‘He was the family’s pride’: Social media posts on Amazon layoffs reveal shock, heartbreak as employees, families hit

Under Siya’s post, hundreds chimed in with a mix of empathy, realism, and unease.

A single post by Bengaluru-based X user Siya (@Loop_and_lift) has captured what thousands have been feeling quietly, the growing anxiety that no corporate job is safe anymore.

In her viral post, Siya shared how her cousin, once the family’s pride, had been laid off from Amazon. “Because of that, all of us cousins would be compared to him and scolded to ‘be like him,’” she wrote. “I never really liked his attitude, but I genuinely feel bad for him and his family.”

Her reflection, raw and personal, struck a chord. “He relied on luck during the pandemic hiring boom and never focused on building skills like DSA,” she added, calling the incident a 'wake-up call' and a reminder that “no job is truly stable these days.”

My relative’s son got laid off from Amazon today. He used to brag a lot about his salary and job ... always acting like he was doing something extraordinary. Because of that, all of us cousins would often get compared to him and scolded to “be like him.”

Honestly, I never really…

— Siya (@Loop_and_lift) October 30, 2025

Within hours, the post snowballed, crossing 200,000 views and prompting a flood of reactions that turned one family’s experience into a broader reckoning with today’s fragile job market.

Siya’s post coincides with Amazon’s announcement of plans to eliminate around 14,000 corporate roles worldwide, about 4 percent of its white-collar workforce. The company’s total global employee base stands at 1.55 million, most of whom work in warehouses.

Insiders say the final figure could climb to as many as 30,000 job cuts, potentially surpassing Amazon’s previous 27,000 layoffs in 2022–23 during its pandemic-era cost reset.

According to Bloomberg, the current round affects divisions including logistics, payments, video games, and cloud computing, as the tech giant doubles down on artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives and long-term efficiency drives.

In an internal Slack memo, Amazon HR chief Beth Galetti informed staff that affected employees would continue receiving full pay and benefits for 90 days, followed by severance packages.

Empathy, anxiety and advice flood social media

Under Siya’s post, hundreds chimed in with a mix of empathy, realism, and unease.

“People are living in the biggest dilemma thinking their job is safe... any MNC will always look to cut costs,” one user wrote. Another added, “It’s easier to create jobs than to get one nowadays.”

Others turned reflective. “This is so true,” a user commented. “Upskilling is crucial when you’re in tech, nobody can depend on legacy roles anymore.”

Many said the post mirrored their own fears, especially in households where being part of a global company once meant lifelong stability. “Our families think an MNC badge means security. But times have changed. It’s performance, not permanence,” one comment read.

Layoff stories that echoed across timelines

Siya’s post also unlocked a floodgate of similar stories.

X user Divya Porwal shared how her friend found out about his layoff the moment he landed back in Bengaluru after Diwali. “He boarded his flight happy and excited to return to work. When he switched on his phone, there it was, a layoff mail from Amazon,” she wrote.

My friend was working at Amazon.
He boarded his flight back to Bengaluru after Diwali break, excited to be back.
As soon as he landed, he turned on his phone, there it was. A layoff mail from Amazon 🙂

— Divya Porwal (@divyaporwal_) October 29, 2025

Another user, Prapti, described the heartbreaking scenes unfolding inside Amazon offices: “My friend from Amazon told me how she saw an entire team, including the manager, get laid off right in front of her eyes within seconds. They collected their laptops and left. entire orgs just wiped out.”

My friend was working at Amazon.
He boarded his flight back to Bengaluru after Diwali break, excited to be back.
As soon as he landed, he turned on his phone, there it was. A layoff mail from Amazon 🙂

— Divya Porwal (@divyaporwal_) October 29, 2025

Screenshots and accounts of abrupt Slack messages and email alerts circulated widely, painting a picture of quiet devastation that unfolded overnight.

The emotional undercurrent: Beyond the paychecks

Layoffs, users noted, hit hardest not when a paycheck stops, but when identity and pride take the hit.

“I used to envy my friend working at Amazon. Now I just feel sad,” one wrote. Another commented, “Imagine explaining to your three-year-old that you don’t go to the office anymore.”

For many employees, the layoffs came without warning.

Thousands reportedly received unexpected text messages and emails directing them to “check their personal or work email” or “contact the help desk about their employment status,” according to Business Insider.