So this isn't really a layoff sort of thing but follows the same vein a bit.

Background: I'm a senior engineer at my company and we have monthly leadership meetings where sales and our service managers (customer service but a bit more than that) pretty much just jerk around talking about how to increase customer satisfaction and whatnot. A buddy of mine, a software architect, is a huge silo of knowledge for my company and announced a few months ago that he would be leaving in July. He gave such a long time frame as he needs to pass on his knowledge and it's going to take quite a bit of time to do so since the majority of the "old" team was laid off back in october of 2023 and we have an all new offshore team. Due to the sheer amount of knowledge, he adjusted his departure date to august, and management told him that was fine and necessary as they breathed a sigh of relief about it.

Well, in this past meeting on Monday, his boss, a director, said that they had never adjusted the budget for august, and now they want to let him go in June. He was pretty adamant about this, and I'd go so far as to say belligerent about it. There was some pushback from the development manager, but I bit my tongue and didn't say anything as this man will get his way despite protest.

So that being said. I bit my tongue as I'm a fairly reserved person at work, and I'm certain that these folks don't know that I and the architect are close (it's an entirely remote company). I was already pissed that he was leaving (not at him but at management for pissing him off enough to actually leave), but after the director went off, I got even more pissed about it. The architect, out of the literal kindness of his heart, is willing to stay this long in order to ensure the new team can handle the things he does as well as train them on things they may need to do. And they're going to fuck him like this? No lube, not even a spit.

So, I want to tell him. Not only for his benefit and because we're close but also to spite the director. The director isn't in my reporting structure and has no weight there not only because I'm not a direct report but because my management and I are very tight knit. I know that doesn't mean everything at the end of the day but firing me would be very difficult not only because of my duties, skills, and responsibilities but also because management and I have a good relationship.

Anyways, what is your take? Do I tell him or not? My mind is mostly made up to tell him. For a couple of reasons, some selfish and some not so much. The angry part of me wants to do it out of spite. I personally can't live with myself just sitting here knowing what's coming and not saying anything only to have him blindsided in a month and a half. I also want him to have as much time as possible to look for another job, doubley so given the market right now. Etc.

My only concern is it getting back to me that I told him. I suppose he might also get even more pissed and leave earlier. He's a nice laidback guy, but I believe that this would set anyone off. I'm not worried so much about the last bit, as I completely understand why you would bail even earlier if you could.

Edit: All of you make very good points. Something I would like to clear up a bit. The meeting was with 12 people, including myself and the director. He is based in the UK, so we can't necessarily meet up after work, but I was going to call him on discord. And despite any worker protections there, they laid off the UK workers without notice in october