If there’s one thing nobody prepares you for as an Executive Assistant, it is the layoffs. We don’t get to learn about them in schools or during onboarding, and it’s definitely not on the job description for this role. But when it happens, you don’t watch from the sidelines. You are in the thick of it, right beside the decision-makers.
I’ve helped my CEO plan a major layoff twice, and it was not at all easy; both times, it was brutal, not because of the logistics, but the emotional weight of the look on people’s faces. The Slack messages stopped mid-sentence. The way the office air changes when a calendar invite says “1:1 – urgent.” That’s when you know the room has shifted. Even the air feels heavier.
Behind the scenes, the process is almost clinical. From the moment the decision is made to start layoff, everything moves quietly. We create various code names for the projects, limit access to documents and work late to finalize the lists. I make spreadsheets to coordinate with the logistics team, work with HR for script conversations, and schedule the dreaded meetings. I watch my CEO read the list of names slowly, pausing for a few seconds too long at certain ones. Sometimes, he sighs. Sometimes, he just stares.
The actual day of the layoffs is a blur; I manage Zoom waiting rooms, I keep the FAQ sheet open and up to date in real-time. I personally call managers to give them a five-minute heads up. I once had to walk someone to a private room and sit with them afterwards because they were shaking too hard to speak. Through it all, my job is to make sure things don’t break and that the comms are clear. That the tech works. The CEO stays calm and on message even when he is on the verge of breaking down.
What people fail to see is that there is the side of founders, which is filled with regret, guilt, lots of sleepless nights, and so much emotional toil. It’s easy to criticize them and the management for the layoffs, but I’ve seen how my CEO turns pale before the layoff announcement; I’ve seen him rehearse lines over and over and sometimes check linked profiles of members to reassure himself that they have found a better place. It’s easy to villainize leadership during layoffs, but most aren’t heartless; they’re just in an impossible position.
This is the version of leadership that we dont get to see, not the Linekdln announcements, not the office celebrations, but the sheer sadness of saying goodbye to people who gave so much.
Even after the dust settles, my work isnt done. I help with transition documents, moral check-in and team restructuring. I also make sure that the CEO has time to breathe because the truth is layoffs dont just impact people who leave; it affects everyone who stays.
Of all the things I’ve done in this job, helping lead a company through layoffs is the hardest. But it’s also where I’ve seen the most humanity. And that helps me get through it.