IIs it moral to lay off people right before the holidays?

Anonymous

December 24,2022 at 9:15AM UTC

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IIs it moral to lay off people right before the holidays?

I read so many posts about it now! There is something inhumane to lay off people at this time of the year. Not that there is any good time for this, but before Christmas? What do you think?

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AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 9:36AM UTC
I hat this too. But I think companies are trying to start the new year with a new budget and look at it as practical and fiscally responsible. They overlook the human aspect of the decision.
Cherrice AkinsDecember 24,2022 at 1:41PM UTC
Very inhumane, it just happened to me. Not even laid off. Just fired, no warning. Except that I went to HR, asking them for a transfer, because I knew something was wrong w the relationship I had w my boss. A month later, due to ‘no choice’ of her own… She fired me. I know is retaliation, I even said Sabotage. The company is huge, THERE is like over 300 openings. I’ll Be contacting EOC. This hurts, and I never called off nor took a vacation. I know it’s retaliation from me going to HR, thinking it’s an open door policy. It’s isn’t.
Marquisha ThomasDecember 24,2022 at 2:19PM UTC
So inhumane…definitely budgeting preparation for the new year, but the people (and their families) that are let go are still affected nevertheless.
AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 4:38PM UTC
Moral - no.. But companies do this all the time. And at times it is not due to the company, but the employee. The company I work for has been working with an employee to get them up to speed on processes - even to the point of sending the employee back through new hire training which is extensive.
The employee was finally placed on a 6 week improvement plan as a last resort and did not meet any of the agreed apron goals and we had to let them go.
Again, not necessarily right, but sometimes inevitable.
AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 5:35PM UTC
Moral no, fiscally responsible maybe.
AnonymousDecember 26,2022 at 9:03PM UTC
Maybe, ‘cause those shareholders have to get their dividends, and it’s not going to decrease my bonus!
AnonymousDecember 25,2022 at 12:46AM UTC
As an employee, I'd say it's almost preferable. Could always just tell me I'm laid off or fired effective Jan 2nd so I can use my holidays. Then at least I know I have an extended vacation. Most folks who are going to get laid off or fired can feel it coming anyway.
AnonymousDecember 25,2022 at 10:29AM UTC
100% not moral but companies are not moral.
angelkittenDecember 25,2022 at 3:34PM UTC
Although most of us can sense something is up when there’s a layoff coming, I don’t think it’s right to do it right before the holidays. At least give people a little advance notice to prepare rather than blindsiding them.
AnonymousDecember 25,2022 at 3:45PM UTC
No, not moral, but if we look up the definition of capitalism, there is no mention of being moral. Especially, when it comes to the end of the quarter, or year end and the annual report. It’s all about shareholder value.
I don’t know what time of year is the best time of year to get laid off, but after many have over-used their credit cards to put presents under the tree is probably the worst.
AnonymousDecember 25,2022 at 4:34PM UTC
I got fired around Christmas time. They were wrong about firing me. I tried to tell them that the cost of hiring and firing employees cost companies more than any other factor. Among other things. I knew they didn't care, but I did it to educate them. It was a gas station and one of the managers firing me forgot to order gas 3x within a year! I told them at the end thankyou for the Christmas present and gave them a look. That place closed down eventually.
AnonymousDecember 25,2022 at 10:50PM UTC
I think it's more humane than allowing people to work but be unable to pay them or cover their benefits.
Tanika (Nika) Vasquez - (she/her)December 25,2022 at 11:35PM UTC
The decision is not an easy one. In most cases, organizations try other cost-cutting methods before laying people off, and after those other methods fail they lay people off.
AnonymousDecember 26,2022 at 2:35AM UTC
If it comes with a big cash buyout / severance check, then it's pretty cool.
AnonymousDecember 26,2022 at 1:29PM UTC
I agree. It is immoral and while they can justify it by citing how many employees are quiet quitting and just hanging on for the end of the year bonus, I would not wish getting laid off or fired right before the holidays on my worst enemy. It is next to impossible to get a legitimate job at this time of year, just "come-ons" and get rich quick multi-level marketing, or interviews that end with "We'll let you know after the holidays" (which more often than not is never going to happen). If you're an employer who does this you officially suck. Game over.
AnonymousDecember 26,2022 at 4:04PM UTC
My post was deleted probably because I said that it is long past time for us to begin organizing to develop changes to the laws and give workers more protection. I'll see if this one goes through.
AnonymousDecember 26,2022 at 9:00PM UTC
We absolutely have to organize and get more
protections for workers! If we can protect the very wealthy, you know with every tax break possible, and then give them a rebate out of the taxes the ever shrinking middle class pays, we should be able to protect the backbone of this country - the workers, whether they be ringing at a register, building a house, designing an airplane, or balancing the books - should be the primary concern of our leadership.
BridgetDecember 26,2022 at 4:54PM UTC
i got laid off from my job before Christmas and it sucks. Don't know how I am going to pay my bills. I am trying to stay positive about everything.
Rocky ZDecember 26,2022 at 6:03PM UTC
Companies do what is right for the business, there is no human consideration here. It is not personal-rather, business is business at any time
AnonymousDecember 26,2022 at 8:53PM UTC
Businesses consist of people and people do this to other people. There is no right time, but two weeks before Christmas time just doesn't feel right. And nowadays severance can be very limited unless you have been with the company for a long time. Our company HR does not do it at this time. Layoffs are temporary cost cutting measure. Over time they again hire new people as they figure efficiencies never truly work. Oftentimes the new people are not better than the ones they let go.
AnonymousDecember 26,2022 at 9:16PM UTC
I think a layoff right after Christmas is worse, because now you may be overextended with all the Christmas shopping and can’t recover as planned because you have no job.