It doesn't matter your level of performance at CSCO – your direct manager only has so much sway and often is just told who and when to whack people based on decisions that were made layers up. It is about as brutal as it can be, with some teams getting the axe on a group-video call – not even the courtesy to have a 1:1 meeting.
Cisco does many things well, and can be a great place to be – but this part of the organization is bordering on unethical if not immoral. Meanwhile, executives that MADE THE VERY DECISIONS that probably caused the layoffs stay in place, or get shifted to another group and get showered with $ and stock. It is fairly grotesque to see all the internal team talk about accountability, but those doing the admonishment never seem to be accountable.
Found this in an old thread as a reply, I thought it deserved to be on top. OP is @VTkYoIC-4qjul.