During 130,000 tech layoffs, 62% of knowledge workers express insecurity about sticking with a single employer anymore.

The Feeling of Betrayal Being Just Left Behind

On January 20, a Google software engineer, Justin Moore discovered his account was deactivated. Despite working at the company for over 16 years, this was the only notice he got about being one of the 12,000 employees laid off.

Moore and other former Google employees, including top performers, turned to LinkedIn to share the news since they had no other means to bid farewell or express their frustration and sense of betrayal. Moore highlighted how employers, huge and faceless corporations like Google, view employees as completely disposable and emphasized the importance of prioritizing life over work.

Blair Bolick, a Google recruiter, also expressed feeling devastated, sad, and angry, saying, "I can't feel gratitude in this moment for a company that I gave so much of myself to, but felt it appropriate to part ways by locking me and 12,000 of my colleagues out of my corporate account at 4 a.m."

Katie Olaskiewicz, a Google strategist, felt even more betrayed by the callous nature of layoffs, expressing the difficulty of betrayal, especially when there's no specific person to blame.

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What is The Great Betrayal?

The Great Betrayal means workers recognize that stability and loyalty in the workplace are an illusion and find it more beneficial to rely on themselves and offer their skills to multiple clients.

Why is it Becoming a Trend?

Raphael Ouzan, CEO of A.Team explains the Great Betrayal as more workers opting for freelancing over full-time jobs after brutal layoffs shattered the belief in stability and loyalty from a single employer.

This outlook is widespread, especially with the tech sector experiencing widespread layoffs and making headlines. During the pandemic's peak, layoffs were viewed as an extraordinary occurrence, but recent job cuts have occurred despite companies making significant profits in previous years, Ouzan highlighted. He mentioned that layoffs were frequently unrelated to job performance, leading to worker dissatisfaction and a loss of trust in the stability and security of full-time employment.

The tight job market strengthens the sentiment. Despite financial worries and talk of a recession, workers remain highly sought after and exceeded expectations, with 517,000 new jobs added last month, according to a U.S. jobs report.

How Can Companies Make Employees Feel Valued?

Eric Mochnacz, operations director at the Red Clove HR consultancy, suggested that when a company is going through changes or uncertainty, employers can manage the situation by taking charge and communicating openly with their employees to boost their confidence in the company's future.

CMO in Residence at A.Team, Angelique Bellmer Krembs also stated that companies must invest in manager training and prioritize workplace culture principles to ensure employees have the intended experience, emphasizing that company leaders, including themselves, should maintain cultural tenets at all levels to foster trust and strengthen the company's foundation.

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