London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Feb 10, 2025

The epic farewell posts of laid-off employees

The epic farewell posts of laid-off employees

Following mass layoffs, workers are taking to social media to write long goodbyes praising companies who have just let them go. Why?

In late 2022, Singh’s job was axed during a wave of large-scale Big Tech layoffs.

“I hated how my employer handled it,” says the New York-based software developer. “They received praise for large severance packages, but the process on who was let go was very unfair. And the messaging was terrible: the layoffs were leaked beforehand, yet they didn’t make it public that high performers also lost their jobs.”

Singh’s frustrations were compounded by the fact that he believed his job was relatively safe, especially since he’d never been informed of any performance problem. Plus, as an Indian expatriate on a US work visa, he had just 60 days to find a new role.
As thousands of colleagues began posting about their layoffs on LinkedIn, Singh followed suit. But despite his consternation at losing his job, and the dread of possibly having to leave the country as a result, the tone of his short message was upbeat and magnanimous. He wrote that although his journey ended prematurely, he agreed with his other colleagues who were gushing on social media that his now-former employer offered “everything” anyone could want from a workplace. After thanking his ex-teammates, he concluded the post with a line that he was available for work, alongside a picture of his work ID badge.

Singh sounded anything but bitter about the situation – exactly what he’d intended. “I worked for a social-media company: I know what you post lasts forever,” he says. “There’s no upside in writing anything negative about anyone.”

Singh’s LinkedIn post was met with supportive comments from former colleagues who were writing similarly praiseful posts, and his message was seen, sent and shared among recruiters who contacted him about vacancies. “I received my layoff letter at 0600,” he says. “By 0700, I’d updated my LinkedIn status. By 0800, I was speaking to recruiters.” 

It's early in 2023, but new layoffs are already hitting. And with the lingering predictions of an economic downturn and recession continuing to threaten businesses, there may be more to come. This may also mean more goodbye posts in which workers wax poetic about employers that have just dispassionately cut their jobs. While these messages may contain genuine sentiments, of course, they can also be performative and strategic: serving an important function in displaying a worker’s employability and adaptability.

A strategic move

After an initial wave of layoffs at the beginning of the pandemic, many companies rushed to hire new workers, rapidly expanding their teams.

Recently, however, a market slowdown has caused firms to pause recruitment, particularly in technology, where several start-ups and high-growth companies have implemented hiring freezes and, in some cases, even rescinded job offers. In late 2022, some companies also turned to layoffs. Among these were a swath of high-profile cut sat Big Tech firms as well as sectors including finance, retail and media. This may continue, too, as job cuts have already begun spilling into the new year. 


Expert advice says it can be strategic to post an effusive goodbye to a former employer, no matter how you feel about the layoff

Amid these cuts, workers like Singh have become part of a trend: epic farewell LinkedIn posts. In these messages, departing employees pay tribute to their former employer and colleagues, thanking them for the opportunity, often blaming external forces for their decision.

In part, these posts are appearing from workers who genuinely feel they had a positive experience with the company, and understand the layoffs. 

“I was at my company for seven-and-a-half years – I grew up there,” says Aleana, a Big Tech partnerships manager, based in Los Angeles. “I really wasn’t sure how I was going to break the news, so it felt like a good way of expressing my gratitude, letting people know what was happening, and putting myself out there for new opportunities.” 

Still, she says, as sincere as she was, she felt pressure to swiftly publish the post – even though she was still coming to terms with the news. “I was in shock, and having a really hard time processing the whole situation,” explains Aleana. She says another laid-off colleague encouraged her to write the missive. “A mentor of theirs recommended posting something, even if it might not feel right. They ended up posting the same day and had an outpouring of support from her network – I wrote mine the next day.”

Indeed, others who feel conflicted or are experiencing trauma – including resentment for their former employer or colleagues who remain – are also writing these effusive messages. 

It’s a strategic move, no matter an employee’s true feelings, agrees Grace Lordan, associate professor in behavioural science at the London School of Economics. She says the language workers use typically casts the layoff as a ‘learning experience’ that’s part of a broader ‘journey’ in their career. “These posts signal that the person loves change and won’t complain about corporate decisions,” she says. “They also detail the worker’s skills, experience and, crucially, where they’ve worked. It’s essentially a publicly available CV and cover letter: letting everyone know you’re available, adaptable and highly employable.”

These posts are more common among the biggest firms, adds Lordan. “We see it among workers who’ve been laid off by the megastars within sectors: prestigious companies that reflect well on the individual; being associated with the name, even in a layoff, boosts employability. If you’ve been let go by a much smaller company, you’re less likely to draw attention to their name in a public post.” 

I didn’t want to write something that I’d end up regretting. You learn to never burn bridges – Singh


As grating as it was for Singh to pay deference to his former employer, he acknowledges his LinkedIn goodbye message was a means to an end. Even though he disagreed with how the layoffs were handled, he knew that announcing he was available for work, while putting on a brave face, would boost his job prospects. “I didn’t want to write something that I’d end up regretting,” he says. “You learn to never burn bridges – Big Tech is a small world.”

‘Networking is the name and the game’


These emotional farewells can provide laid-off workers some support and a degree of closure. “I didn’t automatically think of LinkedIn: I wasn’t very active on the platform because I was secure in my job,” says Aleana. “But writing it was a cathartic experience. It was a way of saying, ‘OK, pick yourself up and do something healthy and productive even if it doesn’t feel right – it’s time to rip the Band-Aid.”

The emotional catharsis of a LinkedIn goodbye post also serves a practical purpose. “It’s a really easy way of letting people know what’s happening with you professionally,” says Aleana, who is now starting a freelance business. “You can say you’re unemployed and that it wasn’t your fault. The community responds to that, people take sympathy and want to help – networking is the name of the game.”  

This is particularly crucial for workers like Singh, who face a race to find their next job. “These posts are more salient for those on work visas,” says Lordan. “It becomes emotional: people are more likely to share the post, and a recruiter might be more willing to reach out if they can offer a job that means a worker won't have to leave the country.”

Regardless of how a laid off worker feels about their former employer, it makes sound strategic sense to position themselves as available for their next job – all while appearing to be the consummate team player. Such is the power of the social media farewell post, says Lordan. “People play the game in corporate life: it reflects well on the individual, and shows they’re adaptable. And, in a competitive industry, it’s another way of gaining exposure. It's rare that the news will be received negatively – they’ll often just be shares and positive comments.”

The tactic worked for Singh: he’s now busy arranging interviews with recruiters, he says. “I have a strong profile, so my inbox has been buzzing.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
"Marrow stupid": Senator John Kennedy Blasts UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Over Chagos Islands Transfer
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Surge Reshapes Electoral Dynamics
Kemi Badenoch Faces Internal Criticism After 100 Days as Tory Leader
Campaigners Urge UK to Apologise for Forced Adoptions
Church of England Upholds Traditional Eucharistic Elements Amid Calls for Alternatives
Rayner Defends Approach at Grenfell Tower Meeting Amid Dismantling Plan
China Implements Tit-for-Tat Tariffs on US Goods Amid Trade Escalation
Italy and Wales Set for Six Nations Clash at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico
Ministry of Justice Apologises Over Prisoner Early Release Letter Error
Rare First Edition Harry Potter Book Sells for Over Twenty-One Thousand Pounds
Drax Power Station Under Scrutiny for Incomplete Wood Sourcing Reporting
UK Government Reaffirms Pledge to Build 1.5 Million New Homes by 2029
Freed Israeli Hostage Learns of Family's Death After Release from Gaza
French President Macron Employs Deepfake Technology to Advocate for AI Summit
Trump Names Musk to Investigate Government Fraud Amidst Controversy
Police Stop Ed Sheeran's Street Performance in Bengaluru
FBI Alerts Smartphone Users About Toll Scam Threat
Australian Educator Declares Identity as a Cat, Sparking Parental Backlash
Kremlin Addresses Claims of Trump-Putin Phone Conversation in Light of Ukraine Crisis
Trump Connects with Putin to Address the Ukraine Crisis
Super Bowl Ad Prices Soar to Record Highs Amid Streaming Surge
China Achieves 2030 Solar Energy Targets Early, Cuts Subsidies for Renewable Energy
Trump Signs Executive Order Prioritizing White South African Refugees
Europe Faces Growing Security Concerns and Trump's New Demands on Ukraine
Trump Revokes Security Clearances of Biden Officials, Including Blinken and Sullivan
Justin Bieber Sparks Concern as New Footage Raises Health Fears
European Right-Wing Leaders Celebrate Trump’s Impact on Global Politics
Trump Administration Directs Admiral to Leave Official Residence Within Three Hours
British Health Secretary Andrew Gavin Fired Over Controversial Messages
Report: Iran Attempted to Assassinate Trump During Election Campaign
Trump Declares He Won't Deport Prince Harry, 'He's Already Dealing with Enough Issues with His Wife,' He Comments.
Macron's AI Vision Encounters Hindrance in the Global Technology Competition.
TikTok Sued Over Alleged Child Deaths Caused by 'Blackout Challenge'
Governments Prohibit DeepSeek AI Due to National Security Issues
Russian musician Vadim Stroykin passes away following an apparent fall during a police raid.
Zelensky Suggests Mineral Collaboration with Trump for Security Assistance
Naomi Campbell Claims Unawareness of Financial Irregularities at Fashion for Relief.
House Republican Introduces Bill Aimed at Limiting AI Exports to China
Trump Signs Executive Order Prohibiting Transgender Athletes from Competing in Women's Sports
Intense Pressure Builds for a Free Trade Agreement Between the UK and GCC in Light of Economic Difficulties
UAE Aids in the Transfer of 300 Prisoners Between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump Suggests U.S. 'Takeover' of Gaza, Sparking Global Worries
At least ten fatalities reported in Swedish school shooting, authorities confirm.
EU Reveals Significant Advances on Special Tribunal for Prosecuting Vladimir Putin
Trump Administration Preparing Executive Order to Abolish the Department of Education
Trump's Gaza Plan Provokes Global Debate
Spain Endorses Initiative to Cut Working Week to 37.5 Hours
Australia Prohibits DeepSeek AI on Government Devices Due to Security Issues
Trump Warns of Tariffs on EU Products, Labels Bloc an 'Atrocity' in Trade Matters
Zelenskyy Proposes Nuclear Arsenal if NATO Membership Lingers.
×