On January 22, Nicole Tsai, a TikToker, posted an upload captioned “A Day in My Life Getting Laid Off At Google.” The video detailed her experience of being let go from the tech giant and quickly went viral, accumulating over 4.2 million views.
@nicolesdailyvlog The Google layoffs were not how I expected to start off 2023, but I know it’s only up from here 🥲 #techlayoffs #googlelayoffs #techgirl #corporatelife #techvlog #dayinmylife #techlayoffs2023 ♬ Flowers – Miley Cyrus
Tsai said that the morning started with a text from her boss, followed by being told to check the news and email. As she logged into her computer, she found an “access denied” message, meaning she had lost access to everything related to Google.
Tsai’s LinkedIn page shows that she had been a partner services program manager at Google in Irvine, California since July 2021. She shared on the platform how “blindsided” she felt after finding out the news but noted that there was “some comfort in knowing I’m not the only one.”
In response to her video, fellow TikTokers expressed their support and encouraging messages. “It’s just a job. You’ll find another one. You are worth more than Google,” read one comment that garnered over 4,400 likes. Tsai addressed the outpouring of love in a follow-up video, giving her assurance that the bad day was made much better by the support of others.
On January 20, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, revealed in an internal memo that Google would be cutting 12,000 employees or 6.4% of its global workforce. He attributed the decision to “periods of dramatic growth” that had necessitated hiring more employees but which now resulted in an “economic reality” that requires fewer staff.
All in all, Tsai’s viral video is a testament to the power of social media and how people can come together even in difficult times.
We wish Nicole Tsai all the best for her future endeavors.
Blessing Iyamadiken loves the art of storytelling and enjoys creating all types of content from news to entertainment. She is also a feminist and very passionate about Gender Equality. In her spare time, she loves to read or binge on Netflix.
