Many companies have announced layoffs due to AI and the rapid changes in corporate needs. I predict that we will not be done. Layoffs are expected to range from smaller ones, such as the 1,000 laid off by eBay, to larger ones, like those of Dell and Intel.
No matter the size of a layoff, the employees are forced to make difficult and unanticipated decisions. If you make a bad decision, it could end your career and lead to legal troubles if you don’t think about the consequences.
This week we’ll talk about layoffs, and my Product of the Week is a head-mounted display by Goovis. It could be very useful for people who like to watch TV while in bed but aren’t ready to stop when their spouses tell them to go to sleep.
How to Conduct Layoffs
Most companies are unaware of the art behind layoffs.
My first major layoff was at IBM, under Louis Gerstner. It was much better that the employees to be laid off had been called to a special meeting. At the meeting, all of their personal items were collected and shipped to a remote facility. They had three months to look for another job within IBM or elsewhere. During this time, they received their full salary and benefits. They were only required to find a new job during that time. And most of them found one.
This approach eliminated some common problems associated with layoffs. These included employees acting out and the low morale that comes with mixing people who are safe in their jobs with those who are being asked to leave. It also helped ensure the laid-off employees didn’t act out against IBM.
Consider that, several years later, an entirely different computer company failed to do so. One of those terminated ended up being a buyer at the largest retail channel for the company and ended the contract. This forced the company to be sold due to the lost revenue.
HP’s layoffs were handled very badly under Carley Fiorina as CEO. It did not take good care of its laid-off employees. It bought new corporate planes during the layoff and increased Fiorina’s compensation publicly, which upset both the laid-off employees as well as the rest of the staff.
Fiorina lost the California election by the number she laid off, as well as their immediate family members. She paid a heavy price for treating her workers badly.
The way a company handles a layoff can tell you a lot about how the executive management views its employees. Avoid companies with CEOs that have a poor track record of handling layoffs. These leaders are more concerned about their own compensation than the wellbeing of their employees, shareholders, and customers. Layoffs that are poorly executed put the well-being of employees, stockholders and customers at risk.
Employee Choices After Layoff
Some of the choices faced by laid-off workers are difficult. Some employees choose to take action, whether it’s by stealing from their company or destroying its databases. In one instance, the CIO of a firm was fired and he wiped out all of the firm’s data.
It is unacceptable that some terminated employees use violence. This was a terrible case. 1974 Borax layoff and strike The local town and business went to battle. Helicopters had been shot down, managers were up to the neck in anthills, and former military personnel were hired to battle angry, terminated workers.
One of the former Ranger security teams briefed me, and it sounded as if I were in a warzone. It showed how things can get very bad when you irritate a lot people. It is rare for this to happen but it can have a devastating effect when it does. The stories that I heard about this scenario were terrifying.
Employees should remember that they can make the situation worse. You can be in legal danger if you act out violently, and this will make you unemployed. This behavior will not hurt the employer as much as you and your family.
You will find it easier to get a job before being laid off, than after, because you can avoid answering questions about the reasons you were fired. Depending on how you answer the question and whether or not the interviewer believes your story, you may be excluded from the running for the new position.
Those who are left behind after a layoff often think that those who were laid off were lucky because many firms don’t compensate them for the additional work they must do. When done badly, layoffs can also come in waves due to unintended consequences. Collateral damage may negatively affect sales, customer loyalty and the ability of a company to execute.
It is important to ask yourself if you can handle the drama and workload.
If, on the other hand the company is able to dig itself out of the mud, then there are opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t exist. If the management knows that you’ve worked hard, then you should be at the top of the list to take advantage of these opportunities.
If you’re not good at making others aware of how hard you worked, you’ll be left out and you’ll have to leave. Slacking off will put you on the list for the next round of layoffs, so it’s not a good idea.
You can only change jobs within the same organization if you enjoy your current job. You will be stigmatized if you were laid off because of poor performance. This can make it hard to get a job in the future and put you at risk for further layoffs. It might be best to move on from one company to another.
Last but not least, I would recommend that you avoid companies with a history of multiple layoffs in a period of five years. A record like this may indicate that the problems are endemic and unresolvable. Nobody wants to be laid off more than once.
Wrapping up
Well-run businesses don’t lay off employees because there are safer ways to cut costs. The art of downsizing a workforce has declined so much, and AI will likely lead to more drastic reductions of the workforce in the future.
I would recommend upgrading your skills whenever possible, and maybe developing a secondary area of expertise if an AI solution is embraced by your career path.
If you’re angry or lack impulse control, I recommend taking a few days to reflect on your options. You can then create a plan of action that is safe and based on what you learned.
I have known people who, after being laid off, got rid of their expensive items, found a low-stress job with a lower salary, and improved their lives. It’s possible to change your career and life after being laid off.
You will pass through this, too, if you do not make any stupid decisions and use the opportunity to get a job or a life that is better. One thing you don’t ever want to do is bring your anger back home to your family, friends or spouse. This never ends well.
I wish you luck and my heart goes to those being laid-off. I hope that you find a new job in a better environment.
The Goovis Art
I’ve bought Goovis headsets since years ago and own one of every model.
Rokid headsets can be found in my collection, although they are usually different. Rokid devices look more like glassesThey allow you to work in complete privacy (only you and the computer can see the screen), while still being able see your hands at the keyboard.
Goovis products isolate more. They are better for playing video games or watching videos that use controllers.
The Goovis Art combines the best of both the old Goovis headsets with the Rokid approach. This means that you can see your hands while using it for work and still enjoy the high-quality Goovis experience.
You can also easily flip up the display to look at what was making that strange sound, if it wasn’t a part of a game or movie. The headset works best for me when I’m watching a lot videos right before bedtime and my wife prefers to read or sleep. If I didn’t have the headset I would be faced with an angry and tired wife. I don’t like that. I could use headphones, but the light coming from the screen makes it annoying.
This Goovis art allows me to keep my wife away from what I watch. She’s happy so I’m happy. I can do social media or email if I use a laptop that has a mechanical keyboard. Tablets are not good because the finger placement is difficult in the dark.
Presently, the Goovis Art is on Indiegogo It is $440 plus shipping, taxes and accessories. The streaming box and case that they offer are what I purchased, but I use them only when my phone does not support an external monitor. Early bird pricing is $699.
Goovis Art is the Product of The Week. It has always been impressive, and because it allows me to doom-scroll YouTube without being retaliated against by my spouse, I chose it.
