The Brutal Truth About Running Layoffs
episode
“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies
24 min
2 speakers
8 chapters
transcribed 17 days ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
What is the opening context and why are layoffs being discussed today?
What's up everybody? Welcome back to another segment of HR Heretics. Kelly, you're back in the building. How was vacation?
What's happening? It was great. So, um You know, a long time ago we were talking about, you know, our families and what's going on in the background and so we had this vacation scheduled. I think we booked it like a year and a half ago or something. And we were supposed to go in March and my mom got sick, you know, in February and we had to Cancel the whole damn thing, it was a whole Tahiti. You know what I mean? Very like meticulously planned and we just had to cancel it and um I was like, I don't care. Just pick a date. It just can't be now, move it. And all of a sudden here we are. It was like October sixteenth. I'm like, Holy shit, it's here, we're leaving.
How was it?
It was great. Um have an ear infection from a little a little diving, a little snorkeling, but whatever. You know, it's clearing out. I can hear you fine, so Uh it was good, so we flew into Tahiti. And by the way for those of you in California'll probably agree with this, especially the Bay Area, but it's like an eight and a half hour flight. It says nine, it's like seven and a half, eight they they hit it in. And it is in my opinion so much better than Hawaii. What?
What are the three must‑know considerations before launching a first RIF?
And like I kinda grew up going to Hawaii. My family was kind of one of those like my mom and dad were like sun freaks and like we'd go like on standby on like Christmas and just like take a chance and back then they always let you on. So we would go like every year just cheap style, boom to Maui. Tahiti is literally two and a half hours beyond Maui, Nolan. And it's like You know, depends on what your preference is, obviously, but like I'm full on like less people, more rustic, like you know, whatever. And and and and for those of you in the day, like whenever I go to Maui I fucking see everyone I know. I'm like, dude, I went to college with you and I I just ran in with you at the airport. I don't wanna say hi.
I wanna be like gone. I wanna hang out with people that aren't like me and live like me and I wanna you know, and it's just a very cool Very cool place. Cool. So You know, I just for the past eight days have been saying Yarona Maruru And it's just They're so happy.
I would have expected you to be Tanner.
Well Okay, so Nolan asked me, like, What would you do? I'm like, Well melanoma's no joke. That's number one. Skin cancer, uh it's a big deal.
How did the Carta layoff playbook balance depth, humanity, and a single‑shot approach?
And I grew up in the sun without using a lot of sunscreen, so now I'm like a sunscreen freak. And we buy the reef friendly sunscreen. Which those of you don't know, and if you're on your commute, you always love to laugh at us. I mean, I looked like a walking snowball. Like I put that on my face and Hillary's like, We're not leaving this room until that's a little bit more
A little bit more rubber. Let's
rub that in and I said, You know what? It's fine. Everyone knows that no one wants to get skin theater anymore. So I'm just bouncin around looking like Casper.
Perfect. Well, now you're back and you look the same, but it I'm I'm happy you're rested and I am happy you had a great time and happy guys.
For those of you who are interested, ping me. It's um it's a great, great spot and much easier to get to than a lot of people think.
All right, let's get back to regular scheduled programming. So we had a submission for Dear Heretics. This gal says, when beginning the process for a RIF, what are the top three things I should keep in mind? What are some of the lessons you've learned along the way that you wish someone had told you at the earliest stages of planning? Kelly, what are your thoughts?
Yeah. Um my initial thought when I've said this to I just said it to actually Not Jerry, not Supio, but another founder. I said in my my opinion, anything you can do to avoid a riff as far out as possible. That's what I try to do. And that includes like not illegally, but even if you have to uncomfortably architect different things like head count, increasing performance management in suboptimal ways. I just I really do believe Nolan, whether it's one percent
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the opening context and why are layoffs being discussed today?
0:03–1:19
2
What are the three must‑know considerations before launching a first RIF?
1:19–2:35
3
How did the Carta layoff playbook balance depth, humanity, and a single‑shot approach?
2:35–4:22
4
Why does change‑management before and after a layoff matter most?
4:22–6:16
5
What is an opt‑in severance model and how can top performers be protected?
6:16–7:28
6
How can you design layoff communication to build trust instead of fear?
7:28–8:42
7
What leadership accountability and the golden rule look like during a reduction?
8:42–10:02
8
What final takeaways should leaders remember when executing a layoff?
10:02–24:39
Speakers
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