[LeifCarrotson]

But we're not even close to those conditions, are we?

The economy is growing more slowly than in the past, but it's still growing, companies everywhere are issuing stock buybacks and acquiring other companies, regulators are rushing to get out of the way, new tech on the horizon shows incredible promise, consumers are - for the most part - continuing to buy/lease/rent new products regardless of EULAs and subscriptions that are enormously profitable, P/E ratios are stratospheric...it would seem like outlooks have scarcely ever been better for employers.

Why, then, would they be in survival mode?

[raydev]

Focusing on Flexport here, this is a the founder and former CEO taking over again after he clearly announced his disagreement with the outgoing CEO (whom founder installed).

I think it's fine to want to turn the ship around if you think it's going in the wrong direction, or if you think the current course will lead you directly into a storm.

These offered candidates would instead be in danger of layoffs in weeks or months if their offers hadn't been rescinded, so why kick that can down the road? Maybe the new CEO is already planning a round of layoffs for existing employees, so again, why wait?

edit: I missed that Ryan is offering no compensation to the people having their offers rescinded. That is unethical.

[kasey_junk]

Because layoff protections/benefits are often better than people quitting their jobs?

Every single one of these rescinded offers _is_ a layoff , just one that is extremely hostile to the worker.

Frankly, this should be illegal or at least cause for civil restitution. It shows immense hostility by management of flexport and every potential future hire should not give them the time of day indefinitely.

At the very least HN ought to stop running their hiring posts.

[raydev]

I edited my post, I incorrectly assumed that some form of compensation was given/offered.

[ballenf]

Each of those indicators can also be seen as signs of trouble.

Stock buybacks -- indication that investing in business is seen as having lower, maybe even zero or negative, ROI

Acquisitions -- again, natural growth of company less favorable than consolidation. Which could mean that market isn't growing.

Regulators -- I don't know that this claim is well-supported across the board. Would seem to need to be quantified in a very case-by-case basis. There certainly are industries that are examples of the opposite.

New tech on the horizon doesn't generate income today and no one knows for sure exactly which tech to invest in now

Consumers are already cutting spending and about to hit a debt wall later this year; COVID stimulus is pretty much all spent

P/E ratios is a sign, perhaps, that people don't have other places to put there money

Not saying my interpretations are correct, just that there are other sides to your indicators.

[kgwgk]

> But we're not even close to those conditions, are we?

Flexport’s financial situation doesn’t seem great:

https://twitter.com/typesfast/status/1700093847471370344

[toomuchtodo]

> New official flexport real estate policy is we don't get new office space til there's always a line at the bathroom in the current office space.

Sounds like a great work environment.

[tock]

1B in cash but not profitable: https://twitter.com/typesfast/status/1700108412024127569

[theGnuMe]

They run international shipping logistics so maybe something macro looms large.

Economic disruption in China would be the macro thing. They have real estate issues and large youth unemployment apparently.

More likely they are looking towards an IPO, the market for which is about to reopen if we don’t have any major economic disruptions before instacart and arm list. CNBC squawk box and Cramer talk about flexport a lot so Monday will be interesting if they cover it. It’s already on the general cnbc website.

If I were in Peterson’s shoes I’d get on that show early next week for damage control.