As a small employer who has directly employed no more than 2 full-time employees at once, I make a habit to very clearly emphasize in the interview that I am running a small outfit that has a real and serious chance of vanishing overnight, or coming upon unexpected budgetary circumstances that necessitate the instantaneous layoff of some or all employees. Despite this clear warning, I've still had employees get upset when we've needed to part ways. I still think it's a good spiel to rehearse but I've stopped believing anyone will take it seriously.