Entire team gets let go before Christmas, only for company to post pictures of over-the-top Holiday party: 'That looked expensive and like a grand ol' time'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Dec 23, 2024 2:00 PM EST

Announcing layoffs right before the holidays is a pretty brutal move. If things are going downhill, one might as well wait until the new year to admit it. Let people have one more week with an "ignorance is bliss" mindset. What harm can that actually do?

Unfortunately, that is only where the bad company decisions start in this story. Not only did HR let go entire teams of employees right before the holiday season, but they also proceeded with the office Christmas party as if nothing had happened. To make matters worse, HR thought it would be a good idea to post pictures of this extravagant and wildly expensive party the next day on LinkedIn, as if all the employees who were just let go wouldn't see it.

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from folks in the comments section. For more stories like this, check out this post about an employee who was excluded from a coworker's party and reported the incident to their CEO.

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    Cheezburger Image 10445102592
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Recently got loff about 1 month before Christmas. Went on LinkedIn to apply for jobs. aimlessly as one does, to see a post about an extravagant corporate company Christmas event that was just held - fancy food, raffle gifts, funny outfits,
    via Specialist_Ebb4137
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    flying in/compensating out of state workers (higher-ups) for the travel and what not. A large number of people at this company just got let go (###+)
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    most who are probably in worse shape than I am over this (mentally and regarding money), and just seeing this celebration that looked expensive and like a grand ol' time really made me
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    question a lot of stuff about where I worked and I thought it was quite inconsiderate on their part. There are a lot more things I
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    could spew, but I just wanted to share and see if I'm just biased and bent out of shape for no reason over this, or if anyone else thinks that's kind of stupid.
    via Specialist_Ebb4137

  • We should add this to the growing list of unnecessary LinkedIn posts. People really go on that site to share more delusional and unprofessional sentiments/moments than appropriate ones.

  • 07
    u.. 2d ago Edited 2d ago • • . One week after All-Hands- Meeting to announce restructure and layoffs, CFO arrives with a brand new Range Rover. Granted preorder took place 6 months ago, but the optics were very bad. Agree with you it is infuriating the pain is not shared evenly.
    via Specialist_Ebb4137
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    BuffMan5 • 2d ago My last company was just like this. The real kick in the nuts came when we didn't get sh for raises but yet the board voted to give the CEO a raise from 4,000,000 to 11 1/2 million dollars a year.
    via Specialist_Ebb4137
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    bhamdad3 2d ago I'm with you and agree. The people that run companies justify this stuff as morale building for those that are left and think that this makes them more loyal.
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    Ultimately, companies don't owe anyone anything except a paycheck for hours worked. Paycheck only is the loyalty. We want to believe that when we sacrifice our well being and or our time away from family
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    that it is remembered and rewarded. In reality, it is the company that benefited for free.
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    Bottom line is I don't operate that way. Do as I say not as I do. I'm loyal because I want to be seen by my family as someone who gives more than he takes and to be a positive. example for those around me.
    via Specialist_Ebb4137
  • 13
    Dilemma's dilemma's dilemma
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    KeyboardComm... • 2d ago • Well said, The rich get richer, that's the law of the land, unfortunately that's how capitalism works where we are headed is zero middle class
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    xauronx • 2d ago Valid feelings but layoffs. (regardless of what they say) are almost never about financial hardship or "survival". They're all the rage for either shifting labor
    via Specialist_Ebb4137
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    overseas, or good old fashioned "keep the workers scared" so they say "gee I'm glad I still have a job" and not "why did I get a pay decrease with inflation when the VP+ all got 30% raises"
    via Specialist_Ebb4137
  • 17
    Crying TearsOf... • 2d ago My former company just did the same thing to me and others! Orangetheory Fitness. Laid off 8% of corporate staff less than 1 week before extravagant holiday party. They don't give a sh.
    via Specialist_Ebb4137
  • 18
    Pretty_Literatu... 2d ago. Your feelings are very valid.
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    Administrative... • 2d ago This is the very reason I live well below my means and paid off my home. No debt whatsoever.....
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  • 20
    At anytime the magic carpet ride can end in corporate America. I don't care what they do now......impact is minimal to me.
    via Specialist_Ebb4137

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christmas workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit company toxic-work-environment
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