'Include me in layoff': Techie makes strange request even though she did not lose her job and instead got a 75% hike

Layoffs often come with stories of loss, uncertainty and survival. But every once in a while, a story flips the script and forces a deeper look at what “staying” really means. A data scientist in the US has sparked a wave of reactions after walking away from her job not because she was laid off, but because she wasn’t. What made her decision striking was not just the timing, but the reason behind it.

Naoko Takeda, a data scientist from Seattle, recently took to LinkedIn to share her experience following a major round of layoffs at her company. According to her, the company laid off around 40 per cent of its workforce in a single move. While she was not among those affected directly, she described herself as deeply impacted by what she witnessed.

She chose to resign

Takeda said she chose to resign almost immediately, leaving the company the very next day. For her, the scale and suddenness of the layoffs made it difficult to continue as if nothing had happened. She felt that in an environment where such a large portion of employees could be let go overnight, her own position felt uncertain and replaceable.


What followed made the situation even more complex.

75% pay increase

She revealed that after the layoffs, the remaining employees were offered retention packages. In her case, this included a significant pay increase of around 75 per cent, rising to nearly 90 per cent when a one-time bonus was factored in.


Instead of feeling rewarded, she described the experience as uncomfortable and unsettling. Seeing colleagues lose their jobs while her own compensation nearly doubled created a sense of guilt rather than achievement.

Takeda explained that within minutes of the announcement, she realised that a large portion of her immediate and related teams had been eliminated. On her own team, only she and a new hire who had joined just days earlier remained. The sudden loss of colleagues and the collapse of team structures left her feeling a sense of dread.

The survivor's guilt

She also spoke about the emotional weight of what is often called survivor’s guilt. While she retained her job and received financial incentives, many of her peers were dealing with far more serious consequences, including family responsibilities, medical expenses and visa-related uncertainties.

Request to be laid off

In the aftermath, she even asked if she could be included in the layoffs, a request that was declined. For her, the inability to leave on similar terms as those who were laid off added to the discomfort. The offer to stay, paired with significantly higher pay, felt disconnected from the reality others were facing.

Push towards AI

Takeda also raised concerns about the reasoning behind the layoffs. She said the company attributed the decision to increased productivity driven by artificial intelligence. Over the past year, she described a strong push toward using AI across teams.

However, based on her experience, she did not see productivity gains that justified such a large reduction in workforce. She questioned whether the benefits of these tools were being overstated, especially when weighed against the loss of experience and institutional knowledge.

Takeda ultimately chose to walk away, despite the financial upside, because the situation no longer aligned with her values or sense of fairness.

Internet reacts

The post drew mixed reactions online. One user said the decision reflected strong values but felt it was short-sighted, arguing that most tech firms operate similarly in the current market. Another wondered whether AI gains or financial struggles drove the layoffs. A third pointed out that surviving layoffs does not equal being valued, stressing that trust and community matter more than compensation. Meanwhile, some praised the move, calling it a rare stand for integrity and a reminder that employees are more than just replaceable resources in the tech industry.