[korginator]

This is hard, specially when you have very little control over the root cause of the problem.

Some years ago I was in a small company going through a cash flow problem. We had zero revenues for two straight quarters, cut salaries, laid off people, and drove the remaining developers to burn out by treating the situation as BAU instead of the crisis that it was.

I would dread those conversations with the engineers, telling them there's no more work. They were very good people and we're still well connected but it sucks when this happens.

When this happens, morale is at rock bottom and the smart ones start to quit. Been through this too, until the team was just me and 2 more engineers trying to do the work of eight people, until everyone quit for saner roles.

The company is still trying to generate some cash, they're around like a zombie.

[tyrex2017]

One note: For me it is much harder if I had control of the root cause because then it is my fault and I am crushing myself about how I was wrong etc.

If it’s some others fault, you can be sad but shrug it off more easily. Also, the others wont be as mad towards you.