Studies show layoffs cause morale issues and lead to less committed employees which can take 12-18 months to recover to previous levels.
Normally this would cause retention problems of the best employees except that in tech where everyone is doing layoffs, the entire industry is now a place of reduced morale and commitment.
There’s nowhere where the grass is greener.
Research: The Long-Term Costs of Layoffs
While layoffs can lead to short-term financial benefits, research shows just how much of an impact they can have on employee engagement, morale, and loyalty — and how long that negative impact can last. Humanizing the layoff experience can help lessen the impact and set your business up for a more rapid recovery, but remember to go into the decision to do layoffs with clear eyes: There’s no such thing as a quick business win without a human cost to the business, and your rebound is likely to take years rather than months.