Thread regarding Medidata Solutions Inc. layoffs

Any updates on additional rounds?

Has anyone heard anything concrete about more layoffs coming?

If someone is telling you not to talk to those of us who were laid off because you might “catch” whatever we have, please ignore that advice.

We’re not contagious. We’re just people who got caught in a business decision.

Getting laid off is socially strange. Suddenly people who were friendly colleagues start treating you like you have a disease they don’t want to catch. They were work acquaintances, not real friends, and layoffs expose that pretty quickly.

Here’s the thing: your loyalty and tenure aren’t going to save you if your number comes up. The people who distance themselves might be on the other side of this tomorrow. The ones who step up and stay human through this? Those are your real friends - remember who they are.

If you’re being told to avoid us, ask yourself what that says about the culture you’re working in right now.


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| 1742 views | | 5 replies (last January 28) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1k7vncx6q

5 replies (most recent on top)

Anyone else having ominous feelings as we approach Q1 earnings report?

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Post ID: @eq3+1k7vncx6q

Absolutely agreed with OP. Respectfully to the first two responses, you’re kind of missing the point. I am still here and I am also very busy. No one is asking us to help pay their rent or whatever, they’re just asking for some human support because their lives were just uprooted.

Something as simple as writing up a reference letter or connecting someone to a recruiter or hiring manager. Or meeting up for a coffee if you can.

I personally don’t have any real friends and everyone around me are acquaintances (my preference) but in no way should that stop me from offering help where I can, especially when I’m fully aware of how smart and talented the people I work with are.

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Post ID: @311+1k7vncx6q

This is incredibly well said and needs to be heard. The social awkwardness of layoffs is real and doesn’t get talked about enough. If people are genuinely being told to avoid laid-off colleagues, that’s dystopian and says everything about the culture right now.

You’re absolutely right - these are business decisions, not personal failures. You’re not contagious. The people who distance themselves are showing you exactly who they are, and frankly, today’s survivor could be tomorrow’s statistic.

To everyone affected - you didn’t do anything wrong. The colleagues who stay human and show up during this are the real ones worth knowing. To those still there buried in extra work - I get it’s overwhelming, but don’t lose sight of what matters.

Solidarity to everyone navigating this

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Post ID: @2r2+1k7vncx6q

I’m sorry about your layoff. You’re absolutely right that these cuts can affect anyone. Even a member of XCOM was let go a few weeks back. That said, I think you’re looking a little too much into this. Nobody is afraid of catching any sort of layoff bug and nobody thinks of you as a leper or whatever. For those of us still here, we’re too busy adopting all the work that previous colleagues were doing, on top of our usual personal lives that might involve children or elderly parents (or both).

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Post ID: @15e+1k7vncx6q

As far as I can tell no one is actively avoiding anyone. People are just extremely busy.

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Post ID: @127+1k7vncx6q

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