Katie Burke's term for the two-to-two-and-a-half-year cultural aftershock following a layoff. Unfolds in three waves: immediate shock, survivor guilt, and lingering fear that poisons decision-making and risk-taking. Burke learned this at HubSpot's 2023 layoff — the board warned her, she thought her org was too agile, and she was wrong. Tactical implication: plan Workforce Planning with contractors during hypergrowth instead of committing to headcount you might need to cut.