| If you're doing layoffs, then generally one of three things is true: 1) The company is in bad shape, and the layoff is a Hail Mary play to try and delay the inevitable long enough for a miracle to happen 2) The company is in fine shape, but for whatever reason, has done an honest self-assessment and determined that they've got more people working there than are necessary to continue operating (and, if they're really being both honest and thorough, has done at least some due diligence to identify the genuine low performers) 3) The company is in fine shape, but the higher-ups and/or shareholders think they should be getting more money, so they're cutting costs and pocketing the difference Two of those three are excellent cause to leave, whether or not the layoffs are announced ahead of time. Many cases of #2 are also cause to leave, when they do not do the appropriate due diligence and lay people off indiscriminately or according to nepotism/who plays golf with the right people. If your best people will leave upon finding out that you're laying people off, then they will probably leave whether or not you announce it ahead of time like decent people—the only question is when. So basically, you're compromising on honesty and basic decency in order to maybe buy yourself a few more months. |