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Comment by rubidium | Hacker News Reader

RIF?

Reduction in Force == layoffs

Thanks, I wish people could speak clearly.

It's a euphemism for layoffs which is a euphemism for mass firings, a la corporate speak. "Rightsizing," is another one.

It's different from layoffs. RIF comes with the implication that the reduction is permanent.

>It's different from layoffs. RIF comes with the implication that the reduction is permanent.

Academically, yes you're right. Practically, they are the same. No one can afford to sit around and wait a year or two to get rehired after layoffs, if that ever happens; and anytime a RIF happens, the positions are usually refilled once finances are better.

I too expect brutal, decimating euphemisms across the industry in Q2.

RIF is an industry standard term with a long history. The problem isn’t others speaking unclearly. It’s assuming others are in the wrong rather than being happy to learn something new.

Using industry jargon is usually not a good idea outside of the industry. Readers are happy to learn, but you have to teach them first. This is why most newspapers at least provide the unabbreviated phrase on first usage, and give the abbreviation in parentheses, i.e. "Reduction in Force (RIF)". It's not safe to just assume everyone already knows everything you know.

This issue is that the audience of HN isn't limited to industry veterans.

The industry I'm referring to is the HR industry, and this term is used all over the place when discussing employment and recessions.

No harm or shame in not knowing it--lucky 10,000 and all that--but taking a chance to learn over blaming others would be my choice.

Indeed it is! Part of the token ring header iirc?

Context is everything. In an economic discussion, one would use the economic meaning.

I know. It was a joke. I thought someone with the username compiler-guy might appreciate it but I guess not.

Edit: otoh I've been a bit grumpy myself this week so who am I to judge. It wasn't a very good joke. I'll tell you the "youthful porpoise" one next time

Why wait? Now I'm curious.

The one I’ve heard ends with “transporting underaged gulls across staid lions for immortal porpoises”

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