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Googler... ex-Googler

(nerdy.dev)
1071 points namukang | 9 comments | 11 Apr 25 20:19 UTC | HN request time: 4.086s | 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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Ferret7446 ◴[14 Apr 25 06:57 UTC] No.43678739[source]▶
What happens if your company supports billions of dollars in economic output, and a few employees decides to go rogue and sabotage some systems that then causes an international loss of billions of dollars, and possibly property damages and loss of life? If you were the CEO, would you take criminal/financial responsibility for that?
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ajb ◴[14 Apr 25 08:49 UTC] No.43679334[source]▶
There are companies that support billions of economic output in countries which require a notice period. If they thought it was a risk that they would be taken down be a rogue employee, they have the option of putting them on 'gardening leave' during the notice period. This is extremely rare; they know the risk is insignificant so they are more keen to get any remaining value from the relationship (work, handover).

In our industry and many others, being a professional and maintaining good relations with your ex -colleagues, who form your professional network, is much more valuable than any emotional satisfaction from screwing them over, even without the risk of going to prison.

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1. ahtihn ◴[14 Apr 25 08:55 UTC] No.43679375[source]▶
> they have the option of putting them on 'gardening leave' during the notice period. This is extremely rare

That must depend on the country. In Switzerland it's standard that employees don't work during the notice period when they're laid off.

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2. ajb ◴[14 Apr 25 09:38 UTC] No.43679591[source]▶
Must do. I wonder if that's because of the wide access to weapons? Although I thought I'd heard that there still wasn't much gun violence in Switzerland.
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3. ajb ◴[14 Apr 25 13:33 UTC] No.43681086[source]▶
Puzzled by why anyone would downvote a pure question. Wide distribution of guns is an obvious commonality between the US and Switzerland; if that's offensive observation please let me know why!
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4. tspng ◴[14 Apr 25 14:23 UTC] No.43681676[source]▶
It's definitely not related to the population's gun ownership ratio. I would say gun violence is probably comparable with our European neighbours. It's just way lower compared to the US.

Also, from my experience, there is not a clear trend whether companies in Switzerland want employees to keep working or if they just let them go during the notice period. I've seen many examples of both.

5. thor-rodrigues ◴[14 Apr 25 14:54 UTC] No.43681985[source]▶
I have the impression that (although I did not check for data beforehand to confirm my assumptions) that gun violence is very low in developed countries, with the USA being the outlier.

I believe the overall positive employer-employee relationship in Europe is much more of a product of legislature and cultural norms, than the threat of violence.

6. renewedrebecca ◴[14 Apr 25 18:00 UTC] No.43684246{3}[source]▶
Probably because only the US has the kind of gun violence that you're wondering about. I don't think in Europe, the idea that someone is going to come after you with a gun because you pissed them off generally hits the radar.

Someone may find the question offensive because of that.

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7. int_19h ◴[15 Apr 25 02:03 UTC] No.43688318[source]▶
Even in US, it's not a strict rule. I gave my notice more than a month in advance and retained access to all employee spaces (both physical and digital) until my last day. Coincidentally, I own enough guns that describing it as an "arsenal" would not even be an embellishment it usually is.

At the end of the day it's more about culture (i.e. people's expectations of what is normal) than any objective factors.

8. ajb ◴[15 Apr 25 20:28 UTC] No.43697978{4}[source]▶
Fair enough.
9. carstenhag ◴[17 Apr 25 15:56 UTC] No.43718675{3}[source]▶
It's a very common misconception that it's legal to own/keep a gun (after having done military service) but not being able to get/keep ammunition.

According to this video you can't keep preciously-lent ammunition from the military. But you can for sure buy your own.

https://youtu.be/L00Pajw4NoY

As to why people don't use it or aren't scared, I guess they just aren't as wild...