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I wish I had gotten that level of sympathy as a software engineer at an investment bank in 2008. In fact, rather than sympathy, more often I was told I was the problem.

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Not that I would personally blame you, but the collapse of WeWork hasn't directly affected peoples' jobs, home values, or retirement savings. The implosion of the company has left the rest of the world pretty unscathed.

It has not imploded because it was privately bailed out.

If it did implode (Ch 11 or Ch 7 BK) - it will start to have major impacts on the NYC and other real estate markets. It’s the largest lease holder in many cities.

I still don't think that would have had the same downstream macroeconomic effects as, say, exploding mortgages for millions of working and middle class Americans. Nobody leasing their commercial properties to WeWork is one missed paycheck away from homelessness or health crisis.

I feel you as someone who was in the same boat at that time. The reality is, these people are being let go at a time of historically low unemployment, they will be just fine and likely be able to get higher salaries elsewhere. I know a guy whose last real job was in 2009. He was older, but not yet at retirement age. He has been a cautionary tale to me though- always stay technical and hands-on. He was like many of that era where he just "managed" and while he was very smart, did not write a line of code- which might have been forgivable if the entire eng team wasn't 6 people (including him and a systems/network guy). Those types did not fare well in the recession.

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