the termination of staff, followed by layoffs, signifies a deep-seated crisis within the company, prompting a sense of rejection

adversity anguish anxiety challenges company crisis crisisridden cutbacks despair disappointment discord dismissal displacement disruption dissatisfaction distress disturbance downsizing downturn employees firings frustration hardship insecurity instability joblessness layoff layoffs redundancy rejection resentment retrenchment revolt severance strain suffering tension termination troubles turmoil uncertainty unemployment unfavorable unfortunate unrest unsettled upheaval upset worry