Paul ChauvetJan 21, 2023
Upol Ehsan

When a company is struggling to make ends meet, cutting down workforce makes some sense.

When a company makes record profits and yet *chooses* to cull the workforce, it says where the company's values lie.

When an entire industry normalizes such lay offs, we need to critically examine the industry itself.

#layoffs #bigtech #jobs #google #amazon #microsoft #FAANG #META

Jan 21, 2023 at 4:25amWeb
Show threadtbanzatoJan 21, 2023
@upol what is even worse, companies making profit and still layoff workforce but their leadership still getting millions of profits. That is painful
Show threadLN Jan 21, 2023
@upol It's not just the industry it's the entire system.
Show thread🔥 Mireille Sillander 🔥Jan 21, 2023
@alan @upol I'm glad you said it first. It's unfortunately not an industry problem, it just shows up in headlines as an issue for an industry, because in other fields, workforce is rarely quite as big, when layoffs happen it doesn't get reported, and doesn't directly affect people with collective presence online
Show threadWowSuchCyberJan 21, 2023
@upol @thegrugq a « for profit » company value is « making profit for shareholders» that’s their only purpose and I’m amazed that people are still surprised by that. Industries do not exist to make your life better or the wellbeing of their workers!
Show threadDeusJan 21, 2023
And hence the need for Tech Unions - at least in the 🇺🇸 and sweat shop countries like the 🇵🇭 🇮🇳 etc. But “…need to bring the next loaf of bread to the table and enjoy that little silly vacation.” I can be only be hopeful.
Show threaddizzyspiral   🥥Jan 21, 2023
@WowSuchCyber @upol amen. If people want to be pissed at something, be pissed at your government, and make them make changes.
Show threadWowSuchCyberJan 22, 2023
@dizzyspiral @upol someone has reported me for this toot. Well I have my own instance so who cares, but wow.
Show threaddizzyspiral   🥥Jan 22, 2023
@WowSuchCyber @upol ... that's disappointing to hear. Mastodon is one of the only places on the internet I'm still willing to share dissenting, honest opinions, because usually it leads to interesting and civil discussions.
Show threadicesurferJan 21, 2023
@upol maybe a contrarian viewpoint but I think the crucial element here is how fair and equitable the severance package is: I would be ok being fired if the aim is to make the company more profitable in the long term, as long as the package is generous and does not impose undue stress (not just financially, but with regards to healthcare access for the whole family, immigration status, etc).
Show threadUpol EhsanJan 21, 2023
@icesurfer not contrarian. Given some US laws, severance packages aren't a requirement. So it's hard to know what or if any was given. I also don't know if severance (money alone) would resolve the immigration issues you rightfully highlighted.
Show threadicesurferJan 21, 2023
@upol Exactly. Which is why I consider the severance package the crux of the matter when dealing with cases like these. I am 100% agreeing with you, however, in case it's not clear :)
Show threadnobletroutJan 21, 2023
@upol @thegrugq I mean, is it just the tech version of Golgafrincham Ark Fleet Ship B ?
Show threadElena DelavegaJan 21, 2023
@upol corporations value no one. Billionaires would see us die while extracting the last penny.
Show threadJens Comiotto-MayerJan 21, 2023
@upol s/industry/system/g. I don't think this is necessarily unique to #bigtech.
Show threadSentient MortalJan 21, 2023
@upol I work for a mid-large company in a different industry. We had tight belts early as profits were scarce. Lately profits have skyrocketed. We asked sr leadership for a raise and they basically told us to f off, all that money is going to the shareholders.
Show threadEric LawtonJan 21, 2023

@upol

How does our system (media, politics, economic "scholarship", …) sustain the myth that billionaires are "job creators", in the face of behaviour like these recent layoffs.

And trickle-down "theory" in the light of the rapidly growing wealth gap?

How can we break this before the inevitable violence when people get too hungry?