Blind TL;DR, Edition No. 55: Week of Dec. 22, 2025
Stay on top of the biggest tech stories in under 3 minutes. Blind TL;DR brings you fast, insider-driven insights from the people shaping the industry — technologists like you.
Stay on top of the biggest tech stories in under 3 minutes. Blind TL;DR brings you fast, insider-driven insights from the people shaping the industry — technologists like you.
What Amazon Employees Are Preparing for in January 2026
Rumors of potential layoffs for Amazon in late January are circulating again, but with more information this time. Some of the frequently-emerging information includes: a January 27th announcement, employees returning from longer leaves are more exposed, targeted cuts may occur earlier and severance expectations remain the same.
Find more information on Amazon layoffs on Blind.
Leaked Anthropic Interview Sparks Debate
After a leaked video of an Anthropic interview for a Senior AI engineering position was posted, the general consensus was that Anthropic interviews can be unexpectedly culture-heavy or different from other tech companies. Blinders took to the comments to share their experiences and some tips-and-tricks for interviews.
Learn what to expect during an interview with Anthropic.
How is Short-Form Content Affecting Us Day-to-Day?
The long-running debate of social media on our mental health continues. Deleting or monitoring your time limits on these apps can not only improve productivity but also better your mental health and focus. For those who use the apps for networking and marketing, screen-time limits or app blockers can be more realistic alternatives to quitting entirely.
Read the debate on how to improve your screen-time in the new year.
Is a Backdoor Roth the Smartest Way to Save?
For high-income earners, a backdoor Roth might be the best option, as it allows you to contribute to a traditional IRA and then convert those funds to a Roth IRA to bypass income limits on direct Roth contributions. Employees in the tech industry are the most likely to use a backdoor Roth.
See why a backdoor Roth might be the best option for your retirement funds.
PIP During the Holidays
A ServiceNow employee shared that their manager threatened a potential formal PIP after requesting two days off during the holidays. Some Blinders are arguing it has nothing to do with performance but pressure from higher ups, others are stating it's most likely a mix of bad timing and poor performance.
What would you do in this situation?
Workplace Faux Pas to Leave in 2025
It’s almost the end of the year and we can’t let our funny workplace moments fade away. Sharing some of our favorite faux pas from the comments on Blind:
- Requesting to download a dating app on a company cellphone
- Running into a “sick” coworker at Disneyland while on PTO
- Not tipping during a company lunch outing
- Road raging a coworker during the commute to the office
Share the stories that would make you embarrassed to show up to the office on Monday.