My son-in-law was one of Dell’s top salesmen for small businesses. He was laid of at the end of July. He received gift cards and gifts for his performance even through the week he was laid off. Not a way to keep valuable employees. He worked there twelve years.
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Hi. Fellow son in law here. He doesn’t want you to come visit. That is all.
I worked for Dell for ten years, and during that time, I went through 17 reorganizations and 10 layoffs. If you look at it objectively, your career is a succession of temporary assignments, and the entire at-will work structure of the United States spells that out. Whether it's Dell or someplace else, sooner or later, you will not work there, whether that's your choice or theirs.
Across many working groups, the pattern for layoffs seems to be 1) problem personalities or 2) highest earners.
If you’re a VP having to make a miserable decision because you were handed a number, it’s easier to pick the highest paid/best performer - not only might it mean letting go one rather than two or more, but that person is also most likely to land a good position in the shortest amount of time.
I’m in an entry level position, and even I can see that.
Your son-in-law’s loss might have saved two of his teammates - people who might be equally skilled but had a tougher patch of customers. Maybe that’s a small consolation, but it’s something.
Unfortunately past performance and hard work means nothing to a big company.
Hopefully he lands on his feet and finds a better job.