Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

Why don't you just find another gig at another company? Only incompetent folks end up on unemployment benefits when there are tones of jobs in tech in NC or other neighboring states.

I seriously doubt that I'm incompetent. It depends on what the current job market is like when you're LR'd as to whether or not you draw unemployment.

Not everyone can easily pack up their families and move to another state for a job, especially for short-term contract work.

I've been LR'd in NC twice. The first time it took me 2 months to find a gig out of out of state. I drew 3 weeks unemployment. The first 30 days I was still an employee, so I couldn't apply yet. Then the next 2 weeks you are ineligible under NC guidelines/laws. I worked 4 months out of a 6 month contract before finding a gig back home. The second time, it took me 3 months to land an employee role in a city 3 hours away. That time I drew about 5 or 6 weeks unemployment benefits.

The problem is, some people work in roles where they support dozens of engineers or developers, like a scrum master or project manager or finance guy. Companies don't need hundreds of scrum masters, project managers or finance guys. So finding a company with one of those openings locally at the time you need it, it's pretty rare. You either end up moving or you end up drawing unemployment for a (hopefully) brief time.

Then again, I knew an environmental engineer who lost his job back in '08 or '09. He was unemployed for over a year before he finally gave up looking for a job locally and sold his house to move 2 hours away. His only problem was a lack of interviewing skills. Solid worker, but man, was he terrible at interviewing. Instead of a short 1-2 minute answer, he gave a 10 minute answer. Not having interviewing/people skills doesn't make you incompetent.

... With the good earnings and everything else, the possibility of other positions exist. ...

Yes, there IS a possibility of other positions. But there are dozens of people being impacted with your skillset all trying to apply for that position that some VP or higher is trying to fill with friend, family member, tribe or whatever. Heck, they might even be trying to convert an existing contingent worker to fill that role.

In most states, you have to have a "good cause" if you voluntarily left your job. But, you do not need to prove “good cause” if you left employment because the employer fired you or asked you to quit, ... or if you quit a job for a new job that fell through.

Cisco was asking you to leave when they told you your role was "at-risk" and that you would be LR'd in Dec if you could not find another role internally. It's not hard to do a quick search the internal offerings, document the results (or lack thereof) and if the roles require relocation, then you have a solid case under appeal for unemployment benefits.

I hate to say it but most of this wave were at the top pf the list due to performance. Of course there were others due to position at risk due to the roles or departments going away but that's the normal course of business for any company. Don't whine either. Your package was almost as good as the ER. That shouldn't have been the case. The ER should have been much, much better. Then some positions for the competent would have been saved.

if you cannot contribute in this thread keep your moth shut. no one asked your advice

I hate to say it but most of this wave were at the top pf the list due to performance. Of course there were others due to position at risk due to the roles or departments going away but that's the normal course of business for any company. Don't whine either. Your package was almost as good as the ER. That shouldn't have been the case. The ER should have been much, much better. Then some positions for the competent would have been saved.

If it's not a layoff then why are they paying for outplacement service? Call it what you want, it's a layoff.

Greed.

Why don't you just find another gig at another company? Only incompetent folks end up on unemployment benefits when there are tones of jobs in tech in NC or other neighboring states.

For the poster that said "You had the opportunity to find a new position within the company until December. With the good earnings and everything else, the possibility of other positions exist.", HAVE YOU EVER SEARCHED FOR AN INTERNAL JOB DURING A LAYOFF?!? (and yes, it was a layoff, just creatively disguised. And yes, I am YELLING at you!). It's damn near impossible to get an internal job during a workforce reduction at Cisco, unless you have a VP backing you. Managers do their best to postpone, delay, and give you the run around if they know you were impacted.

It most certainly was a company decision to fire or lay us off. The way it was communicated to us, that our role was "at risk" of layoff in Dec and if we did not chose to take the early package and did not find a new role by Dec, we would be laid off with a smaller package.

Like I said, it was a CHOICE!!! You had the opportunity to find a new position within the company until December. With the good earnings and everything else, the possibility of other positions exist. Instead, you CHOSE to take a lucrative offer of a very nice package to QUIT. This is why you may not get unemployment in NC.

What would make you think you're entitled to unemployment benefits when you voluntarily quit your job in order to get a severance package?

The fact that it's not voluntarily quitting. It's voluntarily picking between a larger package in Oct or a smaller package in Dec, but either way you're gone.

The early retirement package is another story. I can see where that was completely voluntary even if you would most likely get notified as being "at-risk" in Oct due to your age and higher pay grade making you too "expensive" to keep around.

What would make you think you're entitled to unemployment benefits when you voluntarily quit your job in order to get a severance package?

I got the unemployment last year. it all depend on which EDD worker you end up with, in my case, someone made a mistake and processed ..

cisco is careful to make s sign so many documents. the doc we sign is voluntarily we are accepting the package which means we are resigning. we all know this is layoff, so cisco need to do no PR. very evil company. CR and ELT are absolute evil and have no empathy. they are here to make money only. all the cries for SJW are bogus

I am receiving unemployment, having taken the ER. I waited until 2 weeks after receipt of severance and haven't seen any issues yet but am always prepared for the clawback if EDD decides at some later date to disqualify me.

As far as LR, if Cisco announces a $1B credit on their balance sheet at FY end earnings call, citing ER amongst other restructuring, you can better believe I'd be interpreting the non-ER portion of the cost reduction to be directly related to an LR. Disappointing that Cisco would tell your state that is wasn't LR

... I am almost certain that Cisco notified the unemployment office that anyone filing will be rejected because it was not a company decision to fire or lay you off. It was more of a communication that your position is at risk, we are offering a voluntary package, or you can wait to see what happens.

It most certainly was a company decision to fire or lay us off. The way it was communicated to us, that our role was "at risk" of layoff in Dec and if we did not chose to take the early package and did not find a new role by Dec, we would be laid off with a smaller package.

The company chose to restructure and eliminate the roles that were notified. I don't know that I'd have list coronavirus as a reason for being impacted, but it certainly had an affect on business and increased the amount of people cut.

If you received severance in NC, you cannot claim unemployment until the severance has ended. I don't know you story, but if you receive 6 months severance you cannot claim unemployment until after 6 months.

I've been LR'd from Cisco twice. Cisco splits its payments to you into two categories: pay in-lieu of notice (60 days) and severance (amount varies, but you only get this if you sign the agreement saying that you release Cisco from any wrong doing in your termination).

Both times, because my actual employment ended 30 days after I was told I was LR'd, I did not receive unemployment until 30 days after my employment ended (remainder of the 60 days pay in-lieu of notice). I did not have to wait until the "severance" period ended.

I guess Cisco didn't bother to notify the unemployment office of any intent to fight/deny benefits back then. Pretty stingy on Cisco's part.

Cisco had $50 billion in revenue. Covid had nothing to do with you losing your job.

I would appeal if you’re denied. Covid was in fact the reason for the extraordinary downturn in Cisco’s business, and the need for the company to reduce headcount more so than in past years. That is just one scenario how coronavirus has led to job loss, so I don’t believe listing it is at all a misrepresentation.

@hey are you from Cisco Legal team?

" or an attempt to get the ~$900/wk unemployment benefit. " That doesn't exist anymore and it was 600. It ended in July, there was no replacement.

If you received severance in NC, you cannot claim unemployment until the severance has ended. I don't know you story, but if you receive 6 months severance you cannot claim unemployment until after 6 months. Also in your case, you accepted a voluntary package. Again, I do not have the specifics only what I have seen on the news or here. Cisco did not do a layoff. They made indications that your position was at risk, offered a package to voluntarily quit, and you accepted.

Right, wrong, or indifferent, that will be the legal basis for the denial. NC's unemployment is bare. Based on what you said, leads me to believe that the package you took was voluntary which is the same as quitting. Cisco did not do any layoffs due to coronavirus, so that part was in fact either a misrepresentation by you or an attempt to get the ~$900/wk unemployment benefit. Either way, it is inaccurate. The reason you are unemployed is due to restructuring. Others in your situation may chime in and provide additional guidance. But, if my understanding was correct, the October exit was a choice to leave with a nice package and not that you were actually laid off. This is why consulting with an expert is sometimes more wise. I am almost certain that Cisco notified the unemployment office that anyone filing will be rejected because it was not a company decision to fire or lay you off. It was more of a communication that your position is at risk, we are offering a voluntary package, or you can wait to see what happens.

Issue may be that you noted Coronavirus, I noted reduction in force; in another state than you. Mine was approved.