It sounds like they handled this layoff both compassionately and professionally, although the founders have a lot to learn about balancing their spending.
But still, every company and employee needs to recognize that your coworkers and company are not your family - this only leads to misplaced expectations.
One of things that makes America so competitive, is the concept of at will employment - the company can fire or lay you off anytime and you can leave at any time too. This is a reality we must accept for capitalism to work at optimum efficiency. I realize this may seem heartless and cruel, but that's why you need to have work/life balance. Ideally work should not account for more than 10 to 20 hours of your life per week. Sadly, for most of us it's 40+ hours. It is outside of "work", where you can form relationships that mirror a family like structure - in volunteer groups (unpaid), friendship circles, hobby groups, book clubs, etc. More of our lives should be dedicated to such organizations for us to remain better balanced.
It's just an opinion. 20 hours (25% of the discretionary week, discretionary time is roughly 50% of 168 hours ~ 84 hours.) for me represents the maximum amount of time that could be considered sufficiently diversified.
But still, every company and employee needs to recognize that your coworkers and company are not your family - this only leads to misplaced expectations.
One of things that makes America so competitive, is the concept of at will employment - the company can fire or lay you off anytime and you can leave at any time too. This is a reality we must accept for capitalism to work at optimum efficiency. I realize this may seem heartless and cruel, but that's why you need to have work/life balance. Ideally work should not account for more than 10 to 20 hours of your life per week. Sadly, for most of us it's 40+ hours. It is outside of "work", where you can form relationships that mirror a family like structure - in volunteer groups (unpaid), friendship circles, hobby groups, book clubs, etc. More of our lives should be dedicated to such organizations for us to remain better balanced.