[blacksmith_tb]

I think the visceral reaction some of us have has to do with making this about the poor CEO (who is still a multimillionaire, and still has a job) and not the people who lost their jobs. I would hope he feels terrible, even if it's 100% the only choice to keep the business afloat (which is far from clear, but is at least possible), but he can keep that to himself.

[Vespasian]

Yes.

It's reasonable to assume that any somewhat socially competent person doesn't relish the idea of letting people go.

That should be a given.

And taking responsibility is just restating the fact that the CEO has all the power while (in this case) nothing the individual employee could do would have prevented it.

The CEO did not fire himself for failing and is (probably) still wealthy and doesn't need to potentially uproot his life.

"Sorry" doesn't buy you anything.

[bboylen]

It's a given which is why every layoff statement includes it. It would seem socially incompetent for the CEO to not take the blame

[bboylen]

" The decision today is more painful for the Birds leaving than it will be for me and I won't pretend I understand what they will go through. I alone made the mistakes leading up to this and I should have seen it coming earlier"

I just don't read this as making it about himself. I also don't understand how you could write one of these without having a "I fucked up and feel really bad about it" sections. He should just announce the layoffs with no context about how the company got here under his leadership?

[itsdrewmiller]

The original comment on this tree has much more "about me" language directly quoted. His legacy, he would sacrifice anything, scar on his soul, etc. I agree though you can't just say nothing, you have to take ownership and express empathy.