For weeks now, it seems like every few days another major company announces a layoff impacting hundreds, if not thousands, of its employees.
These big cuts get a lot of attention, but under the surface another problem is brewing: Smaller-scale firings of less than 50 people are now the most common type of layoff throughout the year, making up 51% of WARN Act notices in 2025 compared with just 38% in 2015.
Translation: The "forever layoff" is here, according to Glassdoor's latest report on 2026 work trends.
These smaller but more regular firings could continue to stoke worker anxiety heading into the next year.
Rolling layoffs could help companies stay out of headlines, researchers note, but "create cultures of anxiety, insecurity and resentment."
