It's the "Changing Business Conditions," Stupid

Yes, I am mad. I got laid off a few months ago due to "Changing Business Conditions." You know that vague corporate jargon that justifies laying off whoever they want. It's an easy way to get rid of low performers, employees who don't fit the cutthroat culture, or even people who criticize the boss or receive complaints from clients. But in reality? Sales plummeted in the last quarter, quotas weren't met, and the partners feared their bonuses would drop. Instead of taking responsibility for their failure to sell, they chose to trim the workforce.

My layoff story began with an email invite from a managing director labeled "Business Update." It was sent by a managing director whose name I didn’t even recognize. The email invited me to a Zoom call. On joining the call, the managing director, who still didn't look familiar, said, "I have with me Gertrud from HR." Then came the dreaded question: "Are you in a private location?" Followed the scripted termination speech: "Due to changing business conditions... blablabla... we decided you are not worth being employed anymore..."

To be honest, those weren't the exact words, but that’s what I heard. Then Gertrud chimed in with the severance script: "We are so super generous and give you four weeks of pay. You have until tomorrow noon to download all your private pictures and personal files." It felt like the last supper of my career.

The Big Four are selling and implementing budgeting and forecasting software, promising clients accurate predictions about revenue, costs, and the right number of people to hire. Yet, they were totally incapable of predicting their own workforce needs. Would you hire a financial advisor who shows up at your house in a Ford Fiesta?

Here’s the real kicker. They promote themselves as wizards of business forecasting. They peddle complex models and high-priced consultants to predict market trends, financial outcomes, and staffing needs for their clients. But when it comes to their own house? It’s like a chaotic yard sale. No foresight, no planning – just a knee-jerk reaction to poor sales figures.

We all know what "Changing Business Conditions" really means. It’s a smokescreen for poor management and lack of accountability. It’s a convenient excuse that shifts the blame from the decision-makers to the abstract, uncontrollable forces of the market. But behind every layoff, there are real people left to pick up the pieces of their disrupted lives.

Comments on LinkedIn or Reddit range from the dismissive to the downright insulting: "Well, that's how consulting works", "Grow some balls", "Man up", "Get over it", "You need to take responsibility", "You chose that job", "Only people who don't perform get laid off." But here's the thing – I had great reviews, got a nice bonus, exceeded expectations, and all the feedback I received was positive. So yes, I am coming to terms with my situation, even though I know the layoff wasn't because of my performance.

I am still mad and finding it hard to secure a new job. The job market is flooded with talented individuals just like me, all casualties of those infamous "Changing Business Conditions." The partners and top executives who made these decisions continue to enjoy their hefty bonuses, while the rest of us are left grappling with the uncertainty and insecurity of unemployment.

So, the next time a corporate executive starts spewing jargon about "Changing Business Conditions," remember that it's often just a cover for their own shortcomings. It's not the market that's failing – it's the leadership. And as long as they can hide behind these vague excuses, they'll continue to avoid the accountability they so desperately deserve.

Until then, I'll keep searching for that next opportunity, trying to navigate the unpredictable job market, and hoping for a chance to rebuild what was abruptly taken away in the name of "Changing Business Conditions."