3 ms·

The first person who gets laid off is going to immediately call The New York Times, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, etc. with probably-incorrect information about the la

The first person who gets laid off is going to immediately call The New York Times, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, etc. with probably-incorrect information about the layoffs. So PR wants to be out ahead of that. The real world doesn't have atomic transactions, so you have to pick between that scenario and one where some people are worried about their job for a few hours.

scurvy 7y ago
Or back in the day, post on f*ckedcompany. Though pud wouldn't bring that site back now. Back then it was because of irrational exuberance. Now, people are losing their jobs because of pandemic.
chrisseaton 7y ago
> The first person who gets laid off is going to immediately call The New York Times, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, etc Why do people do this? What do they get out of it? They don't pay for tip-offs do they? Seems unethical anyway.
- diebeforei485 7y ago
  There are also legal aspects to doing layoffs (WARN Act, providing return transportation to home country for employees on certain visas[1], plus state-specific legislation like in California). Unethical companies have gone without doing these things in the past, so accountability is in everyone's interest here. [1] 8 USC §1184 (c)(5)(A): In the case of an alien who is provided nonimmigrant status under section 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) or 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of this title and who is dismissed from employment by the employer before the end of the period of authorized admission, the employer shall be liable for the reasonable costs of return transportation of the alien abroad.
- Loughla 7y ago
  Revenge? Spite? A feeling of importance and control in a situation completely out of their control? Shits and giggles? Not sure angry human beings are the most rational actors in most cases.
- CydeWeys 7y ago
  Usually it's more people who get laid off start talking about it on Twitter, then the news media get wind of it and start talking with the laid off employees, and find some willing to describe in detail exactly what went down, send along a screenshot of the announcement email, etc. If I got laid off I'd talk about it on Twitter too. That's a natural reaction for many people. You want to commiserate with others in the same situation and share useful unemployment and job-finding resources. Hell, a big layoff gets its own hashtag.
- stale2002 7y ago
  Here is a better question. Why not do this? If you got fired, you don't really own the company anything anymore.
  - chrisseaton 7y ago
    > Why not do this? Because what do you get out of it? They don't pay you for a tip. Why do free work for a media conglomerate, even if you didn't care about the ethics?
    - stale2002 7y ago
      > Because what do you get out of it? Because they felt like it? I can definitely see how someone might think that it is cool to cause a news story. > Why do free work You are overestimating the amount of "work" that would go into something like this. I do stuff all the time, just because I felt like it.
    - sushid 7y ago
      I mean you're literally contributing to HN for free right now. Same thing, different motivation, different company benefiting from your free contribution.
- dickjocke 7y ago
  Why does anyone talk to a journalist when they don't get anything out of it or advance their interests? People like to tell their story, especially when aggrieved.
- draw_down 7y ago
  I think if someone gets laid off from their job they should feel free to tell whoever they want about that. Don't you think so?

scurvy 7y ago

Or back in the day, post on f*ckedcompany. Though pud wouldn't bring that site back now. Back then it was because of irrational exuberance. Now, people are losing their jobs because of pandemic.

chrisseaton 7y ago

> The first person who gets laid off is going to immediately call The New York Times, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, etc Why do people do this? What do they get out of it? They don't pay for tip-offs do they? Seems unethical anyway.

diebeforei485 7y ago
There are also legal aspects to doing layoffs (WARN Act, providing return transportation to home country for employees on certain visas[1], plus state-specific legislation like in California). Unethical companies have gone without doing these things in the past, so accountability is in everyone's interest here. [1] 8 USC §1184 (c)(5)(A): In the case of an alien who is provided nonimmigrant status under section 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) or 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of this title and who is dismissed from employment by the employer before the end of the period of authorized admission, the employer shall be liable for the reasonable costs of return transportation of the alien abroad.
Loughla 7y ago
Revenge? Spite? A feeling of importance and control in a situation completely out of their control? Shits and giggles? Not sure angry human beings are the most rational actors in most cases.
CydeWeys 7y ago
Usually it's more people who get laid off start talking about it on Twitter, then the news media get wind of it and start talking with the laid off employees, and find some willing to describe in detail exactly what went down, send along a screenshot of the announcement email, etc. If I got laid off I'd talk about it on Twitter too. That's a natural reaction for many people. You want to commiserate with others in the same situation and share useful unemployment and job-finding resources. Hell, a big layoff gets its own hashtag.
stale2002 7y ago
Here is a better question. Why not do this? If you got fired, you don't really own the company anything anymore.
- chrisseaton 7y ago
  > Why not do this? Because what do you get out of it? They don't pay you for a tip. Why do free work for a media conglomerate, even if you didn't care about the ethics?
  - stale2002 7y ago
    > Because what do you get out of it? Because they felt like it? I can definitely see how someone might think that it is cool to cause a news story. > Why do free work You are overestimating the amount of "work" that would go into something like this. I do stuff all the time, just because I felt like it.
  - sushid 7y ago
    I mean you're literally contributing to HN for free right now. Same thing, different motivation, different company benefiting from your free contribution.
dickjocke 7y ago
Why does anyone talk to a journalist when they don't get anything out of it or advance their interests? People like to tell their story, especially when aggrieved.
draw_down 7y ago
I think if someone gets laid off from their job they should feel free to tell whoever they want about that. Don't you think so?