Why should there be anything 'wrong' with laying off someone who has just joined, whether they've relocated or not? When companies decide on large re-orgs, whole teams, departments, business unit can go. That's just the way it is.

Relocating is no protection against being laid off, be it legally or ethically.

Companies can show empathy and that they care by providing support, as said.

It feels like a bait and switch, which is unethical.

> Relocating is no protection against being laid off, be it legally or ethically.

This is not one or the other.

Relocating should probably involve a minimum notice period, legally.

Especially in this particular case, the company for sure can afford it.

They're potentially destroying a person's life (or at least a few years of their life) with something like a 0.0000001% disturbance for the company.

> That's just the way it is.

You're making an empirical claim to argue against something normative.