Time for Mandatory Living Wage As Layoffs Continue in Big Tech?

Good People, it is happening, the future of work is being redesigned. Yes, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, wants to fire more workers from next week: “The third wave is going to happen next week. That affects everybody in the biz teams, including in my organization. It’s just a time of great anxiety and uncertainty. I wish I could have some easy way of providing solace or comfort. It is uncertain. And, it’s increased my admiration for the way that everyone notwithstanding that uncertainty you’re just displaying such resilience and professionalism.” – Meta President of global affairs Nick Clegg.

Clegg added that the layoffs will follow a similar process to April’s cuts, in which 4,000 roles were eliminated from Meta’s tech departments.

The afternoon before the layoffs happen, Meta’s head of people will post a note to employees with details about when the layoff process will begin and which teams will be affected. Employees impacted by the layoffs will then be notified, followed by non-impacted employees.

An Igbo proverb says “oge adighi eche mmadu” [time and tide will not wait for any person]. And that means we must pay attention to how new technologies, and specifically AI, will make it easier for companies to become more efficient.  Simply, these companies may not need a lot of workers.  Your bank may not need many staff. Your insurer may not need many workers. And the list keeps growing.

Is it time to require mandatory payment where even if you have no staff, you have to commit a certain percentage of your revenue which will be used to distribute to citizens as a “wage” alternative?

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