Layoffs Are Not Unethical, but They Also Don’t Have to Be Cruel

Companies around the globe are laying off workers, but big tech cutbacks closer to home are getting much of the attention.

There are the major reductions underway at Meta and Twitter, not to mention workforce trimming at Silicon Valley staples like Netflix and Lyft. More cuts are likely on the way.

This is not a new phenomenon. I was Airbnb’s chief ethics officer when the company made the tough choice to cut about 25% of its staff shortly after the pandemic began.

As the latest wave grows, however, I’m increasingly hearing the same question: Are layoffs unethical?

The truth is ...