Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction • Hacker News Board

Re: Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction

#81

Post by marcelsalathe » Wed, Oct 30, 2024, 2:06 PM UTC

pizzathyme wrote: post #43

lifeisgood99 wrote: post #2

"As CEO, I take full responsibility for this decision" Oh hey another one that takes responsibility by taking on 0 consequences.

Unpopular opinion, but I don't understand this type of comment. It sounds like people want executives to get some kind of punishment or pain as a consequence of laying people off. But what would that even look like? A fine? That would probably make no practical difference, and would discourage them from making changes that need to be made. Fire them? Then you would probably get a worse decision maker in the driver se…

Agreed. But just say that. No need to pretend taking responsibility, which is defined as facing consequences when things go bad.

“As CEO, I’m truly sorry to those impacted. But I strongly believe that this change is what is needed now to make sure Dropbox can thrive in the future.”

Re: Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction

#82

Post by empath75 » Wed, Oct 30, 2024, 2:06 PM UTC

glimshe wrote: post #40

yieldcrv wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how would you like the next CEO to handle it, for reference?

If he was responsible for the conditions that led to the layoff, he could also resign.

Layoffs happen even in well run companies.

Re: Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction

#83

Post by insane_dreamer » Wed, Oct 30, 2024, 2:06 PM UTC

mv4 wrote: post #33

lifeisgood99 wrote: post #2

"As CEO, I take full responsibility for this decision" Oh hey another one that takes responsibility by taking on 0 consequences.

Remember Gavin Belson? "But make no mistake. Though they're the ones leaving, it is I who must remain and bear the heavy burden of their failure."

There was so much that was disgustingly spot on in that show.

Re: Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction

#84

Post by foobarian » Wed, Oct 30, 2024, 2:06 PM UTC

ziddoap wrote: post #67

pizzathyme wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unpopular opinion, but I don't understand this type of comment. It sounds like people want executives to get some kind of punishment or pain as a consequence of laying people off. But what would that even look like? A fine? That would probably make no practical difference, and would discourage them from making changes that need to be made. Fire them? Then you would probably get a worse decision maker in the driver se…

They say "I take responsibility" and then.. don't take any responsibility. It's insult on injury. How big of a bonus will this CEO get this year? Last year?

Why do people understand this phrase "taking responsibility" as some kind of admitting of fault? Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems neutral and could even be referring to positive future outcomes for the company.

Re: Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction

#85

Post by triceratops » Wed, Oct 30, 2024, 2:07 PM UTC

pizzathyme wrote: post #78

cma256 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The latter. If you can not manage the company correctly and it leads to the job losses of hundreds of people not to mention the millions in salary that was wasted by their poor planning then yes they should be immediately relieved and not allowed to run any other company. They are clearly incompetent. Considering dropbox is not facing some economic recession outside of its control we can only blame the CEO's incompet…

Most big tech companies did mass layoffs in the past few years. They are now fully recovered and posting record profits this week all with the same leadership. You are saying they are incompetent and someone else could have navigated this better?

Those profits could've been even higher if they hadn't overhired, then paid out massive sums in severance.

Re: Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction

#86

Post by ahstilde » Wed, Oct 30, 2024, 2:07 PM UTC

BossingAround wrote: post #57

absoluteunit1 wrote: post #29

The severance package is great! I don’t think I would be upset (unless I was extremely passionate about a project I was working on)

Really? 16 weeks of salary, or 4 months of pay. In my country, you get 3 months of pay as standard when you're fired from your job. Doesn't seem that great to me to be honest.

It sounds like it's 25% better than what you get in your country?

Re: Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction

#87

Post by nsxwolf » Wed, Oct 30, 2024, 2:07 PM UTC

BossingAround wrote: post #57

absoluteunit1 wrote: post #29

The severance package is great! I don’t think I would be upset (unless I was extremely passionate about a project I was working on)

Really? 16 weeks of salary, or 4 months of pay. In my country, you get 3 months of pay as standard when you're fired from your job. Doesn't seem that great to me to be honest.

In the US, the minimum required is usually zero. The most I ever got was 4 weeks.

Re: Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction

#88

Post by pizzathyme » Wed, Oct 30, 2024, 2:07 PM UTC

Shank wrote: post #70

pizzathyme wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unpopular opinion, but I don't understand this type of comment. It sounds like people want executives to get some kind of punishment or pain as a consequence of laying people off. But what would that even look like? A fine? That would probably make no practical difference, and would discourage them from making changes that need to be made. Fire them? Then you would probably get a worse decision maker in the driver se…

> But what would that even look like? > Iwata ran the Kyoto, Japan-based video game company [Nintendo] from 2002 until his death in 2015. To avoid layoffs, Iwata took a 50% pay cut to help pay for employee salaries, saying a fully-staffed Nintendo would have a better chance of rebounding. [0] [0]: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/13/nintendo-ceo-once-halved-sal...

This is probably the best answer in terms of what people want to see, that would also still give the company the best leadership going forward.

Re: Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction

#89

Post by malfist » Wed, Oct 30, 2024, 2:07 PM UTC

Buttons840 wrote: post #19

jimberlage wrote: post #4

Honestly, this doesn't strike me as a bad layoff announcement, with one caveat. I’m writing to let you all know that after careful consideration, we've decided to reduce our global workforce by approximately 20% or 528 Dropboxers. Should be replaced with I’m writing to let you all know that after careful consideration, we've decided to reduce our global workforce by approximately 20% or 528 people. You should never u…

It's to remind them they are beloved "Dropboxers", and are part of the family... before terminating them.

So beloved that they're willing to sacrifice them on the alter of stock price

Re: Dropbox announces 20% global workforce reduction

#90

Post by elric » Wed, Oct 30, 2024, 2:07 PM UTC

I'm always a bit confused by profitable companies with (presumably) large reserves laying off lots of people. I get that they want to remain profitable. But sure 500ish people could be put to some use? A new product, a new market, a spinoff. Whatever? Are you telling me that no one in such a big, wealthy company of clever engineers has any use for a bunch of talented people?