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Can verify that Twitter is laying people off. Several contacts at Twitter were laid off this weekend and hoping they I could submit their resumes to my current

Can verify that Twitter is laying people off. Several contacts at Twitter were laid off this weekend and hoping they I could submit their resumes to my current employer. They were told that these were performance based terminations, despite not receiving any negative evaluations during their time at Twitter. They were also told they needed to sign NDAs in order to receive any severance. Can't confirm the %.

jjtheblunt 4y ago
maybe performance of Twitter, not the particular employees?
- pc86 4y ago
  That's called a layoff.
  - chris11 4y ago
    Layoffs can be more expensive than terminating for cause. https://www.reuters.com/business/tesla-sued-by-former-employees-over-mass-layoff-2022-06-20/ https://www.reuters.com/business/tesla-sued-by-former-employ...
    - pc86 4y ago
      Sorry what does that have to do with the thread? Tweeps are being told these are performance-related terminations, not layoffs. It was posited that "performance" was referring to Twitter, not the employee. I simply pointed out that's exactly what a layoff was, and performance in this context can only mean the employee, not the company.
sosodev 4y ago
Is requiring an NDA for severance even legal? That's seriously sketchy
- lotsofpulp 4y ago
  Not providing severance pay at all is perfectly legal. In most cases, an employer will want at least something in return for providing severance pay.
  - lottin 4y ago
    Why do they provide it then? Out of goodwill?
    - lotsofpulp 4y ago
      Sometimes, or that could be a partial reason as a signal to current and future employees about what management is like. But NDA is another reason, or even keeping unemployment insurance premiums low by having everyone that accepts severance state that they are voluntarily leaving the company in exchange for the severance. By voluntarily separating, they cannot collect unemployment benefits from the state, which means the state charged the employer less in unemployment insurance premiums.
    - mbreese 4y ago
      Yes. It makes it easier for them to hire down the road. If you know there is a parachute waiting for you, it’s easier to take a risk on joining the company once it starts growing again. But I suspect it’s mainly as a carrot to sign the NDA/non-compete/whatever else they want you to sign to keep not talk about what happened.
    - encryptluks2 4y ago
      Usually it is advantageous to offer it so that you don't sue them down the road and get more money. A lot of times it is less rewarding to take the first second or third settlement offer than to counter for quadruple what they offer.
    - ddingus 4y ago
      Yes, good will sometimes. Other times it may be all about giving someone a very strong incentive to play nice while they find a new gig. Sometimes people basically need it. These kinds of things are not always about the strict minimum cost actions. In general, it is a better world with some degree of human consideration being part of things. I am quite sure many of the cases I had involvement in could have been done cheaper. However, I am also quite sure the people involved had what they need to get through to their next gig with few worries too. That is worth a lot and these days one can never know who may be working for or with who.
deltree7 4y ago
Well to be honest, Musk and his team looked at quantity/quality of code produced in the last 60 days, with hopefully a 10 minute chance to defend their lack of quantity/quality. Lots of coasters in big companies can get with good rating just be being on the good side of manager/peers and even get Bonus points if you are vocal about DEI and activism.
- rchaud 4y ago
  You'd think he'd have sacked Tesla's self-driving unit's employees several times over if this was the case.
- PuppyTailWags 4y ago
  If some random group of people who don't know me, don't know my labor or my legacy at an organization, don't know my technical abilities, etc. fired me based off the quantity (and subjective quality) of code I produced in the last 60 days, even with 10 minutes to defend myself, I would be spitting mad at the disrespect and dehumanization. Particularly if I know I was being fired days before a stock refresh. No, this is pissing on people and claiming it's raining.
  - deltree7 4y ago
    That's fine. Elon doesn't want you to work for him. There are people who build multiple successful companies and then there are who prioritize well-being and pick some weird hill to die on.
    - PuppyTailWags 4y ago
      What's his code volume in the past 60 days?
      - deltree7 4y ago
        Elon is not a software engineer. He also has created nearly $1.5 Trillion of Market Value if you are looking for numbers.
hedora 4y ago
They should probably take a look at the lawsuit around Tesla's illegal layoffs. Your description sounds similar to that. It's probably worth it to find a labor attorney.
- collegeburner 4y ago
  twitter could invoke the "faltering company" exemption given that its now saddled with many $B LBO debt, or unexpected contracts loss given that some advertisers are pausing spend.
  - AlexandrB 4y ago
    Can you still invoke those if you knowingly caused both problems? If so, seems like this could be easily abused.
- 3327 4y ago
bambataa 4y ago
Are they being laid off on the Sunday so that they miss their 1 Nov vest date? I find a reprehensible way to treat people.
93po 4y ago
How many people are laid off at Twitter on any given weekend? Given the headcount it's likely a common occurrence monthly if not weekly.

jjtheblunt 4y ago

maybe performance of Twitter, not the particular employees?

pc86 4y ago
That's called a layoff.
- chris11 4y ago
  Layoffs can be more expensive than terminating for cause. https://www.reuters.com/business/tesla-sued-by-former-employees-over-mass-layoff-2022-06-20/ https://www.reuters.com/business/tesla-sued-by-former-employ...
  - pc86 4y ago
    Sorry what does that have to do with the thread? Tweeps are being told these are performance-related terminations, not layoffs. It was posited that "performance" was referring to Twitter, not the employee. I simply pointed out that's exactly what a layoff was, and performance in this context can only mean the employee, not the company.

sosodev 4y ago

Is requiring an NDA for severance even legal? That's seriously sketchy

lotsofpulp 4y ago
Not providing severance pay at all is perfectly legal. In most cases, an employer will want at least something in return for providing severance pay.
- lottin 4y ago
  Why do they provide it then? Out of goodwill?
  - lotsofpulp 4y ago
    Sometimes, or that could be a partial reason as a signal to current and future employees about what management is like. But NDA is another reason, or even keeping unemployment insurance premiums low by having everyone that accepts severance state that they are voluntarily leaving the company in exchange for the severance. By voluntarily separating, they cannot collect unemployment benefits from the state, which means the state charged the employer less in unemployment insurance premiums.
  - mbreese 4y ago
    Yes. It makes it easier for them to hire down the road. If you know there is a parachute waiting for you, it’s easier to take a risk on joining the company once it starts growing again. But I suspect it’s mainly as a carrot to sign the NDA/non-compete/whatever else they want you to sign to keep not talk about what happened.
  - encryptluks2 4y ago
    Usually it is advantageous to offer it so that you don't sue them down the road and get more money. A lot of times it is less rewarding to take the first second or third settlement offer than to counter for quadruple what they offer.
  - ddingus 4y ago
    Yes, good will sometimes. Other times it may be all about giving someone a very strong incentive to play nice while they find a new gig. Sometimes people basically need it. These kinds of things are not always about the strict minimum cost actions. In general, it is a better world with some degree of human consideration being part of things. I am quite sure many of the cases I had involvement in could have been done cheaper. However, I am also quite sure the people involved had what they need to get through to their next gig with few worries too. That is worth a lot and these days one can never know who may be working for or with who.

deltree7 4y ago

Well to be honest, Musk and his team looked at quantity/quality of code produced in the last 60 days, with hopefully a 10 minute chance to defend their lack of quantity/quality. Lots of coasters in big companies can get with good rating just be being on the good side of manager/peers and even get Bonus points if you are vocal about DEI and activism.

rchaud 4y ago
You'd think he'd have sacked Tesla's self-driving unit's employees several times over if this was the case.
PuppyTailWags 4y ago
If some random group of people who don't know me, don't know my labor or my legacy at an organization, don't know my technical abilities, etc. fired me based off the quantity (and subjective quality) of code I produced in the last 60 days, even with 10 minutes to defend myself, I would be spitting mad at the disrespect and dehumanization. Particularly if I know I was being fired days before a stock refresh. No, this is pissing on people and claiming it's raining.
- deltree7 4y ago
  That's fine. Elon doesn't want you to work for him. There are people who build multiple successful companies and then there are who prioritize well-being and pick some weird hill to die on.
  - PuppyTailWags 4y ago
    What's his code volume in the past 60 days?
    - deltree7 4y ago
      Elon is not a software engineer. He also has created nearly $1.5 Trillion of Market Value if you are looking for numbers.

hedora 4y ago

They should probably take a look at the lawsuit around Tesla's illegal layoffs. Your description sounds similar to that. It's probably worth it to find a labor attorney.

collegeburner 4y ago
twitter could invoke the "faltering company" exemption given that its now saddled with many $B LBO debt, or unexpected contracts loss given that some advertisers are pausing spend.
- AlexandrB 4y ago
  Can you still invoke those if you knowingly caused both problems? If so, seems like this could be easily abused.
3327 4y ago

bambataa 4y ago

Are they being laid off on the Sunday so that they miss their 1 Nov vest date? I find a reprehensible way to treat people.

93po 4y ago

How many people are laid off at Twitter on any given weekend? Given the headcount it's likely a common occurrence monthly if not weekly.