Block’s layoffs are an outlier. Their influence might not be.

Block's 40% workforce cut, attributed to AI, echoes past moves by Musk at Twitter and Jassy at Amazon that shifted the Overton window for acceptable corporate actions. The article argues Block is an outlier — its stock dropped 75% and headcount doubled since 2020 — but warns the move may embolden other CEOs to make aggressive cuts. It counsels people leaders to push back by noting most companies aren't software firms, headlines overrepresent layoff trends, and AI offers growth paths beyond efficiency. Research shows layoffs often harm long-term performance.