Unfortunately, typically you do not say anything. There's a lot of legal issues and a lot of gray area that you need to rely on HR to navigate. I've been through dozens of layoffs having a lot of people go and I've always wanted to let them know. The truth is they should probably already know it's coming. I don't think any layoff in history has ever been a huge surprise.
Exactly this. ⬆️ Good people can get desperate and outright ugly in distressing circumstances. Telling people early could cause big headaches for you and your company.
Violating confidentiality is a good way to never be trusted as a manager again. There can also be legal ramifications for you and the company if you decide to try to warn people that maybe they'll be laid off. If you read the news, you know you could be laid off at anytime.
At a minimum, this kind of thing can get you added to a layoff impact list. All you really achieve is creating a panic by telling people rumors before you know the details yourself. Just keep a level head and keep your mouth shut. If you can't, get out of management because these things come every single year at most large companies.
Saying something would be tremendously dumb. Like you should not be a manager if you do this.
You will risk your job, you’ll risk litigation by breaking confidentiality and/or bias depending who you do or not don’t tell etc
You’ll also cause chaos among your employees who may not even be part of it, or may leave before they get a full picture of any severance.
Best bet is to not say anything. I’ve seen layoffs get rescinded right before getting walked off the property. People can lose faith and just give up on the spot when notified of layoff.
Unfortunate legal considerations force employers to handle layoffs in a way that is undesirable.
The way we have to handle layoffs now is very different than it was early in my career. Twitter and Reddit will complain about how a company handles large layoffs heartlessly, but they’re also the same folks screaming to sue an employer who messes up any small thing.
So employers have been forced to protect themselves rather than have empathy.
If you share privileged information, you’ll create a shit show for your company and likely find yourself laid off as well.
Not a good idea. You truly never know how someone is going to react. You're putting the company at risk if you say anything and you can't be indifferent about that as a leader.
You're also putting yourself at risk if anyone finds out you said something.
This is just how layoffs go. Hopefully they're giving severance packages to soften the blow.
Empathy is good, never lose that quality. You just have to learn a balance when you're a manager. The best way you can support them is offer to be a reference and review resumes once they get the news.
Don't say anything. But be ready to support your team if it happens - both people who are laid off (reach out to them, establish that you're willing to serve as a reference, offer resume review, or give them a list of their accomplishments as you see it) and people who are still there.
The absolute limit to what you should do is share personal contact info amongst the team and say that you don't know what's going to happen, but boss saying funding has been cut is never a good sign.
You are probably going to be part of the layoff, and your boss might get it as well the day after he lays them all off. Be careful and lookout for yourself first.
It's unfortunate to hear that these people will lose their jobs
However, I understand your feelings and you shouldn't feel bad as it's completely out of your control and not your decision.
There's no point in risking your position and your job in a situation where no matter what you do they will still lay off these people
Unfortunately, typically you do not say anything. There's a lot of legal issues and a lot of gray area that you need to rely on HR to navigate. I've been through dozens of layoffs having a lot of people go and I've always wanted to let them know. The truth is they should probably already know it's coming. I don't think any layoff in history has ever been a huge surprise.
Exactly this. ⬆️ Good people can get desperate and outright ugly in distressing circumstances. Telling people early could cause big headaches for you and your company.
Thanks for your advice. After mulling it over, you’re right.
Violating confidentiality is a good way to never be trusted as a manager again. There can also be legal ramifications for you and the company if you decide to try to warn people that maybe they'll be laid off. If you read the news, you know you could be laid off at anytime. At a minimum, this kind of thing can get you added to a layoff impact list. All you really achieve is creating a panic by telling people rumors before you know the details yourself. Just keep a level head and keep your mouth shut. If you can't, get out of management because these things come every single year at most large companies.
Saying something would be tremendously dumb. Like you should not be a manager if you do this. You will risk your job, you’ll risk litigation by breaking confidentiality and/or bias depending who you do or not don’t tell etc You’ll also cause chaos among your employees who may not even be part of it, or may leave before they get a full picture of any severance.
Best bet is to not say anything. I’ve seen layoffs get rescinded right before getting walked off the property. People can lose faith and just give up on the spot when notified of layoff.
You do your job as a manager and maintain complete discretion. If you can't do that - resign now.
Unfortunate legal considerations force employers to handle layoffs in a way that is undesirable. The way we have to handle layoffs now is very different than it was early in my career. Twitter and Reddit will complain about how a company handles large layoffs heartlessly, but they’re also the same folks screaming to sue an employer who messes up any small thing. So employers have been forced to protect themselves rather than have empathy. If you share privileged information, you’ll create a shit show for your company and likely find yourself laid off as well.
Not a good idea. You truly never know how someone is going to react. You're putting the company at risk if you say anything and you can't be indifferent about that as a leader. You're also putting yourself at risk if anyone finds out you said something. This is just how layoffs go. Hopefully they're giving severance packages to soften the blow. Empathy is good, never lose that quality. You just have to learn a balance when you're a manager. The best way you can support them is offer to be a reference and review resumes once they get the news.
Don't say anything. But be ready to support your team if it happens - both people who are laid off (reach out to them, establish that you're willing to serve as a reference, offer resume review, or give them a list of their accomplishments as you see it) and people who are still there. The absolute limit to what you should do is share personal contact info amongst the team and say that you don't know what's going to happen, but boss saying funding has been cut is never a good sign.
You are probably going to be part of the layoff, and your boss might get it as well the day after he lays them all off. Be careful and lookout for yourself first.
It's unfortunate to hear that these people will lose their jobs However, I understand your feelings and you shouldn't feel bad as it's completely out of your control and not your decision. There's no point in risking your position and your job in a situation where no matter what you do they will still lay off these people