I worked in the semiconductor industry in the 90's, when it was going through many waves of layoffs and plant closings as the manufacturing went overseas. It i

I worked in the semiconductor industry in the 90's, when it was going through many waves of layoffs and plant closings as the manufacturing went overseas. It is actually the right way to do things, to say to your employees "we're going to have a layoff soon, it will be about this many people, those laid off will get this severance package". Then, you announce it publicly, the same day you've announced it internally. People get a few days to let it sink in, which does suck, but if you have any kind of severance then you know that it's not like dying, and you get treated a little more like an adult. Compare to the way things were done in the early 80's when the same industry was new at this, they did it as a "surprise" all at once, hustling people out the door and people don't have any time to exchange email addresses with coworkers, etc. Of course, if you're not offering any severance package, then you have more of an incentive to do things the wrong way...