Comments on: Leave now – or risk getting laid off?

By: Ian, London

Ian, London — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:54:46 +0000

Unfortunately the current situation is such that it is like jumping from the fire to the frying pan! Yes, I agree that one should not sit idle and wait for the final judgement, which is any case in not defined at the moment. But, changing jobs also become somewhat tiring when one is at the stage of establishing career / family. Not a single industry is untouched with the global melt down and thats is the main cause of concern. The recruitment process is going to get tougher and if one is lucky, will land up with a good job. A prisoner’s dilema. Good luck to all..(including me!)

By: Judy Glendale, CA

Judy Glendale, CA — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:39:22 +0000

I was recently in a position like this working for a large company that was looking to conduct layoffs and re-org the company. Being the type of person I am, I became nervous immediately. I started to notice certain co-workers disappearing and then suddenly an announcement was made about the layoffs. I consider myself to be marketable so I decided to send out some resumes and I found a job within a few weeks at an even larger company that is not going through the same turmoil. Looking back a few months later, I have heard that things haven’t changed that much at the old company, but they did replace me there so I suppose I left prematurely. However, even so, the future at the old company is still very uncertain, and while there are no guarantees anywhere, it is much more clear in my current situation. Not to mention, the morale of employees at the other company was terrible; it is night and day from where I work now. And you can’t even put a price on that since the negative environment can impact your health and well being. Thus, I think unless you have a lot invested in the company and the financial means to tide yourself over for awhile if you do loose your job, that you should seek another opportunity elsewhere. Typically, when people fail to do this, it is out of fear of change more than anything since often times if you are marketable; you can find another job with another good company that offers the same if not better compensation and benefits. I’ve done it so I know. You just have to be aggressive. Some tips for you: Update your resume and tailor it specifically for each job you apply for, have job postings emailed to you (certain sites offer this capability and it allows you to apply for the openings when the job is posted), network, don’t gossip with co-workers or tell anyone at work that you are looking for a job (even if you think you can trust them), and contact several recruiters (have them start searching for you). Perhaps most importantly, be confident in yourself. Employers look for confidence when they meet you.

By: Jayde, Atlanta, GA

Jayde, Atlanta, GA — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:24:38 +0000

The decision really rests on a couple of simple points. 1)Do you get a large severance package if you get laid off? 2) What other options do you have to jump to?

If you can expect significant severance pay and have no other immediate good offers elsewhere, you absolutely stick it out. Use the time wisely to network and expand skills or education, save money, and lay the groundwork for a full-out job search or career change once you do get a package.

But if you expect little or no severence, and/or have a fantastic offer elsewhere, then I would say you leave. Your existing job is never guaranteed no matter how well-meaning your manager is, and riding it out to the end can be very demoralizing and draining (been there, done that). Just make sure the new offer really is an improvement. Layoffs are happening in almost every company and industry these days, and going from one uncertain situation to another doesn’t get you anywhere.

By: Marvin, Waterloo Ontario Canada

Marvin, Waterloo Ontario Canada — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:06:34 +0000

About a year ago I was in the unfortunate situation of being able to see a layoff coming, and I struggled with the concept of leaving before the axe fell. I networked religiously, brushed up my resume and all the rest but wasn’t able to score a new position before that fateful day when my supervisor asked me into his office.Regardless of how well I performed (my area increased productivity over 70% in just a few months), how dedicated I was (consistently coming in early, staying late, working on weekends, etc.) or anything else, the fact is that bad management and non-existent leadership drove the organization into the ground and everyone suffered as a result.Fortunately, it didn’t take me long to score a new, and far better, position. It’s been my experience that each time a layoff has happened, a better position was always the result.So, while nobody likes being laid off, often it’s the best thing that can happen in one’s career, giving good people the freedom they require to move on to better things.

By: landon kelsey, Houston,Texas

landon kelsey, Houston,Texas — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:31:36 +0000

wait for severance?

Then sit around for n months?

Doesn’t look good when you have no experience for the last n months!

Stupid agencies and stupid employers have to make something of your disappearance.

Screening is a negative endeavor!

By: Bob, Chicago,IL

Bob, Chicago,IL — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:42:48 +0000

If you are not getting a severance package, by all means, get busy. I am employed at a company opening an office in Costa Rica. While they tell us it makes us more ‘Global’ It did’nt save the job I have been working for almost 20 years. They told me in July that I would be laid off in Jan 09. I also receive a week of severence for every year I worked there. So, It’s a bit tough to walk away from 19 weeks of salary, not to mention the health coverage. I would say, stick it out until you can find a comparable position. Staying at a company that eliminates staff every year is way to stressfull. Since there is no logical formula used anymore to decide who goes on the ‘hit list’ you will never know when your time is up. Long gone are the days where working hard guarantees you a job for life.

By: landon kelsey, Houston,Texas

landon kelsey, Houston,Texas — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:44:46 +0000

costs only a little time and gas to interview

put your resume on the sites without information leading to you

You can always turn down the job!

OR you may find that great job you’ve been missing all this time

severance packages? Sure if you don’t mind sitting idle for months losing the experience edge.

The hiring people look hard at inactivity periods! Were you in jail or on a deathbed?

Did you forget how to program?

By: RC, New Delhi, India

RC, New Delhi, India — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:06:36 +0000

Annie,
Thanks for the article. I surely think its wise to leave than be asked to leave. I work for a Florida based company that outsources its projects to India and China. While I havent faced a threat to my job, I have seen several others laid off. In fact a few months ago, I had to lay off my entire team in India on grounds of financial instability.
Although my boss says comforting things but with the current meltdown in the US economy, I am rather nervous to buy these claims.
Considering the way the economy is facing a downturn, is this a good time to leave? Basically, I am trying to see if this is a good time to join another firm considering the changes and commotion in the economy.

By: RY, New York, NY

RY, New York, NY — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:19:11 +0000

Few alternatives here

Take one of the new jobs
Stay till you either integrated and have a place or stay because you have years of service and even if laid off you will have some nice piece of pie coming to you

managers are definetely not always looking out for your interests, mostly their own, not even company interests. Remember it when you make your choice-you have to take care of you first and foremost.

By: corydon, iowa

corydon, iowa — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:31:48 +0000

your best intersest is to contack your workforce deveopment agency to see if you can file and unemployment claim also most stated are now letting you file on basis of hourly reduction so you could pick up hours lost by hours lost good luck hpe this info is helpful

By: Jim Campbell, Redondo Beach, CA

Jim Campbell, Redondo Beach, CA — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:35:48 +0000

We talk about job cuts and downsizing as if it ends there. After the layoff the real problems present themselves. Marriages often crumble, difficulty raising children financially and mentally occurs and the stress involved has taken many lives. If we feel the effects of this it’s often because we don’t allow ourselves to consider alternatives such as self employment. I’d been downsized twice in a five year period for business reasons not associated with my performance. As a result I “asked” for a better alternative and attracted a website very similar to http://www.LikeSoup.com and the rest (overall happiness) is history. Take a look. It may be what you’re asking for too.

By: MATURE

MATURE — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:35:44 +0000

THE ARTICLE IS GOOD BECAUSE OF IT’S TIPS ON HOW YOU WILL SURVIVE A LAY-OFF.
NOWADAYS,IT’S TOUGH TO FIND A JOB ASIDE FROM YOUR CURRENT ONE.BUT THAT’S LIFE.WE MUST NOT RELLY ON THE PRESENT,BUT RATHER,WE SHOULD EXPLORE MORE POSSIBILITIES OUTSIDE.ON THAT,YOU CAN DEVELOP A STRONG DECISION WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL STICK OR FIND ANOTHER JOB.
KUDOS TO THIS ARTICLE!

By: Elwin Seymour, IN

Elwin Seymour, IN — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:26:40 +0000

I suppose this is just jim dandy advice if one is working in an office environment, but it is utterly useless if you are working in something like say…manufacturing as your basic shop floor grunt. Networking? Excuse me? What networking? There IS no such thing as networking for something like this, at least not formally. …and getting your own domain name for a factory job? Lame. Might work for some of the more skilled jobs, but for your average assembly line job, I can’t see it being of much benefit.

Why is it when you guys post “job help” info, it is always for professionals or “psuedo-professionals”, what about the rest of us? Those who don’t have a degree in something. We get left out in the cold

By: Nick, Howard Beach, NY

Nick, Howard Beach, NY — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:58:35 +0000

If you are in line for a severance package then you don’t leave and give up that money unless you are 110 percent sure you are going right into another job. Not only do you have severance but at least you have continued health care. It is very irresponsible to tell people to just leave in this situation. Most people should wait it out until they’ve got something else that is a lock.

By: Randy, Danbury, CT

Randy, Danbury, CT — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:23:58 +0000

To ensure the work gets done, it will benefit the employee’s manager and the company to retain the employee as long as possible before laying him/her off. Also for consideration, the manager may not have input into who goes and who stays as whole departments can get wiped out during layoffs.

By: landon kelsey, Houston,Texas

landon kelsey, Houston,Texas — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:12:40 +0000

great advice! get the interviews rolling!

Supervisors do the company a favor when they encourage you to stay until layoff!

Don’t wait! I’d stay away from HP’s massive bureaucracy!

Network! write the CEOs of hiring companies! Be bold!

Beware agencies who work for their clients not you! Beware agencies who treat you like you are some unskilled peon! Use the agencies that just pass the resume along!
Many agencies must “do their jobs” and waste valuable time making you jump through hoops. The acronym is “CYA”

Brush up on skills! Take a course showing you are on the ball!

Forever advice: easier to get a job if you have a job!

By: Jane, Aurora, CO

Jane, Aurora, CO — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:46:45 +0000

Don’t forget, your boss is just a resource like you. He does not know any more than you do. For the non-eds people reading, resource is eds’s dehumanizing term for an employee. He may have some input into who is laid off but eds has moved to an HR / spreadsheet based selection process. Your boss may not know you’re on the list until the day of or maybe the day before your layoff. Then it’s too late.

Also, your boss may be trying to get you stay to keep someone doing your job. He may just not want to find a replacement OR the fewer employees he has reporting to him means it more likely he will be laid off.

The current eds severance 2 weeks for each year up to a max of 20 weeks + money for 1 month of COBRA is in effect until 11/1/09. After that it WILL change. From research several coworkers have done, hp’s current severance policy is not as good.

Compare your eds benefits closely to what hp will be offering 1/1/09. The eds pension goes away. Yes the 401K match is increased but it will not compensate for the amount of pension contribution your losing. Plus then YOU are exposed to fluctuations in the stock market. Just look at the movement on 9/25 & 9/26. Look closely at the vacation policy hp is implementing 1/1/09. Some states are adversely affected. I know mine is.

I’d say if one of the 2 jobs offers is better and the company(ies) are better, go for it. There’s nothing left at eds/hp.

OH! Check out glassdoor.com for employees’ views of their employer. Just remember, people find it easier to complain that complement. You can still get an idea of the environment/culture. Reading the entries for hp was enlightening.

By: Bill, San Dimas, CA

Bill, San Dimas, CA — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:26:19 +0000

Pay attention to EDS’s goals for their workforce. They are in the process of “right shoring” the workforce. This means the vast majority of jobs will be going to South America. If your job is not customer facing, it will most likely be going South eventually.

By: dan benau, villanova, pa

dan benau, villanova, pa — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:12:23 +0000

I’ve seen things happen both ways. Sometimes, a long enough announcement that there are layoffs coming can be what Scott Adams has called “Bright Sizing.” This is the period when the bright people with good prospects desert the sinking ship leaving the insecure and potentially less competent behind. It may also leave those who want to see what kind of severance will be offered. That part can be a juicy bonus. It could also end up being a dead end as the entire industry starts to lay off.
Either way, the advice to network outside your company is priceless advice. I will add that you should also be your own competitive intelligence department. Don’t eat lunch at your desk, go to the lunchroom/cafeteria at least a couple of times a week, and keep your ears open. All too many of those lunch room rumors turn out to be true.

By: Karl, Seattle, WA

Karl, Seattle, WA — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:21:09 +0000

Having just left HP Software after being acquired 18 months ago, I would highly recommend you leaving now if your two offers have a strong career path, but HP allows about six months before integrating their acquired company into the HP culture (New Comp Plan/benefits,etc), so you do not need to panic. The person who should be nervous is your boss, HP’s mgmt structure is like musical chairs, I had 3 different mgrs in 18 months, and once you lose your executive sponsorship, you be a floating row-boat without any oars!