Who said a messaging app? The Vice story says Google Meet video chat.

> How is that normal or better?

Most people don't want to be entirely impassive spectators while someone who can't see or hear them upends their career plans with uncontested fluffy business jargon.

> So, is it better to push this layoff responsibility to the hiring manager?

Yes, I've been laid off once and a colleague twice, and that's how it's gone each time. The whole reason there are articles written about this incident is that it's so sensationally exceptional.