I was reflecting on the tough job market and feeling bad for all the folks experiencing a layoff - not to mention worrying what may be in my own future given industry trends.<p>Having gone through a few myself and also having had to lay people off made me wonder yet again how best to minimize the pain.<p>I remember laying off a senior developer when I was in my early 30's and a new manager. I was up the entire night before worrying and threw up on my way to the office. He was a pro though and not his first rodeo and his quiet dignity always stuck with me. He immediately moved on to the concrete details of severance, insurance, reference, etc.<p>Maybe that's the best we can do?
Never gone through one myself thankfully, but anything where you get 6 months of severance + other benefits jumps to mind. For example the 37signals drama that happened a few years ago. Technically not a layoff, but I'd have a hard time saying no to an offer like that of my own volition, so getting it during a layoff is the best possible situation I'd wager