Redefining Layoffs in a Pandemic Era

Eleven million people have been let go in the US so far this year. And the job market they’re entering isn’t easy: the latest jobs report showed the economy added just 142,000 jobs in August. But ever since the pandemic, the way we experience — and process — getting laid off has fundamentally changed. It’s no longer just a source of shame. It’s become social media content.

Today on the show, host Sarah Holder speaks with a tech worker who’s at the forefront of the hottest new job market trend: posting publicly about your layoff. And Bloomberg reporter Jo Constantz explains what the shift in how we approach layoffs means for employees and employers everywhere.

Read more: Losing Your Job Used to Be Shameful. Now It’s a Whole Identity

Further listening: 

• The Sahm Rule, Explained (By Claudia Sahm)
• Workers Are Getting Ghosted. Here’s Why

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