The Evolving Employer-Employee Relationship: A Viral Layoff Video Sparks Discussion
A recent viral TikTok video has captured attention around the changing dynamics between employers and employees. The video, posted by Brittany Pietsch, records a call where she is informed of her layoff just four months into a new job.
In a panel discussion led by Marcus Sawyer, CEO of EQ App, Brittany explains why she decided to record the call and how the video took off online. The opaque reason given for her termination left her feeling like "a number," rather than a valued team member.
Fellow panelist Bryan Power, Head of People at Nextdoor, puts Brittany's story in the context of broader shifts in the employer-employee relationship. As corporate careers transform into "tours of duty," expectations are changing on both sides. Employees, especially younger ones, are seeking more transparency and humanity from employers.
The video strikes a chord because it encapsulates the frustration many feel around company lip service about "investing in people," promises quickly abandoned by layoffs sold as neutral, business-driven decisions. As Brittany notes, had her employer been more upfront about the personal, performance-unrelated reasons for her layoff, the separation could have retained more dignity and mutual respect.
The viral moment promises to advance the dialogue around employers taking greater accountability, communicating with more compassion, and treating people as humans first when employment must come to an end. By capturing not just the transactional layoff call but also the ensuing discussion, Brittany's video brings these issues into focus in a thoughtful, impactful way.