A tech founder is using the classic layoff email template for a whole different purpose

In an unexpected twist, a tech entrepreneur is using the familiar language of layoff announcements to promote hiring at his company. Tuomas Artman, cofounder of the software firm Linear, shared a tongue-in-cheek message that mimics the tone of traditional layoff communications. On a recent Friday, Artman posted a message on X that read, "Today is a hard day. I shared this note with the @linear team today: We've made the difficult decision to increase our workforce. This is not a cost-cutting exercise or a reflection of anyone's performance. We're simply reimagining every role for the agentic AI era. We're hiring. We're sorry about that." The post quickly garnered over 270,000 views and sparked hundreds of comments, with many users expressing interest in available positions. Linear's careers page lists 17 open roles, and a company representative confirmed that they currently have 25 positions available, with plans to continue hiring later this year. This contrasts sharply with recent trends in the tech industry, where companies like Snap, Block, and Coinbase have announced layoffs citing AI as a reason for workforce reductions. Many organizations attribute their ability to streamline operations to the efficiencies gained through AI, often using similar language in their announcements. Interestingly, while competitors like Atlassian have made cuts to their staff, Linear has maintained a smaller team of 141 employees since its inception, without publicly announcing any layoffs in its seven-year history. In response to concerns about the potential backlash from his post, Artman acknowledged the risks, saying, "I know, but I'll take the blame if this were to happen." His humorous approach to the serious topic of layoffs has certainly captured attention and sparked discussions within the industry.