downsized, upsized, traumatized
Happy Wednesday to everyone, except for whoever decided we still need daylight savings!
Watching the sun set at 5 PM lowkey feels like a personal attack. 😅
But I also love the holiday season, sooo I’ll try to keep a glass-half-full attitude today. Promise!
Anyway, for this week’s main attraction, the “fire and rehire” ride by Microsoft has officially left the station, and the only thing scarier than the drop is not knowing who is safe.
So if you’re feeling dizzy from all the layoffs and rehiring happening across big companies…big same!
This also gives us a glimpse of what kind of activity we can expect in 2026, so buckle up and let’s take a lil ride.
🗞️ Here’s the Tea:Copy anchor linkCopied
🎢 Microsoft planning to grow headcount after recent job cuts
The TL;DR: Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella says the company plans to grow headcount again, but smarter this time. After cutting ~9,000 jobs earlier this year, Nadella says new hires will come with “more leverage” thanks to AI reshaping workflows, decision-making, and productivity. In short: fewer silos, more tech-powered efficiency, and a workforce built around AI.
My POV: This feels like the start of the “fire and rehire” rollercoaster we’re about to see more of across big tech, and I’m already dizzy!
Companies will make cuts in the name of efficiency, then slowly rehire under the banner of AI transformation.
It’s a pattern dressed up as progress, and while I’m cautiously optimistic that rehiring signals recovery, only time will tell if these new roles actually create stability or just another cycle of churn.
🎙️ Mic Drop Moment:Copy anchor linkCopied
“You never wanna be the main character of the internet. Never.”Copy anchor linkCopied
On the mic this week: Sarah Reynolds is a creative marketing executive with deep chops in product marketing, brand strategy, demand gen, and all things content, but always anchored in a people-first lens. A non-binary leader and outspoken advocate for pay equity and inclusive language, they blend ethics, equity, and innovation in every room they’re in.
Pin this:
- Accountability beats crisis PR. Speed without truth just feeds the storm.
- Treat scandals as cross-functional: People, Legal, Comms, and the Board in one plan.
- Gender and power shape who pays the price, so interrogate the double standard.
- Judge leaders by judgment: know when to partner, escalate, or walk.
My H*ly Sh*t Moment: Realizing how often the brand absorbs the scandal while the leader quietly reappears elsewhere means that a more diverse, empowered board might be the only real circuit breaker.
▶️ Press Play
📊 Data Is My Love Language:Copy anchor linkCopied
Stat: Women are more likely than men to take a leave of absence from work, resulting in greater negative effects to their finances, emotional health and career
My spiral: What gets me about this stat is how predictable it still is.
Women take leave and somehow pay the bigger price for it!
We’ve been saying this for years, yet companies keep acting surprised when loyalty drops after they’ve ignored someone’s basic needs.
So this is your reminder: how you treat women when they step away says way more about your culture than any DEI statement ever will.
Support her through the leave and watch how fast engagement follows!
🛠️ In Your Toolkit Copy anchor linkCopied
If your HR tools promise “magic” but deliver migraines, this is for you, so pull up a seat!
This month’s HR Therapy is all about spotting the gap between what you’re sold and what actually works.
We’ll laugh, we’ll rant, and we’ll learn how to call BS (politely, of course) before signing another contract.
Bring your skepticism, your questions, and maybe a stress ball!
🗣️ UNMUTE YOURSELF
You know that feeling when you’re sprinting through your to-do list but still feel like you’re behind?
That’s usually the moment to pause and ask yourself what you’re actually chasing, and who decided it was the goal in the first place.
So here’s your question to sit with this week:
“What does enough look like in your role, and who defines it?”
🛠️ TRY THIS TOMORROW:
Before you jump into metrics and updates, try setting a different tone.
Most teams rarely stop to celebrate the small wins that keep them moving forward, and that’s where morale quietly slips.
So tomorrow, start your team meeting by asking,
“What’s something you’re proud of this week?”
Let people toot their own horn a little bit. It’s good for the vibe!
👂 OVERHEARD IN SAFE SPACE
Chances are, you’re not the Grim Reaper. You’re the human stuck delivering the fallout of someone else’s decisions, and that weight deserves more compassion than guilt. ❤️
Read what members had to say here.
See ya on Friday!
