I’ve been around the bush enough to know the basic truth of layoffs: Layoffs are only about performance when considering /business/ performance, almost never a

I’ve been around the bush enough to know the basic truth of layoffs: Layoffs are only about performance when considering /business/ performance, almost never about individual performance. At the individual level they are arbitrary to the point of seeming random. Business units which are profitable, even the bedrock of the business, can and will undergo layoffs if they’re not showing growth. Payroll is an expense tied to growth, especially for technical roles that get booked as R&D CapEx. The best way to avoid layoffs is to always work for a part of the business that is showing strong revenue growth, good fundamentals, and is a focus area for top leadership.