How a GM Layoff Email Sent to Employees in Warren Triggered a Storm on TikTok

Susan Tompor | Detroit Free Press | December 11th, 2024

Like many people, Adam Bernard shared the shock of suddenly losing his job one Friday morning on social media.

His post on LinkedIn simply stated: “Well, in unexpected news, I was let go from GM at 5:07 a.m. this morning via email, along with (I hear unofficially) about 1,000 people globally. I wonder what I should do next …?”

What’s next? After working 38 years at what’s now called the General Motor’s Global Technical Center in Warren, Bernard could never imagine what would happen next. Who could?

The cold sting of a car guy — a New Jersey kid who fell in love with autos at 3 years old when he got Hot Wheels cars from his dad — being handed his walking papers via email would grab the attention of a recruiting guy in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who would end up doing a TikTok that, yep, went viral.

Outlook for jobs in 2025 might be mixed

Moving into 2025, many economists aren’t forecasting a recession, but some expect that more employees could face painful job cuts.

Those employed by automakers and auto suppliers face significant challenges ahead, even as companies like GM remain on track to have fantastic earnings in 2024.

The best way to prepare for potential job cuts in 2025 is to shore up any emergency fund, said Sam Huszczo, a chartered financial analyst in Southfield. Typically, you’d want to be able to cover around three months to six months of expenses out of your emergency savings if possible.

Huszczo said he’s talked to many retirees who are aware of the TikTok, and many felt it was a bad look for GM. “It’s a long time to dedicate your life to a company to just get an email,” he said.

Yet, it’s also realistic to anticipate that job cuts can hit suddenly.

As the auto industry gets smaller, Huszczo said, he’d expect more reductions in the labor force. It’s important to network and pay attention to signs that you could be let go. If your manager suggests that cuts are ahead in your department, take that advice to heart and look for another opportunity.

More and more, people who end up suddenly being forced out of a job they’ve held for a lifetime don’t get much closure at their companies.