Ever Been Part of a Mass Firing? Here's What It's Like!
- Profit
- Mar 10
- 5 min read
What's "Best for Business" Trumps WILL ALWAYS Your Hard Work, Loyalty, and Sacrifice.
“If Your Last Name Isn't On The Front Door, Don't Get Too Invested With Your Employer” - Profit 2025 Job security is a myth in today's work environment now more than ever. With the proliferation of corporate mega-mergers, globalization’s cannibalization of opportunities, the threat of AI wiping out entire industries, and the rise multi-national corporations that wield more power than much of the world, what leverage does the average Wage Slave have in the job market? Think I am being hyperbolic? Think again. Parag Khanna, from foreignpolicy.com, once wrote, “Already, the cash that Apple has on hand exceeds the GDPs of two-thirds of the world’s countries.” This was in 2016! Does anyone think Apple has LESS influence today? No matter how hard you work or how high your performance ratings are, companies frequently prioritize finances over personal contributions.
The Story of Westwood College’s Swansong
Even top performers can find themselves on the chopping block when companies downsize, change direction, or suddenly liquidate.
Here’s the story of the day a 1000 previously disparate lives, all intersected in a way, that no one ever wants…
In 2015, I was kicking all types of ass as Career Advisor at Westwood College.
My boss loved me, many students I coached were thriving from my “tough love” method, and I was on my way to winning a 3rd consecutive award for excellence in student job placement nationwide across our 14 campuses.
I was primed to ask for a raise, more PTO, and a flashy job title.
If I didn’t get what I wanted, no worries, as the Angelinos annoyingly say!
I was about to complete MBA with a 3.92 GPA, which was higher than my MENSA-level boss, and the highest in my class.
Moreover, I was in a position of leverage (or so I thought) that every jobseeker desires…I was looking for a new job, while employed.
The future was so bright, I had to wear shades!
Queue the DJ Scratch in November 2015
One typically sunny, Indian Summer, LA day, EVERYONE on our campus was summoned to attend a mandatory all-staff meeting.
This meeting felt different.
Nobody knew why (at least none of us peons)…or what the purpose of this suddenly urgent meeting was…that required everybody to attend…without a moment’s notice or a meeting agenda.
Turns out, this was no ordinary all staff meeting to rally the troops or slap wrists over protocol breaches.
This was an ALL COMPANY meeting that was simulcast via phone conference to ALL 14 campuses - with ALL of the company’s employees - NATIONWIDE.
Lambs Led To Slaughter
Little did I know, I was attending a mass corporate execution of at least 1,000 people - from the Campus President to the janitor - all being told their jobs would be phased out of existence within 4 months.
Many would be cut far sooner, like the Admissions department, that very day!
I will never forget the shock, confusion, and despondency wash over the faces of my colleagues.
Even with co-workers I disliked, none of the grudges we held over work politics and clashing egos mattered; for we were all rendered equally irrelevant in one fell swoop.
The Harsh Reality Settles In
It was sobering watching workers who were there since the opening of the LA campus, openly sobbing and consoling each other, and feverishly fretting about their next move.
Fretting, because Corporate America can give less than 2 donkey sh*ts about displaced 50-somethings after their “services are no longer required”.
A mature Student Services worker by the name of Tammy — who always had a smile on her face, was “ever the professional”, meticulous, punctual, and unquestionably dedicated — wondered if she can work part-time at her church and do customer service at Target to make up for the lost income.
Even my great and fair boss, Scott, who is a borderline genius and unquestionably the hardest worker at our campus, was deeply concerned.
Though Scott had a flashy title of Director of Career Services, a fantastic resume, and a cushy 6-figure income, Scott knew that employers are not falling over themselves to hire an expensive “newbie”, who is well into his 50’s!
Many workers in that room devoted their prime working years, stayed late on their on own dime and time, and really gave their all to these underserved minority students. Yet these wholehearted souls — were unceremoniously dumped by stockholders they never met — who decided to cash out; instead of fighting a spate of student fraud lawsuits against the college for false promises! All my colleagues received for their tireless labor was 6 months of unemployment (provided by the state), no severance, and an empty “thank you” from an anonymous corporate flack on conference call — as their collective careers went up in ashes; all left wondering, “What now?
Conclusion
I am not naïve.
I was raised in the barrio…went to a “Dangerous Minds” type of High School… and still live in the hood.
I was already jaded from being crushed financially and emotionally by the Great Recession — having to work a minimum wage, seat filler job for The New Ricki Lake Show while on welfare and food stamps — so I far from a “babe in the woods”.
And, I was still smarting from the lie told to my entire generation in my youth, which was, “If you get a Bachelor’s Degree, you will be employed for life”.
Having your jaded beliefs reinforced by reality, can be still a revelation!
”Wow, this DOES suck as bad as I thought!”
6 Reality Checks Learned That Fateful November Day
Multiple income streams are a must, not a luxury anymore!
Expect nothing from your employer, but your bi-weekly paycheck.
You are a mere number value on a corporate expense sheet, no matter if you are a “Star Performer” or not.
You don’t want to be suddenly unemployed in your 50’s and looking for work.
The tooth fairy is more real than corporate job security.
Your livelihood can be determined by anonymous corporate strangers or disinterested bosses, who truly can care less if you live or die!
Sure, business can’t pay workers indefinitely when hopelessly buried in the red. Still, we must ask ourselves…
Is this what it has come to?
Though jaded and wounded, I yearn to find a way for businesses to be profitable as they can be, yet humane to their employees at the same time.
There HAS to be a better way! I refuse to believe otherwise :)
The irony of this slogan is too rich to ignore. References These Top 25 Countries Are More Powerful Than Many Countries Education Department cancels $1.5 billion in student debt for 79,000 borrowers subjected to ‘false promises’ by Westwood College
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