I think people are struggling with reality.
- There will be no raises. Not of any significant amount. You might see a couple of percentage points here and there, but no one (other than senior leaders) are going to get 10,20,30% raises. Just not going to happen. Stop hoping.
- Layoffs will continue. Its the only playbook they know. Cut costs. Their biggest cost is wages, hence cut people and therefore wages. The highest wages are in the US/UK/Europe...so the axe will fall hardest there. There is no consideration on what you BRING to to table...your role can be done by a cheaper resource somewhere else...and if its not done well enough, well they'll have the managers worry about that tomorrow...thats not a leadership/financial issue.
- If you haven't been WFRd...you are potentially next on the list...because the lists don't care about talent, they only care about Expense vs Revenue. Operations / Support is always high on that list because generally the wage cost is not directly supported by Revenue (which went to pay all the sales people's bonuses when they signed the stupid contract you already know you can't meet with the people you had, let alone the people you are left with). Again, any shortfall here is the local managers issue, not leadership...all that needs to happen is for us to replace those expensive people that are not performing with cheaper ones.
The writing has been on the wall for years. And on every blog/financial page/news cast/industry paper/client review/company report...
The company's revenues have declined year-on-year since its inception
The company's gross profit has declined every year since 2018
Operating expenses are 40% lower than in 2017...yet profit is down 66%...
Net Profit is less than 1/2 what it was 4 years ago. The cuts in expenses aren't helping.
Operating margin is basically the same today as it was in 2018...hardly more efficient
Profit margin is LOWER today, than it was in 2018.
Free Cash flow is lower than it was in 2018...
We're not even paying dividends on the stock anymore...which is now at 24 from a high of 96...
Are you seeing a pattern here ? NOTHING IS GETTING BETTER.
Start planning your exit...if it hasn't already been planned for you.