> Maybe the solution is to not do mass layoffs. Not sure there's a dignified way to let go of many humans at the same time

The number of people included in a single layoff wasn't a factor.

The people who snapped treated it as a personal affront and wanted revenge on the company. If anything, being laid off in a large group made it feel less personal to people. The people who felt unfairly singled out were the angriest. If an entire satellite office was closed or a department was laid off together they didn't take it as personally.