Companies around the globe are laying off workers, but big tech cubacks closer to home are getting much of the attention.
There are the major reductions underway at Meta and Twitter, not to mention workforce trimming at Silicon Valley staples like Netflix and Lyft. More cuts are likely on the way.
This is not a new phenomenon. I was Airbnb’s chief ethics officer when the company made the tough choice to cut about 25% of its staff shortly after the pandemic began.
As the latest wave grows, however, I’m increasingly hearing the same question: Are layoffs unethical?
The truth is that these kinds of cuts can be a necessary evil. They must be made for the health—or even survival—of the company.
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But layoffs are often handled in a way that is unethical, and even cruel. How an organization wields the ax can speak volumes about its leadership and values.
Leaders can earn the respect of those who remain by demonstrating authentic empathy for the lives of families who are disrupted by the jolt of suddenly losing a job, and offering responsibility to people who worked so hard for the company in better times.
Here’s how.
Use honest, empathetic communication.
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