As companies grappled with layoffs over the past 18 months, various leaders attempted to provide transparency regarding the reasons for reducing their workforces. The hiring boom triggered by the pandemic led many tech companies to implement layoffs once economic conditions changed, leaders of Stripe, Meta, and Coinbase have admitted.

Not all CEOs will take to LinkedIn or issue a public mea culpa for enacting layoffs, however. And according to Daniel Prokott, partner at the law firm Faegre Drinker, reasons behind layoffs are influenced by a multitude of factors, spanning macroeconomic headwinds to the whims of individual decision-makers.

When companies enlist Prokott to help, it’s typically to carry out layoffs according to the letter of the law. He stressed that choosing who gets cut can’t be an impersonal transaction on par with certain infamous Zoom meetings immortalized in a recent episode of Succession.

“You want everyone who’s being let go to feel respected and treated fairly,” Prokott told HR Brew.

Keep reading.—SB

The most successful organizations do it by creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where every employee can thrive.

Tune in to The Greenhouse Podcast: People-first to hear host and Greenhouse Chief People Officer Donald Knight—alongside leaders from forward-thinking organizations like WPP, Artsy, Uber, and Kickstarter—explore practical, sustainable strategies you can use to start prioritizing your people.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

If you look around your office (or virtual workspace), do you know which of your colleagues has a disability? Many disabilities and health conditions are invisible, and a new report finds that employers are vastly underestimating how many disabled employees they have.

A 2022 report from Disability:IN, an organization that aims to increase disability representation in workplaces, found that approximately 4% of workers self-identify as disabled. However, these numbers may be significantly underestimated, according to a May survey from Boston Consulting Group. The report polled 28,000 people from 14 countries and found that approximately 25% of workers globally say they have a disability or health condition. Without an accurate understanding of their workforce, employers may not invest in disability programs. Still, employees may be reluctant to disclose their disability status because they fear potential discrimination.

“Oftentimes, those of us with a disability may not view our disability as a strength [but] a weakness or vulnerability,” Jeff Wissel, Disability:IN’s chief accessibility officer, told HR Brew.

Keep reading.—KP

Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision, the gaming company, is in the midst of a $69 billion acquisition bid by Microsoft that has been facing antitrust concerns from federal regulators—as well as serious allegations against Activision’s culture under his leadership.

In his first comprehensive interview since 2012, “[Kotick] makes no apologies for Acti­vision or its culture. He says that the company is preparing to release a slew of data drawn from the EEOC investigation that he hopes will combat the perception that Activision was run as a ‘frat house.’”

Numerous allegations of sexual harassment, pay inequality, and gender discrimination prompted investigations from the SEC, EEOC, and California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), as well as multiple lawsuits. After paying an $18 million settlement in the EEOC case, Activision “filed a counterclaim against the DFEH, accusing it of ethical lapses.” Around 1,000 Activision employees signed a petition calling for Kotick’s resignation after reports of his behavior became public.

The embattled CEO claims the incidence of harassment and assault was low relative to the company’s size, and that “outside forces,” including labor organizers, were “working hard to try and destabilize the company.”

Kotick said that as a member of SAG-AFTRA and the child of a teacher, he isn’t anti-union, but that he is against one that “doesn’t play by the rules.” He said he believes labor organizers are influencing investigators and the media to smear Activision’s reputation.—AK

Today’s top HR reads.

Stat: A majority of CHROs (62%) reported cutting their workforce over the past year. Just 20% globally expect to have layoffs during the remainder of 2023. (SoftBank Vision Fund)

Quote: “You’re speaking from the heart and not the mind.”—Chase Hudson, the co-founder of CBD company HempLucid, on how ketamine therapy helped him communicate better with his leadership team (Bloomberg)

Read: American Airlines is rethinking its business travel offerings as revenue from “pure business trips” remains lower than it was in 2019. The airline is now seeking to capitalize on corporate customers who mix business and leisure travel. (the Wall Street Journal)

People-first: The most successful companies prioritize their employees and foster an inclusive hiring culture. Tune in to The Greenhouse Podcast: People-first to learn sustainable strategies from innovative leaders at WPP, Kickstarter, Artsy, Uber, and more. Listen here.*

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