Stop Pretending Your Layoff Was "Okay"

This is one of the most difficult periods in the IT industry, but the strangest part isn't the economy. It’s our reaction to it.

I’ve noticed a trend on LinkedIn. When people are let go, they aren't necessarily "celebrating," but they are reacting with a bizarre sense of acceptance.

The tone is almost: "Well, it happened. It is okay. On to the next."

They write updates that sound calm and unbothered, almost normalizing the event. 

They hide the anxiety of losing a job they gave years—sometimes decades—of their lives to.

I say this with full sympathy, and I’m not trying to be an ahole.**

But why do we feel the need to act like "it is okay"?

I think it comes down to two things:

We are Desensitizated as a society. We have seen so many layoffs that we have learned to treat our own careers as a simple transaction.

Using it as an Armor. People are hurting, but they feel that showing any emotion or shock will make them look "weak" to future employers.

I don't believe one should hold a grudge, but there is nothing "okay" about a mass layoff.

The tragedy is that while we are busy acting strong and unbothered, companies are rewarded for it. 

Their stocks go up. every time a major layoff is announced.

They boast about their "culture" and "benefits" while treating humans like line items on a spreadsheet.

We need to stop normalizing this cycle and treat brand and its value with honesty. 

Companies need to answer the hard questions:

Before firing, did you attempt to re-skill these people?

Before firing, did you introspect on why you over-hired in the first place?

Losing your job isn't just "business." And we shouldn't have to pretend it is.