Like it or not, layoffs have become part of today’s job landscape. It would be nice to know which companies handle layoffs in a not-too-terrible manner, and which companies make Scrooge look generous, which is why a new job rating site called Telonu offers a window into the process through its “Layoff Talk” section, as well as an opportunity for users to vent about anything else that’s job-related.

Milpitas, Calif.-based Telonu dubs itself “the Yelp of the workplace.” There’s no shortage of job reviewing sites out there; the most prominent in recent months has been Glassdoor.com, which compiles salary data, CEO ratings, and general workplace reviews. The two sites take very different approaches — Glassdoor emphasizes the quality of its data, requiring users to answer detailed questionaires before they can look at other reviews.

Telonu, on the other hand, has a more social focus. It lets anyone write a review, and counts on a reputation system to separate the thoughtful comments from the pointless, angry screeds. Users can rate individual reviews, and although you have the option of posting a review under the “anonymous” byline, you can also use your real name or a nickname, and even interact with other users through your nickname.

I spent some time poking around the “Layoff Talk” section, and I have to admit, it was hard to pull myself away. As you’d expect, the layoff section isn’t the place for thoughtful, balanced discussion about a company’s pluses and minuses. Instead, it’s basically a litany of complaints and rumors, often of dubious accuracy. (It’s a bad sign when a review begins, “Just read this online …”) Still, there are some fascinating horror stories. With the job market as bad as it is, a crummy review may not dissuade you from taking a job, but at least you’ll know what you’re getting into.

Telonu is financed through friends and famly for now, but the company says it’s talking to numerous venture firms.