247
votes
Layoffs are coming at my company. I want to volunteer instead of a co-worker. Problem is, I am not supposed to know
I would prefer a simpler approach.
Ask for a 20 to 30% raise. Make sure HR is aware of your request.
That should be enough to get you on the list.
Also, I agree with Selbie. You should tell your ...
- 59.2k
236
votes
Can layoffs have a "positive" effect for a business due to the remaining employees thinking "If I don't work harder, I may be the next"?
the remaining ones will work hard in fear that if I don't work harder I may be the next
Much more likely that the remaining ones will think "better jump, before I get pushed".
And, the best of them ...
- 12.7k
230
votes
Accepted
Company is making my position redundant due to cost cutting but asking me to send email for resignation
A decent company would either give you notice and pay everything they are legally required to pay, or they will write a contract that says you resign and that specifies exactly what they will do for ...
- 170k
205
votes
Accepted
Probably terminated or laid off soon; confront or not?
Don't confront them.
Here's why:
If they say they aren't going to lay you off, will you believe them? You shouldn't. So you are no closer to resolution or closure.
If they say they are letting you go....
- 8,363
176
votes
Layoffs are coming at my company. I want to volunteer instead of a co-worker. Problem is, I am not supposed to know
I want to volunteer instead of a co-worker
You can't.
During a layoff the people to be laid off are selected by a set of criteria that makes sense to the business in its current (difficult) ...
- 125k
164
votes
How should I explain volunteering for future layoffs in interviews?
With the clarification in the comments that you've already confirmed the layoffs with your boss and offered to quit to save them the problem simply because it would impact you least of your coworkers, ...
- 35.8k
145
votes
Why would company (decision makers) wait for someone to retire, rather than lay them off, when their role is no longer needed?
It's challenging to speculate about why particular decisions are made, even if you're able to observe directly - so, as a potential frame-challenge to your question, it's worth considering that you ...
- 43.6k
130
votes
Accepted
Asked to secretly obtain coworker's knowledge before he gets fired
Damn, that's a really crappy situation for both you and "Steve"
As I think you've already concluded warning him is not a smart move, as ruthless as it sounds you need to look out for yourself. Sure ...
- 108k
129
votes
Among the first ones to be laid off temporarily due to lack of projects. Should I ask my manager for explanation? Is it time to find another job?
Update your resume and look for another job.
No matter the reason, you've been put in the bottom 10% of employees, and deemed to be expendable.
If it's not by department, not by project, or anything ...
- 160k
110
votes
Accepted
Being made redundant, but asked to do contract work after finishing -- how should I negotiate my contracting rate?
It's more than perfectly reasonable, it's crucial, to ask for a much higher rate than you were receiving when you were employed because your previous employer will no longer have to pay costs and fees ...
- 8,343
107
votes
Accepted
What does "x employee is no longer employed by XYZ company" mean?
It means exactly what it says, anything more is speculation, especially when you consider the actual reason behind the departure and not simply its fact or mechanism.
Perhaps there are mutual ...
- 4,637
97
votes
Why would company (decision makers) wait for someone to retire, rather than lay them off, when their role is no longer needed?
You seem to be thinking of this from a very cold perspective. That's probably a good way to get into the "mind" of a corporation, but since the decision-makers are actual people they may not respond ...
- 6,024
97
votes
Probably terminated or laid off soon; confront or not?
I think you should double down on effort AND interview for other roles. I was once put on a PIP, it was shocking at the time and I didn't totally agree with it but I realised it wasn't totally unfair.
...
- 7,064
95
votes
Accepted
Laid off from work but the undeserving one was not. Fight for it?
Laid off from work but the undeserving one was not. Fight for it?
There really is nothing to fight. The company has made a decision and your friend has to live with it. Whatever some other employee ...
- 79.6k
93
votes
Asked to secretly obtain coworker's knowledge before he gets fired
Another lesson I learned in life is that a company that will do that to a fellow employee will do that to you. Update your resume and be ready to move. This is an awful position to be in.
Don't ...
- 160k
83
votes
Departing colleague attacked me in farewell email, what can I do?
I feel like this poisoning of the well will impact my progression in the company, what can I do to fix this?
I don't think it will... or at least it shouldn't.
Saying such things in a "farewell&...
- 83.3k
81
votes
Accepted
What month and year should I write in my cv for a job from which I was fired just after a long vacation?
Your employment continues, in a legal and financial sense, until September 2023 and so that's the date you should use for your CV. It's also the date that your former employer will confirm if ...
- 1,552
70
votes
Accepted
What are some strategies to maintain morale and productivity after massive layoffs?
The situation you're describing is tough. Layoffs have a very real impact on both the individuals that are let go and those that remain. I'm sorry you're experiencing this.
Here are some things to ...
- 12.3k
68
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between being fired and being laid off?
Being fired is reserved for individual personnel issues: performance, behavior, etc. This would be targeted at a single individual.
Being laid off is when the company is having financial issues and ...
- 1,371
66
votes
Can layoffs have a "positive" effect for a business due to the remaining employees thinking "If I don't work harder, I may be the next"?
That question made me think of what Joel "Joel on Software" Spolsky (who also served in the Israeli army) wrote about "The Command and Control Management Method":
"Soldiers should fear their ...
62
votes
Accepted
How can I address and prepare for potential layoffs?
Speaking broadly, the professional behavior is to:
not repeat rumors
not create rumors
by default assume the agreements are still valid, proceed as planned
ask management for clarification, e.g. is X ...
62
votes
Laid off from work but the undeserving one was not. Fight for it?
sf02's answer covered the "Fight for it?" question, but I'd like to tackle this part:
Is it appropriate for my friend to discuss his concerns with his boss?
If by "discuss his ...
- 1,046
61
votes
Company is making my position redundant due to cost cutting but asking me to send email for resignation
There's a reason that HR is avoiding putting anything in writing. If they're hiring at the same time they're making positions redundant, one possible reason could be that they're eliminating ...
- 44.4k
58
votes
Adjusting to Friends and Colleagues Being Laid Off
This is a very real phenomenon. The people who are laid off receive a shock, of course, and may be upset at first, but they go on to something new and hopefully exciting. You on the other hand still ...
- 152k
58
votes
What is the appropriate behavior when management decisions lead to tasks no longer being done?
If you know there are serious consequences for certain tasks not being done, it's worth going to your own manager and asking if they would prefer you to do that task over one of the tasks you are ...
- 46.9k
53
votes
Can layoffs have a "positive" effect for a business due to the remaining employees thinking "If I don't work harder, I may be the next"?
But maybe that "positive" effect do exist ?
While it's not a universal "no" to that.. it's pretty close and the overall effect is likely to be negative.
Let's assume the local jobs market for these ...
- 108k
52
votes
Layoffs are coming at my company. I want to volunteer instead of a co-worker. Problem is, I am not supposed to know
With ~500 people getting laid off it sounds like there is enough room for both of you on the cut list so I'm not quite sure there's a way to volunteer yourself in your colleague's stead.
Your real ...
- 13.7k
48
votes
Accepted
Volunteering for redundancy
but was thinking I could save someones redundancy by volunteering.
This premise is not necessarily true. Why would you think it is?
I'm sure redundancy and who is chosen is determined by performance ...
- 83.3k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible