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Why is preventing "rumors and backchannels" so essential as to take priority over trust and human decency?

dsfyu404ed 7y ago
Because Bird is big a enough company that the people calling the shots feel responsible to the organization, not responsible for the organization and it can be argued that "preventing rumors and back-channels" is good for the company. This kind of change in thinking happens to almost all organizations as they grow and takes a lot of effort to avoid, it's not unique to VC funded startups though that environment certainly makes it harder to prevent. Edit: Just to be clear I'm not defending Bird or absolving them of blame, I'm just describing how these things can happen.
- Nextgrid 7y ago
  It's insane that companies become "big" when their whole product and business model is unsustainable to begin with. And at least if you're operating at a loss you'd think that you would do everything in your power to stay small and not spend even more money on lots of employees unless absolutely necessary.
- asveikau 7y ago
  Sounds like they let themselves grow "big" irresponsibly if they need such a layoff.
michaelt 7y ago
Large-scale corporate change has a natural dichotomy. If news gets out before all the details are finalised, so no-one is blindsided by the announcement when it happens, some people will have lots of time to have sleepless nights and complain about how they're not being told whether they still have a job; and people you hoped to retain will start sending out CVs. If news is kept secret until you know every last precise detail, people will be upset this problem has come out of nowhere without them being warned, and that they weren't trusted with secrets, and that they weren't consulted on who in their team would be fired. And of course, in an announcement to 400 people, you'll have at least one person who'd have preferred the other option...

Because Bird is big a enough company that the people calling the shots feel responsible to the organization, not responsible for the organization and it can be argued that "preventing rumors and back-channels" is good for the company. This kind of change in thinking happens to almost all organizations as they grow and takes a lot of effort to avoid, it's not unique to VC funded startups though that environment certainly makes it harder to prevent. Edit: Just to be clear I'm not defending Bird or absolving them of blame, I'm just describing how these things can happen.

Nextgrid 7y ago
It's insane that companies become "big" when their whole product and business model is unsustainable to begin with. And at least if you're operating at a loss you'd think that you would do everything in your power to stay small and not spend even more money on lots of employees unless absolutely necessary.
asveikau 7y ago
Sounds like they let themselves grow "big" irresponsibly if they need such a layoff.

michaelt 7y ago

Large-scale corporate change has a natural dichotomy. If news gets out before all the details are finalised, so no-one is blindsided by the announcement when it happens, some people will have lots of time to have sleepless nights and complain about how they're not being told whether they still have a job; and people you hoped to retain will start sending out CVs. If news is kept secret until you know every last precise detail, people will be upset this problem has come out of nowhere without them being warned, and that they weren't trusted with secrets, and that they weren't consulted on who in their team would be fired. And of course, in an announcement to 400 people, you'll have at least one person who'd have preferred the other option...