5 ms·

Things changed quite a bit since this quote from February 17: > “There’s no cuts coming for us,” Harley Finkelstein told The Canadian Press. “We’re in a really

• marcinzm 3y ago
  In my observation absolute statements about no layoffs are a strong indication of future layoffs in this economy. It's impossible to be certain in this economy so giving an absolute statement is basically a lie. Someone who is so brazen about lying to/deceiving their employees will have no qualms with doing layoffs. On the other hand someone who uses more careful language even if it costs them in the short term is someone who will have more qualms about layoffs.
  • curiousllama 3y ago
    In sports this is the "absolute vote of confidence" Once a coach has to say "[player] has my absolute confidence in their success," you know the player is ~2 weeks from being benched.
    • duxup 3y ago
      I agree, but I think the sports analogy is even more on point when it comes to sports management giving a vote of confidence to coaches. You only ever have to say anything like that when there are questions. Coaches and players... they talk about each other a lot.
    • differentView 3y ago
      I've heard it called the Kiss of Death when general managers or owners publicly say similar things about their coaches.
      • boringg 3y ago
        If you have to ask the question ...
    • BoxFour 3y ago
      I think this is actually a more astute analogy than you realize, because the only reason a coach would be asked that question in the first place is because there are questions about the player’s ability to perform—-as the sibling comment here notes. Similarly, you don’t ask tech companies if they’re doing layoffs when the sector is booming. That the question is even asked probably shoots the probability of benching/layoffs up to some ridiculous amount to begin with.
    • s_dev 3y ago
      In sports or in Irish politics were the Taoiseach might have to state he has "full confidence" of whatever individual in his administration when there are "irregularities" that have come to light. https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=taoiseach%20has%20full%20confidence https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=taoiseach%20has%20full... Might be true in other countries but I'm old enough to see this pattern play out a few times.
    • telotortium 3y ago
      "Every banker knows that if he has to prove he is worthy of credit, in fact his credit is gone." -- Walter Bagehot
      • 6510 3y ago
        Or the Roman: You wouldn't be on trial if you were innocent.
    • qwertyuiop_ 3y ago
      Didn’t know this had to look it up. This is one of the reasons why I’m on HN. TIL as a service.
  • taneq 3y ago
    When a young child starts telling you they’re not tired, it’s definitely bedtime.
  • pcurve 3y ago
    "Read my lips. No new taxes". New taxes pass 2 years later.
  • pdntspa 3y ago
    The real question is why are we OK with this outright dishonest behavior?
  • JumpCrisscross 3y ago
    > It's impossible to be certain in this economy so giving an absolute statement is basically a lie Or a sign of the kind of delusional optimism that leads to over-hiring.
  • wouldbecouldbe 3y ago
    I'm not sure if it's a flat out lie or if someone just tries to take responsibility they dont' have, or a promise they can't live up to.
• throwawaysleep 3y ago
  It is a meme at this point.
• nilmask 3y ago
  [flagged]
• matwood 3y ago
  I mean, is there another part of that quote? Anytime I've been put on the spot for these types of statements it's always '...at this time.' Nothing in business is static. When the facts change the business has to change.
• codegeek 3y ago
  Happens all the time. I remember Figma founder saying they will never be acquired and then boom.
• AYBABTME 3y ago
  I'm good at everything that I'm good at, every time that it works out!