Delivering Happiness: Post #5

Layoffs: In 2008 a lot of rules went out the window along with the economy. Many CEOs used meat cleavers to cut staffs—and in many cases with the same sort of emotional attachment as a butcher. However, Hsieh’s handling of this most difficult decision of his career—to let go of a number of the Zappos family members to survive as a company—was flawless and worth studying. As he does throughout the book, he included his most humane e-mail to explain not only the difficulty in coming up with the decision but also the incredibly generous layoff package that Zappos offered—going above and beyond. In the end, he acted as if the people being laid off really were family. Way to go, Tony.