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975 points namukang | 16 comments | | HN request time: 0.614s | source | bottom
1. NooneAtAll3 ◴[] No.43678094[source]
my take on this is that "2 week notice" should probably apply to businesses as well?
replies(6): >>43678134 #>>43678204 #>>43678234 #>>43679400 #>>43684640 #>>43685450 #
2. t-writescode ◴[] No.43678134[source]
We have it, it's called the WARN Act [0]

Any company with more than 100 employees that does the "you were laid off today, but you'll be paid for the next 2 months" thing is following the WARN Act

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worker_Adjustment_and_Retraini...

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3. grandempire ◴[] No.43678204[source]
For what? He’s probably getting fantastic severance so his time is best spent on the next thing. The employer isn’t going to get more work - it’s not wise or safe to let layed off individuals roam around the office.
replies(1): >>43678592 #
4. mvdtnz ◴[] No.43678234[source]
I'm not taking Google's side here AT ALL but it's likely this person was given much more than 2 weeks of pay as severance.
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5. rsanek ◴[] No.43678516[source]
not quite the same, this only applies to mass firings. the giving two weeks thing is whenever an individual leaves a job. if you're fired as an individual not alongside a bunch of others the company has no requirements under WARN.
6. iainmerrick ◴[] No.43678592[source]
it’s not wise or safe to let layed off individuals roam around the office.

I don’t really buy this. I take it you’re worried about vengeful ex-employees abusing their access privileges to break stuff on the way out?

It seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Probably some people would feel vengeful if you do shitty things to them like removing all their access and firing them with no notice whatsoever.

Bad employees can already break stuff while they’re employed. They might feel more inclined to do stuff like that if there are chilling effects that build distrust in the work environment, like jump-scare layoffs.

Conversely, if people are getting “fantastic severance” and you treat them with dignity on the way out, aren’t both they and the people who remain more likely to feel more positively inclined?

replies(2): >>43678769 #>>43678795 #
7. codr7 ◴[] No.43678769{3}[source]
Agreed, the explanation for why this is standard procedure never made much sense to me.

I just know it feels really shitty on the receiving end.

replies(1): >>43678823 #
8. grandempire ◴[] No.43678795{3}[source]
> I take it you’re worried about vengeful ex-employees abusing their access privileges to break stuff on the way out?

In extreme cases. But also just sowing discontent. Looking to grab value they think they are owed. Generally lots of people who are upset and probably feel mistreated and have very little to lose.

I actually think there is a small but real chance of violence as people like OP feel like their identity and way of life is threatened.

Have you been in a situation like this before?

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9. grandempire ◴[] No.43678823{4}[source]
So you’ve heard the risks. What would be the benefit? And why would it outweigh those risks?
10. jansan ◴[] No.43679168[source]
In 2023 they offered "a severance package starting at 16 weeks salary plus two weeks for every additional year at Google". I think Adam was at Google for more than five years, which would make it half a year of severance.

But as I see it he has not been complaining about the financial part of the layoff.

11. iainmerrick ◴[] No.43679239{4}[source]
lots of people who are upset and probably feel mistreated [...] people like OP feel like their identity and way of life is threatened

But they feel like that because they're being ghosted by the company! Suddenly cut off, with no way to tie up loose ends and say goodbye to people on the way out. That's the mistreatment. If you don't mistreat them like that, maybe people won't feel mistreated or threatened.

I don't have tons of experience with layoffs. In the case where people in my team were directly affected, the company did not summarily cut off access overnight (they couldn't legally, as this was in the UK). It was completely fine and everybody was friendly and civil. It helps that the severance package was very generous, and admittedly the job market was good at the time so people would have been less worried about finding their next job.

12. windward ◴[] No.43679400[source]
2 weeks of pay is very little comfort and doesn't stop any of the feeling that you've immediately become a social pariah, banished from the network.
13. basfo ◴[] No.43684640[source]
I worked for a well-known SaaS company for 4 years. A few months after we were acquired, I decided it was time to move on. I gave a 3 week notice to ensure everything was properly handled before my departure.

Two days later, I couldn’t log in to my PC. I was, for all intents and purposes, fired from my actual work. Technically, I was still employed and paid for those remaining days, but I was locked out and never got the chance to say goodbye. It was the worst experience I’ve had, and I never had any issues with any manager or anyone before that. Apparently, it was just the new company policy.

replies(1): >>43685807 #
14. pkaye ◴[] No.43685450[source]
The 2 week notice is not a legal requirement in the US. I've seen a couple employees just do a silent quit and not turn up the next day.
15. pton_xd ◴[] No.43685807[source]
That's standard practice for tech companies. Once you hand in your notice your access is cut and you'll be escorted off the premises that day.
replies(1): >>43687278 #
16. metaltyphoon ◴[] No.43687278{3}[source]
And yet they would like a 2 weeks notice. Screw that