[esel2k]

If managers didn’t know, how was the decision taken? I am a manager (not indeed but other company just doing layoffs) here and I received a first estimate of my boss and I adjust when I will let go whom (based on business needs).

[doktorhladnjak]

In big companies, the decision of who to lay off is often handled farther up the management chain. It’s very common for upper management to decide on criteria to use then have HR execute the layoff by identifying individuals using that criteria.

Criteria commonly is some combination of performance review history, cost, location, role, seniority, tenure.

The goal is to do it without managers interfering to save their favorites and to ensure it’s done in a non discriminatory way.

[Ancalagon]

Indicates this layoff is probably actually cost-cutting necessity, given it had to be done immediately with no regard to performance.

[jkl5xx]

there were definite patterns. Certain orgs, roles, and offices seem to have been more heavily affected than others

[red-iron-pine]

Can you say which ones?

Betting DEI, HR, Product & Project Mgmt, and internal tooling -- which would be in line w/ most of the other layoff.fyi research

[Ancalagon]

ah then I guess I was wrong

[red-iron-pine]

There is an accountant, and maybe some consultants. They're in a room somewhere far removed from the day to day.

There is a spreadsheet, with performance scores, salaries, bonuses, benefits, etc.

Sort the spreadsheet by cost and start chopping from the top, or maybe work up from the bottom. Maybe skip every every other employee. C-level and VPs will give additional guidance, maybe 80% of DEI and HR Staff, 40% of Product, etc.

Once there is a list, it may travel to HR or other managers to check or confirm -- make sure you're not accidently laying off some superstars or key initiative personnel -- and then the list is finalized and notices go out. There may not even be any veto; here's the list, adios amigos.

Source: did IT hiring and firing, was involved w/ this at a a couple F500s -- tho not any recently.

[esel2k]

Thanks and any advice on not landing on such a list. I was part of giving my advice for the list last December, but now new cuts will come and I could be on it. How to be that favorite person? Is beeing more or less expensive really a criteria?