[rs1234]

Why can't Airbnb do furloughs - take the amount they hope to save through a layoff, and have all employees not work for some x number of days each (staggered so as to not disrupt operations), so that the pain is shared, rather than borne by the laid-off few?

[bleah1000]

It would be easy to argue that a furlough is worse. It gives this false sense of hope that airbnb might be able to hire them back. However, travel is likely not going to recover until next year at the earliest since a lot of countries have severe restrictions. People are also likely not traveling much so maybe Christmas travel might make things better.

Unless airbnb was raking in the money, they've probably got a huge loss on the books now and they won't be making money any time so even a six month furlough would seem unlikely long enough to be able to hire back all of the people laid off.

It's actually better to say, start looking for a job now, and here's a three month severence package, then say hold off on looking, we might be able to bring you back.

[citizenkeen]

I know a bunch of companies doing that. Two of my best friends in good paying software jobs both have unpaid Fridays off indefinitely so that the company can lay fewer people off. It's just inconvenient for AirBnB to care about its employees.

[nness]

I was thinking that maybe it had do with regulation, or its effect on moral and productivity, etc.

But I would just wager its far easier to do lay-offs. The path of least resistance...

[citizenkeen]

Ah yes, the path of least resistance. How very family-like.

[driverdan]

The impact on the travel industry isn't short term. A few months of furloughs won't solve this problem.