As American companies seek more innovative methods of downsizing, a San Francisco-based start-up is offering a variety of programs to make the layoff experience a more pleasant one.
“People are tired of the same-old, same-old, being handed a box and getting walked out to their cars by security,” says Molly Ripperson, CEO of Deadweight, Inc. She founded the company two years ago, after her banking job was eliminated by a consultant who referred to her as “Employee #443” during the process.
“Getting laid off doesn’t have to be this awful, depressing experience,” she says. “Our goal is to make it memorable and fun!”
Among the programs Deadweight offers clients:
- Singing telegrams – with performers surprising employees in their offices with a specially written song that extolls their accomplishments and explains why they’re being let go
- Competitions – like fencing matches, three-legged races, and arm wrestling, with the losers getting laid off. Or to keep things interesting, sometimes it’s the winners.
- Animal delivery – utilizing trained dogs, cats, even pigeons to deliver the termination notice.
- Comedy nights – where a group of employees is treated to an evening at a local comedy club, and the comedians work the terminations into their routines.
“We customize our programs to fit a company’s specific needs,” says Ripperson. “If you’ve got a terminee with celiac issues, for instance. we’ll make sure their surprise going-away cake is gluten free!”
Unlike most of its clients, says Ripperson, Deadweight is actually adding staff – growing from 22 employees to over 200 in the last 18 months.
