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Tech Layoffs More Than Double In Bay Area (mercurynews.com)
An anonymous reader shares an article on Mercury News: In yet another sign of a slowdown in the booming Bay Area economy, tech layoffs more than doubled in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year (could be paywalled, here's an alternate source). Yahoo's 279 workers let go this year contributed to the 3,135 tech jobs lost in the four-county region of Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda and San Francisco counties from January through April, as did the 50 workers axed at Toshiba America in Livermore and the 71 at Autodesk in San Francisco. In the first four months of last year, just 1,515 Bay Area tech workers were laid off, according to mandatory filings under California's WARN Act. For that period in 2014, the region's tech layoffs numbered 1,330. The jump comes amid a litany of other signs that the tech economy may be taking a breather: disappointing earning reports from stalwarts like Apple, an IPO market that has come to a near standstill, a volatile stock exchange and uncertainty in China.
A lot of these are companies that shouldn't have nearly as many employees anyway. If the bean-counters have a even half-competent bean-counter-oriented brain (i.e. even looking at things from their .. interesting .. way of seeing things) they're not going to hire replacements, from anywhere.
Most of these companies, when you look at their products, you know it takes about a dozen developers and testers. Then maybe throw in a hundred salespeople and a couple dozen misc admin people. You still can't get anywhere near the tens-of-thousands figure for what a company like Yahoo employees. WTF could those people be doing, other than playing Clash of Clans at their desks all day?
Dropbox! Holy shit! I'm not putting the product down, but how the fuck could they possibly employ even ten people full time, unless it's to maintain the infrastructure in the data center. The software was done many years ago and shouldn't need much maintenance. What IS there for them to DO?!? Somehow they're interstate with hundreds. That doesn't any sense, and well over 90% should be laid off and it wouldn't make any difference to the product at all.
What the hell is wrong with you? Stop with your facts. We need clicks!
Well at least you are modest...
You've worked at a company where they actually move people instead of doing a dump and hire? Can you hear me all the way back in the 1950s?
What IS there for them to DO?!?
Well look, I already told you! I deal with the goddamn customers so the engineers don't have to! I have people skills! I am good at dealing with people! Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?