In those cases, word about the layoffs travel much quicker than the layoffs, and people will spend all day with dread about whether they are laid off or not. Y

In those cases, word about the layoffs travel much quicker than the layoffs, and people will spend all day with dread about whether they are laid off or not. Yes, it's a trade-off. But the upshot of the depersonalized mass firing rituals is that they feel like an extra slap in the face to those affected (in addition to the very existential issues they're suddenly forced to deal with). And plus, to the outside world, it just looks bad. So the balance of considerations would seem to favor 1:1 or small group settings, if at all possible.