4 in 5 of Layoff Survivors Took On Additional Work without a Pay Increase

According to TrueUp, 2026 is already tracking ahead of last year's pace, with 44,177 tech workers laid off in just the first 56 days of the year, or nearly 789 people per day. For every person walking out the door, someone else is picking up the slack, and new research from Careerminds shows they're mostly doing it for free. 

Survey results from 900 full-time U.S. professionals found that following layoffs, 32.6% of remaining employees said their workload increased significantly, and 42.4% reported a slight increase, while 24.9% said their responsibilities did not change. 

However, four in five of those employees (80.8%) who took on extra responsibilities following layoffs received no pay increase to reflect their expanded role. Just 19.2% reported receiving higher compensation to match their increased workload. This suggests a growing gap between what employees are paid to do and what they are actually asked to do as teams shrink and remaining staff absorb additional responsibilities.

Amanda Augustine, a Certified Professional Career Coach and resident career expert at Careerminds, said: “HR leaders need to proactively reassess workloads, rebalance responsibilities, and align pay with expanded roles. If organizations continue to stretch teams without recognition or reward, they won’t just lose talent … they’ll lose trust.”

Millennials suffer after layoffs with extra work and no pay

Millennials were the generation most likely to experience an increase in workload, and almost all of them took on the additional responsibilities without receiving a pay increase to match (81.7%).

Gen Z wasn't far behind in workload increases but did even worse on compensation, as 80.6% took on more work with no pay increase.

Gen X was the least likely to see their workload grow and most likely to be compensated when it did (78.7% went unpaid, still high, but the best of any generation).

Boomers, meanwhile, told a slightly different story: they weren't the most burdened with extra work, but when they were, they were the least likely of all to be paid for it (83.4%).

Augustine added: “Layoff survivors often step up and take on extra work to help their teams move forward, but that goodwill shouldn't be taken for granted. Organizations that respond with transparency, recognition, and meaningful support, for both employees who are leaving and those who remain, are far more likely to retain their best people and maintain trust across the workforce.” 

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Methodology: Careerminds surveyed 900 full-time U.S. professionals in early 2026 on the impact of layoffs on remaining employees, including workload, compensation, and job security perceptions.

Careerminds is a global workforce solutions provider specializing in outplacement, career transition, job architecture, and talent development. We combine modern technology with high-touch, one-to-one coaching to help organizations support employees through workforce change and growth. Our scalable delivery model enables consistent, personalized experiences across 80+ languages and major markets worldwide, offering a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to traditional firms. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.