this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2024
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[–] [email protected] 134 points 9 months ago (2 children)

The real joke is the ceo admitting fault. You can always blame "the market", "inflation" and "lackluster employee performance"!

[–] [email protected] 64 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Or the new one: “rightsizing”

[–] [email protected] 37 points 9 months ago (3 children)

If I hear the word rightsizing come out of my boss’ mouth, that mouth is immediately losing a few teeth. I would legitimately prefer the boss in this comic, because at least they’re honest.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I genuinely respect when people own up to their mistakes.

I'd greatly prefer a boss who says "look, this isn't your fault, I wish I could do better by you, but it was my job to protect your job and this is where we are. Absolutely use me as a reference, reach out to me if I can do anything to help you land on your feet"

People really hate when something unfair happens and you try to pin it on them... But when you put down the titles, explain why it's come to this, and offer to help them find a new job? That's how you don't burn the bridge from the other side... It doesn't even require you to actually take responsibility, you just have to acknowledge it's not their fault and make them feel you're not taking it lightly

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

I have seen a pattern of the boss or even second-tier management not even knowing it's about to happen. Like the now-famous Cloudflare botched "layoff-not-a-layoff" decisions are being made by folks who probably don't even know the people they are firing, they are just names on a spreadsheet.

The good managers I've worked for think this way, they are there to make their team better and actually care about them as humans. For anyone thinking about going into management, every business I've ever seen needs more managers that care, it's a worthwhile job and even fewer people can do it correctly than many technical jobs. Managing poorly is trivial, so we all think it's "easy".

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I think a lot of the way executives handle things like this is very similar to how kids handle problems. They continue to try to cover it up and downplay it in hopes that everything will be over soon and no one will talk about it. They say "this is an adjustment" or "it's a transitory period" while continuing to do additional lay offs and saying "we just need to put this all behind us", instead of ripping the bandaid off.

Just treat people like another adult on equal footing with you. It's not that hard.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

HR will say it’s your fault so that the company saves on severance and unemployment insurance reimbursements. They pass off those costs to state taxes and the fired employees.

Admitting fault and admitting they are firing perfectly capable workers is more expensive and hurts the bottom line, which is all they are really there to protect.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, that's my point. By not acknowledging how bad it is, it makes it worse. People get mentally exhausted, and productivity drops. They think they can fool people into believing this are sliiiiiiiiightly better, which means the company should do better. But that's based on the belief that your employees don't see through your bullshit. Any benefit they get from trying to game employee's responses (read: get them to believe your corporate bullshit) they end up losing more through the negative impact it has on those left standing after the firings.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

I agree on the outcome, I’m saying they don’t care what the fired employee really thinks, they just need to cover their asses in the event an employee sues them. And they are also doing it to discourage the fired employee from suing by showing them they’ve already built a case against them.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, at this point, the boss in the comic would be massive improvement over most tech CEOs. Corporate doublespeak is more infuriating than just being a fuckup

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

over most ~~tech~~ CEOs.

Let's not leave the other CEOs out of this.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

It’s not manly, it’s a toxic combination of rage issues and holding everyone to the standards of being honest, with themselves and others. Get it right.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

What kind of standard do you think you're holding by fantasizing about being violent?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

What part of “rage issues” do you not comprehend, troll?

I am well fucking aware it’s not a good thing. Just like you are well fucking aware that your bullshit comment isn’t gonna change shit.

I, on the other hand, am actively working to fix it. Just because I am aware of and honest about my own limitations does not make me less than you. Hell, it makes me better than you.

In short, piss off with your self-righteous and performative ass. Nobody wants to see it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Not much I think, think you're also demonstrating it in comments.

I think my comment contributes to question this kind of behavior which is still too much normalized as shown by your votes. Too many people still think it's cool.

I'm glad you're working on it and I hopes it improves things for you. I think answering to critics online without resorting to insults could be a good exercise. I didn't say I was better than you, while you just did, I just wanted to point out that this behavior shouldn't be celebrated.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 9 months ago

I wish my workplace would rightsize the workload

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

“I take full responsibility. You’re fired.”

[–] [email protected] 95 points 9 months ago

"I don't understand! This is the 5th company I've owned that has failed! Why can't I find the right people?!?!?!'

[–] [email protected] 66 points 9 months ago (2 children)

fifth panel: Have fun doing the work of 3 people

[–] [email protected] 23 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Sixth panel: btw the board has rewarded me for the downsizing and gave me a raise

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

Can't believe this was left out.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I love being told that "we" need to tighten our belts by an executive that gets millions upon millions in total compensation.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Our CIO who recently retired was often famous for justifying low/no raises or bonuses by saying "Well, money isn't everything" and yet still buying an airplane to casually fly

[–] [email protected] 26 points 9 months ago

But now the security guard has work to do, they're creating jobs!

[–] [email protected] 23 points 9 months ago

Cloudflare.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 9 months ago

I've only seen four or five of these comics and each one of them is funnier than anything Scott Adams ever put out.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Some of you will be laid off, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I should become security, they are always there still working when the firings happens.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

They have the same problem as IT.

We don't have any security issues. What do we pay you for?

We have security issues. What do we pay you for?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Yeah sure, I was just joking.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

"No, I don't know who broke your car's windows. I don't work for you anymore, stop hassling me."

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

And by, "the" I mean, "my".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

The buck stops here.

And by buck I mean money - what did you think I meant, responsibility? HAHAHAHAH! :-P [sob]