Impacted
The layoff announcement's word for fired — 'impacted employees will receive...' The asteroid framing is apt: something large hit from above, and impact was one-directional.
Heard in the wild
“Impacted employees lose access at noon; the email went out at 11:40.”
Tone check: Euphemism
When 'impacted' appears in a company email subject line, read immediately and in private.