An Asian dad gets laid off after working decades in Tech, and his video about the experience has gone viral. Why did that happen? For me, his situation really connected. Like Asian Dad Energy (his channel name and what I will call him), I am an Ivy League educated engineer and father who took a package to leave a job in Big Tech after decades of work. With many other people being laid off from Tech, his experiences resonates widely.
As Asian Americans, we are often raised to chase big prizes like Ivy league educations and high paying jobs in Tech. But are those prizes worth the cost? Asian Dad Energy tells the story of an excellent and hardworking engineer who was looking to finally get some time with his son. That engineer then gets sick and died, and weeks later, at work, it is like nothing happened. I have heard versions of this story happening to people time and time again. I also thought of the movie Didi. In that movie, the main character’s father is gone, working remotely through out the movie.
Like many people laid off, Asian Dad Energy is looking for what’s next. He feels lucky that he isn’t under a lot of financial pressure but wonders about next steps. As for myself, I took a little over a year to find a new job, not in Big Tech, but doing tech for a nonprofit. I find this really meaningful and less stressful. Asian Dad Energy also discusses highly topical issues like age discrimination and budgeting. I will be following Asian Dad Energy to see what happens next for him.
