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Layoffs at Canadian tech startups

theglobeandmail.com

151–160 of 183 posts

Re: Layoffs at Canadian tech startups

#151
Companies using jobs as a profit buffer is truly sociopathic.

Yes of course when things get truly bad companies need to lay off staff, but what we are seeing is people being fired to preserve a profit margin and CEOs are massive bonuses.

Re: Layoffs at Canadian tech startups

#152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While it's hardly as dynamic as the U.S., Denmark seems to be doing just fine in the tech space. It's fair to say that a lot of tech talent is in larger organisations rather than startups. Denmark is a very sticky place to live (the quality of life is amazing, particularly for families), so people are reluctant to leave even if wages are not excellent. That said, wages are very good for Europe (there is only one or t…

I left denmark because tech wages were quite low compared to the uk after _all_ taxes have been factored in. The tech job market was basically non existent around 13 years ago. Still seems small upon a quick check as of today. Schools and universities are free but nowhere near the quality the uk offers. Public healthcare is ok but you still need to queue up or go private. It is a cool stable country, i like it, and d…

The U.K. is certainly not a bad place to end up. Tech wages are higher in Denmark (https://codesubmit.io/blog/software-engineer-salary-by-count...) but you're right: the taxes are also higher. I still strongly disagree with the notion that tech is dead in Denmark. Me and hundreds of colleagues are all very happy with the tech wages in our company. I mean, Denmark is a much smaller country than the U.K., so in an absolute sense, there are certainly more tech opportunities in a country with 10x as many people.

Re: Layoffs at Canadian tech startups

#153
post #123
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt anyone would do it differently if put in Tobi’s place. If you see a bump in demand and growth for your product, do you just wave it off and hope the existing team can handle the increase stress on infrastructure, product needs, customer support, sales, etc? Why not capitalize on it while you can, and if it doesnt pan out just reverse course and fire fast.

I mean this is fine if you just abstract away those people being fired as resources without feelings, bills, families, or opportunity cost…

I mean alternatively they wouldn't have had those jobs and i think the team hired on hope of sustained growth.

If we always hired on expectations of layoffs (which i believe were incredibly generous from news reports) your current staff would be be beyond burnt out.

Damned if you do damned if you don't situation.

Re: Layoffs at Canadian tech startups

#154
post #50

Unpopular opinion with some truth in it. Many of the SWEs and other product people in these companies left at the peak of pandemic due to burnout, but mostly due to cheap money. Many senior leaders cashed out their stock and went into the sunset. Companies responded with mass hiring as money was everywhere. They grossly underestimated the complexity of running an engineering org and now the bill is due. I think until…

Your 1st and 2nd point = correlation but not causation IMO.

Re: Layoffs at Canadian tech startups

#155
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, I did that. I left Google and cashed out. I'm not old, but I'm mid-life. I'm not able to retire. I just couldn't handle the bullshit anymore. But now I'm working again (for less $) because I need the money :-) But TBH the hiring frenzy was happening long before that. When I left (end of last year), I heard Google had hired something like half its staff just during the pandemic period. Not sure if I believe th…

There you go. I have done something similar. And place was puffing up with out of college new hires. Everyone getting pat on the back. I stand by my assertion, companies will have to get the old people back unless they are happy to have years of over investment with little returns, increased uncertainty around release cycles

The “old” people who did well with stock are done. Maybe you can get them to consult for a bit.

Re: Layoffs at Canadian tech startups

#156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Higher investment rate means when prices go down/a recession happens, people invest in new businesses which means a recovery happens quicker and is more robust. Just look at Canada's GDP per capita over time versus the US'. Or the fact our only job growth since the pandemic started has been in government jobs. Our private sector is dying because it's more profitable to simply move money to the US or to put it all int…

> Higher investment rate means when prices go down/a recession happens, people invest in new businesses which means a recovery happens quicker and is more robust. I mean you have lower rates so the downturn will have a smaller impact in an absolute sense. > Just look at Canada's GDP per capita over time versus the US'. Or the fact our only job growth since the pandemic started has been in government jobs. Our private…

> I mean you have lower rates

??? Ours is at the same as the US...

> because it was a far riskier investment than others.

Downturns are more about whether or not consumers still spend, which is based on their savings rate and willingness to invest.

Re: Layoffs at Canadian tech startups

#157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are McDonalds in the US that offer 40k (USD) to entry-level, no-experience workers. With such an insulting salary proposal as you experienced, it's amazing that Canada has any startups at all.

There were two very talented devs I know that took $11/hr CAD jobs personally. I know of more with rough salaries $40,000 and below. Even me; when I was in QA, my salary was $52,000 for 9 years of experience. And that was after a raise. Like it or not, there's people willing to take those positions. No where near as many as Canadian companies would like, but they are there.

If they're that talented, they should learn how to negotiate for themselves and realize there are much better options. Right now they're just being taken advantage of, making more money for someone else.

Re: Layoffs at Canadian tech startups

#158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I left denmark because tech wages were quite low compared to the uk after _all_ taxes have been factored in. The tech job market was basically non existent around 13 years ago. Still seems small upon a quick check as of today. Schools and universities are free but nowhere near the quality the uk offers. Public healthcare is ok but you still need to queue up or go private. It is a cool stable country, i like it, and d…

The U.K. is certainly not a bad place to end up. Tech wages are higher in Denmark ( https://codesubmit.io/blog/software-engineer-salary-by-count... ) but you're right: the taxes are also higher. I still strongly disagree with the notion that tech is dead in Denmark. Me and hundreds of colleagues are all very happy with the tech wages in our company. I mean, Denmark is a much smaller country than the U.K., so in an ab…

> Me and hundreds of colleagues are all very happy with the tech wages in our company.

Probably the only relevant metric.

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