The Great Flattening: Corporate layoffs target middle managers, reshape workplaces
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Companies eliminate middle management positions in what experts are calling “The Great Flattening.”
Major corporations like Meta, Citi, and UPS are leading this restructuring wave, fundamentally altering traditional organizational hierarchies.
The numbers tell a story
Job market data reveals that while hiring for entry-level positions has rebounded, middle management openings remain down 42% compared to April 2022.
UPS alone eliminated 12,000 management positions, while Citi reduced its management layers from thirteen to eight. Amazon and Bayer also cut manager positions.
The human cost of eliminating middle managers
For experienced managers in their late 40s and 50s, this restructuring has created a challenging paradox. Despite decades of experience, many find themselves caught in an impossible situation – overqualified for entry-level positions yet unable to find management roles in an increasingly flattened corporate world.
“Forget the titles, forget all that other stuff,” one 54-year-old former manager told Business Insider. “I just need a job. My unemployment runs out in about 30 days. I’ll come in and do a great job for you.”
Unintended consequences
While companies pursue efficiency through flattening, early signs of strain are emerging. Surviving managers face burnout from overseeing larger teams, while younger employees lack crucial mentorship.
Gen Z workers are also increasingly turning away from traditional middle management roles, opting instead for individual contributor positions or entrepreneurship.
This trend, dubbed ‘conscious unbossing,’ reflects a changing attitude towards career progression and work-life balance among young professionals.
Mark Zuckerberg justified the cuts by criticizing layers of “managers managing managers, managing managers, managing managers, managing the people who are doing the work.”
This restructuring trend shows no signs of slowing, forcing many experienced professionals to reconsider their career paths. Some are even removing past experience from their resumes or applying for positions well below their qualification level.
As one former chief operating officer now applying for executive assistant positions notes, “I understand that my résumé has some big titles on it, but let me tell you who I am at heart.”
Middle manager burnout crisis looms in 2025
The workplace landscape is poised for disruption in 2025 as middle managers face burnout and inadequate support, leading to what experts are calling a “manager crash.” This impending crisis threatens to destabilize organizational structures and impact overall workforce productivity.
“Like a market crash, we’ll see a significant downturn in manager well-being, performance, and the ability to continue taking the lead as the change champions,” wrote Alanna Fincke, head of content and learning at meQuilibrium. She emphasized that without targeted support, managers face higher risks of burnout and turnover than their teams.
