Layoff Report

Quiet 'optimization' or something else?

0x7f73…4468

·21d ago·2 comments

I’ve been at Adobe for a few years, and I’ve seen the usual ebbs and flows, but something feels different this month. We had a team meeting earlier today where leadership avoided talking about the growth targets for the next half entirely, choosing instead to focus on 'margin expansion' and 'cost discipline.' It’s the same script I saw back in 2022 right before the belt-tightening started. My manager told me during our 1:1 that he doesn't have visibility into the 2025 budget yet, which is bizarre for this time of year. Are we just being conservative because of the market, or is there a bigger restructuring happening behind the scenes that they aren't disclosing yet? I’ve noticed a lot of 'strategic shifts' in product roadmaps that seem to involve moving teams around like chess pieces. If anyone has intel on whether we should be worried about the upcoming all-hands, please share. The lack of transparency is driving me crazy.

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Comments (2)

0x532e…653d

·21d ago

That script is definitely a red flag. I remember 2022 well, and when management pivots from growth targets to 'margin expansion' buzzwords without any concrete budget clarity, it usually means the bean counters are already sharpening their pencils. If your manager is left in the dark about 2025, it’s rarely a good sign for stability. Start polishing your resume and saving your work samples now, because when they stop talking about the future, they’re usually already planning the departures.

0x149a…8b27

·21d ago

Honestly, try not to panic yet. Every large enterprise goes through these cyclical phases where the internal language changes to appease shareholders or prep for earnings calls. The 'margin expansion' talk is standard corporate lingo for making the books look tighter before the end of the fiscal year. Budget visibility being delayed is annoying, but it’s often just bureaucratic lag rather than an impending disaster. Take a deep breath, keep your head down, and see how the quarterly update plays out next month.