The layoffs came quickly, and they hit a wide variety of companies. From social media platform Zeen to battery manufacturer Energizer, tech companies big and small announced cuts in the thousands of jobs or more. Some, like Amazon and Twitter, blamed macroeconomic factors or over-hiring during the coronavirus lockdown; others, such as Hewlett Packard and Intel, cited sluggish sales or a desire to shift their focus from innovation to diversification.
Those impacted by layoffs often learned about the changes through impersonal emails from their company or from friends who had received similar ones. Several workers interviewed for this article said they felt disillusioned with major tech firms. They felt the companies chased technology trends and pushed new products even when it didn’t make business sense. They also felt the firms didn’t value the employees and didn’t prioritize worker well-being.
As many tech workers go through a rough patch, it’s important for them to remember that they are not alone in their struggle. According to Indeed economist Nick Bunker, the job market outside of tech (and within some tech startups) remains strong, and laid-off tech workers will have plenty of opportunity in a non-tech industry. Plus, they will enter the job hunt with sought-after skills and experience.