- something I remember from the big tech layoffs of a couple years ago is seeing coworkers with excellent performance reviews - even some who had literally just been promoted - getting thrown overboard for completely opaque reasons and realizing that was part of the point
- At the same time, the extent of the Washington Post layoffs highlight how it didn't matter how hardworking, loyal, smart, collaborative, award-winning, competitive, knowledgeable and devoted so many of the staff were. It wasn't enough to prevent being laid off by one of the richest men in the world.
- the idea that there’s something you can do - some level of performance you can achieve - that makes you safe from the whims of execs is something they want to avoid they want you to fear for your job, they want you to feel unsafe and unable to speak out that, above all else, is the message
- I forget who first coined it but “the revolt of the bosses” sums it up perfectly the power that labor held in the remote work era was existentially terrifying to them and every move they have made since has been designed to crush it and instill fear across the workforceFeb 5, 2026 18:45
