[HammadB]

I don't think its the role of the government to penalize layoffs. If a company needs to do a layoff to remain viable it must be allowed to - the downside (everyone loses their job) is worse. And trying to apply some mechanism where the government decides if its ok or not seems too intractable.

I think the approach of things like the WARN (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worker_Adjustment_and_Retraini...) act are more plausible. Use legislation to make the workforce more informed, resilient and ahead-of layoffs. You don't want mass layoffs crippling your economy because people are unable to plan.

It's a direct consequence of the WARN act that most tech layoffs have extremely generous severance.

[wombatpm]

So should companies be prohibited from doing stock buybacks or paying dividends for some period of time if they do a layoff. Or should they be required to rehire laid off workers before doing any new hiring? When it’s truly about maintaining company viability, I have some sympathy for the corporate position. But companies reporting increasing or record profits AND doing layoffs smells of financial engineering and socializing costs while privatizing profits.

[tonystubblebine]

Isn’t it net good that tech companies regularly overhire? I’d be afraid that too much regulation would end up making companies hesitant to hire in the first place. And why are we asking companies to act as charities here. That’s so against their nature. Tax them instead and have government improve the safety net.

[mathiasgredal]

Why not just tax stock buybacks the same or higher than regular profits? This would force companies to either increase R&D/CAPEX spending or lower prices.

[Madmallard]

That’s because it is. It is degenerate inhumane latestage capitalism garbage.

[lorstic]

> If a company needs to do a layoff to remain viable it must be allowed to

What makes you think that's why most of these tech companies are laying people off?

[HammadB]

I don't think that - I am speaking generally.