#layoffs

#layoffs

Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a "no-hire, no fire" standstill. That's caused many to limit new work to only a few specific roles, if not pause openings entirely. At the same time, sizable layoffs have continued to pile up - raising worker anxieties across sectors. Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs spanning from U.S. President Donald Trump's barrage of new tariffs and shifts in consumer spending.

There's an old adage that goes, "No one ever got fired for hiring [insert consulting firm here]." This rang true for many years, as there was no substitute for consulting 'SaaS' ('scapegoat as a service') - but a reckoning is coming. After nearly a decade of uninterrupted growth, the days of multi-million-dollar, multi-year contracts with governmental entities and private companies are swiftly withering away.

Warren also detailed what she learned as she delved into the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the department and requested a broader investigation of the dismantling. Her effort included sending eight letters to the Education Department (ED) and a meeting with Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Warren said the department "largely failed to provide complete and transparent answers" in response to her letters.

Note, as we discuss at the very end of this, we're wondering when/if you think we should record next week. We could do it on Wednesday, Friday, or not at all. Let us know! Also, here's that graphic Nicole mentioned, which shows that we're firing cancer researchers and VA nurses and replacing them with ICE goons. Listen on Spotify (transcripts available) Listen on Apple (transcripts available)

In August, reports emerged that Microsoft had paused development on Contraband, a co-op smuggler game from Just Cause developer Avalanche. At the time, some sources noted that Microsoft put a "hold" on production rather than a full cancellation. But now, Contraband's fate appears to be sealed as mass layoffs at Avalanche have resulted in the closure of its Liverpool studio.

Today we've made the difficult but necessary decision to reorganize Crystal Dynamics' studios and teams. As a result, we've parted ways with just under 30 team members across various departments and projects as we restructure the company and business for our next generation. Crystal deeply thanks all of those impacted for their incredible talent, hard work, and dedication, which helped shape the studio in so many ways. We are committed to offering our fullest resources and support to you during this transition.

Synopsys said it would eliminate approximately 10% of its global workforce as the chip design software company integrates its $35 billion acquisition of engineering simulation firm Ansys. This move could affect up to 2,800 employees. The Sunnyvale, California-based company disclosed the restructuring plan in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on November 12, stating that the cuts would enable it to "invest in key growth opportunities and drive business efficiencies" following the Ansys deal, which closed in July.

Seeing peers lose their jobs has a way of making people weird. It's not much different from grief. When someone loses a loved one, you can almost feel the tension: people fumbling for the right words, hoping not to say something insensitive, then saying something insensitive anyway. "Everything happens for a reason." "They're in a better place." That is, assuming any condolences are shared at all.

Aiming to eliminate a budget deficit that ballooned to more than $200 million, the private school has cut nearly 1,000 positions, or almost 4% of its workforce. Faculty and staff said that the layoffs have been especially stressful because they have been ongoing for months, although the university said last week that they are nearly complete - and that as many as 200 of those who lost their jobs could find new positions at the school.

Rad is nothing without its people and wants to ensure that all employees are taken care of and provided for to the fullest extent feasible. Executive leaders are hopeful that a viable solution will be found to ensure that Rad team members remain gainfully employed for the foreseeable future. However, to be fully transparent, despite our collective efforts, it is possible that this may not happen, and Rad may be forced to cease operations.

What counts as 'congregating'? What's your definition of 'congregating'?

The warning follows several months of financial crisis within the district. Just a few months ago, Oakland Unified was projected to run out of cash as early as fall 2025, with an anticipated $95 million budget shortfall. That deficit was reduced to $30 million, the district said over the summer, in large part through reduction and rearrangement of staffing. But district staff warned that Oakland Unified was still spending more than it receives and retaining too many employees with money the district simply doesn't have.

The US job market has changed a lot since Berman and other job seekers who have been out of work for a year or longer started looking. Workers who have jobs are staying put in their roles, job openings are stagnant, and those on the outside - who may have been thrust there by layoffs or downsizing - are finding it increasingly harder to claw their way back in.

"This bipartisan legislation will finally give us a clear picture of AI's impact on the workforce - what jobs are being eliminated, which workers are being retrained, and where new opportunities are emerging," Warner said. "Armed with this information, we can make sure AI drives opportunity instead of leaving workers behind."

For now, it's... not. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF ( NYSEMKT: VOO) is actually looking pretty healthy so far, up 0.2% premarket. And why is that? Perhaps investors are thinking all these layoffs, caused by cheap AI replacing expensive workers, and allowing corporate profits to rise. Or investors could be encouraged by the way oral arguments went before the Supreme Court yesterday, with the Justices apparently doubtful of President Trump's ability to legally and unilaterally impose tariffs on imports without Congressional assent.

What's been a hard 12 months for professionals just got tougher. Fears over the increased use of AI to complete white-collar roles have been compounded by news of layoffs. If you're a mid-level professional, it's tough not to feel anxious about the future of work. In a memo to staff last week, Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology at Amazon, said her company's decision to cut 14,000 corporate roles was aimed at "reducing bureaucracy, removing layers, and shifting resources."

Nine months into President Donald Trump's second term in office, he and his education secretary Linda McMahon have essentially gutted the 45-year-old Department of Education as they work toward their "final mission" of shutting it down. First, they cut millions in grants and terminated hundreds of contracts. Then, they eliminated nearly 2,000 employees via buyouts and layoffs, slashing the department's staff from just over 4,000 to about 2,400.