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Googler... ex-Googler

(nerdy.dev)
975 points namukang | 15 comments | 11 Apr 25 20:19 UTC | HN request time: 1.709s | source | bottom
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abdj8 ◴[14 Apr 25 05:08 UTC] No.43678249[source]▶
Layoffs are a difficult thing for employees and their managers. I have seen people (one was a VP of Engineering) escorted out of the building, sent in a cab to home along with a security guard (this was in India), not allowed access to computer or talk with other employees. But, recently have had a very different experience. The current company I work for announced 30% layoffs. The list was made public within one hour of announcement. The CEO detailed the process of selecting people. The severance was very generous (3-6 months pay) along with health and other benefits. The impacted employees were allowed to keep the laptop and any other assets they took from the company. They even paid the same severance to contractors.

After the announcement, the laid off employees were given a few days in the company to allow them to say good byes. I love the CEOs comment on this ' I trusted them yesterday, I trust them today'. This was by far the kindest way of laying off employees imo. People were treated with dignity and respect.

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1. throwaway2037 ◴[14 Apr 25 06:50 UTC] No.43678693[source]▶
Wow, the last paragraph is really touching. That comment from the CEO is brilliant: "I trusted them yesterday, I trust them today." That will stay with me for some time!
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2. ignoramous ◴[14 Apr 25 08:20 UTC] No.43679194[source]▶
> I trusted them yesterday, I trust them today.

The problem is, before the layoffs, the employee may have felt they had an obligation to do right by the company. Once they're fired, it may no longer be the case. Some may very well become spiteful, act on their vengeance, & seek immediate retribution.

The risk posed by an employee going rouge is what most CEOs are playing for, especially as in GP's case, for a company as large as Google, where they need to plan for all possible failures and scenarios, some of which may or may not have happened before hand.

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3. eloisant ◴[14 Apr 25 08:24 UTC] No.43679216[source]▶
In France you can't layoff people on the spot, there is a 3 months notice. And I've yet to hear about employees going rogue.

Maybe in US laid off employees can go rogue because they're treated like shit in the process?

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4. ahtihn ◴[14 Apr 25 08:52 UTC] No.43679355{3}[source]▶
Notice doesn't mean they must be allowed to keep working. It just means they need to be paid.
5. pclmulqdq ◴[14 Apr 25 09:06 UTC] No.43679448{3}[source]▶
US laid off employees also get 3-6 months of full pay and benefits. They just lose access to the building and their work devices immediately. I imagine it's no different in France.
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6. Aeolun ◴[14 Apr 25 09:13 UTC] No.43679483{4}[source]▶
> I imagine it's no different in France.

He literally just told you it’s different in France?

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7. mcherm ◴[14 Apr 25 09:52 UTC] No.43679639{4}[source]▶
> US laid off employees also get 3-6 months of full pay and benefits.

Some employers may decide to give a few months of pay and benefits to laid off employees (although 6 months would be unusually large) but it is definitely not required and is not always done. Mass layoffs of 100+ people need to be announced 60 days ahead (but without naming who will be laid off) but there are no requirements for any kind of severance.

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8. pclmulqdq ◴[14 Apr 25 10:28 UTC] No.43679811{5}[source]▶
He said that with incorrect information about how layoffs in America work.
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9. pclmulqdq ◴[14 Apr 25 10:31 UTC] No.43679830{5}[source]▶
There's no legal requirement, but literally every company that is not bankrupt does it because otherwise they will face huge numbers of wrongful termination suits.
10. eloisant ◴[14 Apr 25 11:46 UTC] No.43680262{6}[source]▶
No I didn't. I know how layoffs works in America because I've been laid off in America.
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11. Loughla ◴[14 Apr 25 11:49 UTC] No.43680273{4}[source]▶
That's not true in every sector.

After college I worked for a large regional manufacturer. They laid off about 10% of their employees, I got nothing.

Severance pay is a white collar benefit.

12. acdha ◴[14 Apr 25 14:11 UTC] No.43681493{7}[source]▶
You know how it worked for you. What you described is not a legal requirement and many other people have had different experiences.
13. Aeolun ◴[15 Apr 25 06:53 UTC] No.43689759{6}[source]▶
I think we’re all aware of how layoffs in the US work because there’s so godawfully many of them (that get publicised on HN). It’s very clear to me that 3-6 months of severance is very much not the norm. Being walked out immediately by security very much is.
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14. pclmulqdq ◴[15 Apr 25 10:18 UTC] No.43690956{7}[source]▶
Those two things are not mutually exclusive. Usually both happen. You usually get 3+ months of severance on your "don't sue us or badmouth us" paperwork and then security escorts you out.
15. constantcrying ◴[15 Apr 25 13:22 UTC] No.43692334[source]▶
It is a genuinely terrible idea by the CEO though. Yesterday you paid them, today you don't. If you think that doesn't change your relationship, you have to be a fool.