When many Google employees attempted to log into work last week, several found that they had lost access to their work accounts.
Soon, these workers — approximately 12,000 — were informed that they had been let go from the company.
This has been the story for countless tech workers around the world as Big Tech continues weed whacking through their workforce after eagerly overhiring during the pandemic.
According to data tracked by Layoffs.fyi, over 1,000 tech firms laid off up to 160,000 employees last year, and 2023 seems to be on track to be more of the same.
The initial response, understandably, is panic. Layoffs imply loss of income, tapping into savings and potentially the need to uproot one’s life in order to find new opportunities. However, it also leads to unspoken emotional damage that can prevent even the most talented professionals from being able to pick up where they left off.
“I hear that people are not sleeping, or sleeping two hours at a time on their couches,” Beth Anstandig, a psychotherapist in the Bay Area, told the New York Times. “They’re in tears during our meetings together.”
While leaders can breathe a sigh of relief after ripping the Band-aid off, former employees are left picking up the pieces with little to no guidance. However, firings have a much wider impact that just those who were laid off — remaining workers are also going to feel immense pressure.
As a result, the workforce is becoming increasingly disillusioned and less likely to expect full support from their employers. In short, they’re on their own.
