The electric-car maker laid off more than 10 percent of its workforce.

Once capitalism’s signal that your company was failing, under today’s deranged rules it’s capitalism’s confirmation that your company is red hot.

It’s that time of year when bosses look at their balance sheets and send employees packing. Legally, they don’t even have to explain why—and usually, they don’t.

As a reporter covering unemployment, I thought I knew everything I needed to get by. Then I was laid off.