Heard back in 2001, that Technology (IT) brought in a consultant-turned-GP who asked everyone to submit their resume not for elimination, but for conversation. Every single person had a one-on-one meeting to discuss their role, their work, and their contributions. It was personal. It was respectful. It recognized the human beings behind the job titles.
I would take that approach a thousand times over what’s happening now.
This process feels cold, detached, and dehumanizing. It removes the human-centered element entirely, reducing people to faceless names on a spreadsheet. Employees are expected to silently entrust their entire future to their Layer 4 manager’s interpretation of their value without ever being given the opportunity to speak for themselves. There is no room for context, no place for voice.
There’s a deep and troubling disconnect between those at Layer 4 and those at Layer 8 and lower. How can we call this the “best” path forward simply because a third-party firm, BCG, declares it so?
These are not just roles. These are people. Loyal, dedicated people who have invested years into this company. If decisions must be made, at the very least, let them be made with empathy, transparency, and a recognition of the human beings impacted.
We owe each other that much.