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I've been hearing from more tech workers since this ran yesterday—thx again to everyone who read, discussed, and reached out; this story clearly resonated with many—and thought I'd update with some additional points here

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Brian Merchant

@bcmerchant

Jan 30

The big tech layoffs aren't about "economic realities" or simply streamlining operations—Silicon Valley is moving to slash rising wages and bring an increasingly empowered workforce to heel. My 1st column for @latimes: latimes.com/business/techn

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7:07 PM · Jan 31, 2023

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First, a crucial point—the mass layoffs are not confined to 'big' tech. Workers from smaller tech companies reached out to say that they're being hit with layoffs, too, often just as randomly, and after good quarters. The big tech cos are inspiring a sector-wide trend.

Brian Merchant

@bcmerchant

Jan 31

These workers are often less secure than those at big tech, with less generous severance packages, and experience more precarity; I've heard from workers in edtech, adtech, and B2B industries who've been shown the door, with leadership parroting that of Google and Amazon.

Brian Merchant

@bcmerchant

Jan 31

Second, a number of reports confirming that anxiety, insecurity, and burnout are now at an all time high among those who remain—one worker told me things haven't been this bad in 15 years working in tech.

Brian Merchant

@bcmerchant

Jan 31

Sadly, this is precisely the climate a corporate manager might prefer if the aim were to deter rising wages or to curtail formal or informal organizing efforts—and I remain convinced that this is a chief component driving big tech layoffs, which is inspiring copycats.