With the rise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and changing working culture, several companies like Amazon, UPS, Target and more are laying off employees, creating uncertainty in their lives. But what if there was a way to figure out for yourself if your company was about to begin layoffs? Yes, we aren’t kidding. Amid growing job insecurity across industries, a Reddit user has outlined subtle signs that may indicate a company is preparing for layoffs.
The user, who claims to have experienced three rounds of layoffs (twice as an HR professional and once as a layoff victim), explained that there are clear patterns that emerge months before the axe falls.
“Not trying to create paranoia, but if you’re seeing multiple signs on this list, it might be time to update your resume,” the user wrote, breaking down the warning signals by timeline and severity.
Early Warning Signs: 3–6 Months Before Layoffs
According to the post, early indicators often show up long before employees suspect anything. These include sudden hiring freezes, repeated leadership references to “efficiency”, “operational excellence”, “doing more with less”, or “rightsizing” in all-hands meetings, leadership changes or missed earnings targets and the arrival of major consulting firms. Budget cuts, especially to training, travel, conferences and small perks, are also early red flags.
The user also explained that companies may start pushing “we’re a family” messaging harder, while internal communication becomes more formal and legal-sounding. This usually means lawyers are reviewing statements. In many cases, office space reductions, subleasing, closing floors or pushing hybrid/remote work are among the first tangible signs.
Medium-Term Signals: 1–3 Months Before Layoffs
The post highlights that people often miss managers starting to behave differently once layoff planning enters an advanced stage. Employees may notice vague or awkward one-on-one meetings, cancelled cross-team projects, strange reorganisations or senior leaders quietly exiting without rehiring.
HR activity also intensifies, like random “check-in” meetings, strict documentation of even minor policy violations and attendance records and anonymous surveys gauging “role clarity” or “organisational effectiveness”. Contractors and temp workers tend to be cut first, followed by aggressive vendor renegotiations and a shift from innovation to routine maintenance.
Immediate Red Flags: 2–4 Weeks Before Cuts
In the final weeks, the signs become much more obvious. Employees may be asked to document their work in detail and create runbooks, suggesting the company is preparing for knowledge transfers “for continuity”. Managers typically attend closed-door “leadership syncs”, and IT teams begin access audits. Conference rooms fill up with mysterious “private” meetings, the parking lot has way more cars than usual early in the morning on a random day, and HR blocks out entire days on calendars, often signalling an imminent layoff event.
In the last 48 hours, executives have been gathering in the office, the manager asks for an early-morning “quick sync”, coworkers vanish into conference rooms and do not return, and technical access may begin failing.
What Should Employees Do And Avoid?
If you are sensing such signals, the viral post recommends updating LinkedIn immediately, refreshing your resume, documenting accomplishments, securing non-confidential work samples and reconnecting with professional networks. He urged employees to assess financial stability, review employment contracts and prepare mentally for the possibility of job loss.
“Reconnect with your network NOW while you’re employed. It’s easier to get coffee as a “catch up” than as a desperate job seeker. Reach out to old colleagues, mentors, and recruiters you’ve worked with,” he said.
If layoffs happen, the OP advises not to sign papers before consulting an employment lawyer. He advised filing for unemployment and securing references before losing access to the company email.
“Negotiate if possible. The worst they can say is no, and many companies have wiggle room. Understand what’s happening to your benefits. COBRA deadlines, life insurance conversion options, and FSA/HSA balances,” he added.
Reddit Users React: ‘100% Accurate’
The post struck a chord with thousands, with many nodding in agreement with the user. Corporate workers chimed into the comments section to express that the post captures the reality of today’s volatile job market with uncanny accuracy.
“Excellent post. I work in HR too and can confirm this is fully accurate,” read a comment.
Another said, “This is 100% accurate. And do not sign anything immediately if you are let go. Let someone else, preferably an attorney, read it. Everything is a negotiation.”
“Can totally relate with the ‘maintenance mode’. I was working on a project which was new and innovative. And the next 3-4 sprints were already planned. One day suddenly my manager asked me to stop the new sprint work and start documenting the process. I was naive to not see it coming. I was laid off 3 weeks later,” shared a user.
An individual stated, “You nailed it precisely. If the CHRO leaves in the 2-3 month out phase, it’s basically a guarantee.”
“Well written. One other item you might see may be more people getting warning letters for what used to be considered by your manager minor infractions,” echo a few.
The post ends with a practical reminder that even surviving a round of layoffs often leads to heavier workloads. The man advised the employees not to shoulder multiple roles and instead focus on finding more stable opportunities.