The question for me is, assuming that other companies are more humane and are avoiding laying people off before Christmas, what does January look like?
It used to be true, but companies seem deadset on demoralizing their workforce as much as possible.
They've raised prices as much as consumers will bear.
We're getting near the physical limits of how efficient things can get in many sectors.
If P/Es are to remain this high (and they have to for the rich to remain this rich), the profits must continue to grow far in excess of the total economy.
Companies, especially large ones, generally don't think like that. Q1 can be an active quarter for layoffs (Q1 2023 was probably the most active layoff quarter since COVID), but generally, they happen when they happen (Q2-2025 was more active than Q1-2025).
One very real factor that actually does act as a gravitational pull for doing layoffs in Oct/Nov Q4 is insurance elections. Waiting until January can create a lot of complicated paperwork and cost more. There is also very much a sense that doing layoffs before the holidays, while giving severance pay, is more humane than waiting, because they can "spend time with family" (real words I've heard stated).
I can see the logic. Layoffs are always terrible. But if I am getting laid off anyway, I would prefer to know about it before I spend a whole bunch of money during holidays.
