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Googler... ex-Googler

(nerdy.dev)
1086 points namukang | 1 comments | 11 Apr 25 20:19 UTC | HN request time: 0.998s | source
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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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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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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.
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throwaway2037 ◴[16 Apr 25 02:33 UTC] No.43700809[source]▶

    > It is a genuinely terrible idea by the CEO though.
Maybe in your culture, but not all. In many cultures (people have shared numerous personal stories here), there are more humane ways to handle layoffs rather than treating former employees like a trespasser/thief/criminal one microsecond after the announcement.
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1. constantcrying ◴[16 Apr 25 10:05 UTC] No.43703500[source]▶
In my country there are very strong labor protections. You can not fire someone here from one day to another, if they are laid off they have a long time where they are still employed by the company. There are also many companies which will not do layoffs at all, the only way to get fired is for serious misbehavior.

This is the culture where I am from. Nevertheless I absolutely believe that work relationships should be professional relationships, based on the employer paying for the employees time. Mutating that into "trust" will only create problems. The only thing I trust my employer with is him fulfilling his legal obligations towards me and I will fulfill my legal obligations towards him.