aspect of bringing you into the conversation. Employers will have the right to make use of a manger's likeness for reasons they see fit, such as using a bot to layoff their direct reports. Removes the emotional liability from the manager.

These AI doomer predictions get more and more detached from reality.
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