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Tech layoffs’ missing humanity

Letting go of workers in a downturn doesn’t have to be as cold and callous as we’ve seen in some of the recent tech retrenchments, say business school experts

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Wong Pei Ting

Published Fri, Jan 27, 2023 · 12:00 PM
    • The recent wave of tech layoffs has unveiled what organisational behaviour researchers and human capital consultants see as corporate callousness reaching new depths.
    • The recent wave of tech layoffs has unveiled what organisational behaviour researchers and human capital consultants see as corporate callousness reaching new depths. ILLUSTRATION: SIMON ANG, BT

    WHEN tycoon Elon Musk completed his US$44 billion takeover of US-based social media giant Twitter in October, Paul knew that a mass layoff at the Singapore office was on the horizon. But the message that arrived in his personal e-mail on Nov 4 still came as a shock.

    The 160-word notice told Paul (not his real name) that he had been locked out of the company systems because his job was at risk, although not yet officially cut.

    The e-mail, which opened with “Hello”, did not even address him by name. Paul had never before felt like “just a number”.

    BrunchTech layoffsLayoffsSingapore manpowerHR managementTwitterMeta PlatformsESGleadership

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