Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

I consulted a few attorneys since technically on paper I could've (or thought) I'd have a case based on "retaliation". This past fall our company was acquired by Cisco and quite frankly the only reason their numbers didn't drop lower then they did. To our surprise we were still subjected to downsizing but given 3 options. Older folks got the choice of ER, others notified their position MIGHT be at risk could CHOOSE to take a severance package that included COBRA payments or you could take your chance and wait until round 2. They made it very clear the round 2 offers wouldn't be nearly as generous. The lawyer said yes technically I could argue the case, but wouldn't win an amount of money that would make it worth anyones time or drain. He said just be the first to take the elected severance and your young enough that you'll have a job in a few weeks. I took the severance invested it just before the last crypto run and now have a downpayment for a house. I've also turned down 3 job offers (I'm more picky now) and took the holiday season to recharge. I have my first child due in April so thankfully there's that COBRA payment. Prior to this layoff I was let go for political reasons from a FANG company - the real reason I'll never know but 2 weeks prior I had just purchased my first house. Soon after my marriage started to dissolve ending in divorce. It's been 3 years and another layoff but I'm still here. I guess my career doesn't really make it into my top 5 life priorities. There's alot more to life to enjoy. Just take the money and you'll find something. There's plenty of work just depends on what you consider "beneath" you I guess.

Can you tell any tips finding a job post 50.
i am in mid 50s and finding very hard to even get a call. maybe the covid market.

However old you are, I am at least a decade older. A software dev who took the Elect offer (for me, 1 year of salary). Never sent out a resume, but recruiters (including Amazon!) reached out to me and I took a job for about 80% of what I earned at Cisco. Not with Amazon, haha, because now I know better. Here are my secrets, I hope that they may do you some good.

Don't resent your previous employer just because they paid you 6 figures and treated you like an entitled little prince/princess.
Try to look attractive, but not desperate, in linkedin.
Polish your resume.
Study your damn data structures and algorithms so you don't look like a fossil in the tech interview. There are lots of books and websites to assist you here.
Know yourself. If you cannot happily work with and for young whippersnappers, some of whom may be H1B or greencard immigrants, then you are in the wrong business.
Love to write code. This is probably the 2nd most important thing.
Love to raise up your team. This is the most important thing.

Don't believe all of the liars that post here. Being able to put Cisco on your resume is a really good thing.

Regards,
The Cisco Kid

Why would you sue? You are competing with an organization with near infinite resources you don't have. All that for what? To keep a job at a company that has decided it no longer wants you? To get an extra 3 or 4 months of severance? It just isn't worth it. If you have bankable skills, go work for a competitor and show Cisco they made a mistake by letting you go.

"repo depot"

https://blogs.cisco.com/csr/we-can-all-be-champions-for-environmental-sustainability

good program

Repot Depot?? I googled it but could not find it. Can someone share the link or the correct spelling....

Go... Go... Go

If you can explain how networking works, and also demonstrate hands-on technical skills, you will be in demand.

LR'd three years ago. Now pick and choose my gigs.

Make sure you keep current. Go down to Repot Depot. Get some stuff and build a lab. Can you build a VM and network it at a rudimentary level? Can you speak to the process like you actually somewhat have a technical clue? PS: just try to be relevant and explain it.

If so, jobs are out there. Still. Big time.

On other hand, lots of people out there working in tech that really don't know that much about tech. Ask yourself: do I really know this stuff?

If not, you may want to pursue something else post LR.

Hopefully LR severance will still be good for those staying.

I was a top performer and part of an HR investigation.
A month later my boss and a red badge HR employee told me to document everything.
A week later, the harrased woman suddenly received a $250 award from her harasser!
4 weeks after that I was LRd.

I called an attorney. His questions and advice:
1) Do you want to stay at Cisco?
2) if yes apply for other positions and look to get your boss to endorse you.
3) However, if you are looking for money figure out what the difference between the package and what you want and figure out if it is worth it.

For me the package was generous ( 6 months for only a 3 year tenure) .
The lawyer recommended to take LR and I was happy to not be around the unskilled bully.

Rumor has it that they are removing the bullying Sr. Director but really the VP and her soldiers should go as well. ( just my opinion)

Cisco lost the below case due to age discrimation.
Ask yourself if it is worth your time. Life is short and there is life after Cisco.

https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/usa-judge-rules-age-discrimination-case-against-cisco-must-be-settled-in-court-not-arbitration/

Best of luck!

Just take the money and go. Not worth it. I’m in my late 50s and an on my third job in five years post-Cisco. Two of those jobs were better than Cisco and it’s always been my choice to leave. Stay relevant and move on.

Can you tell any tips finding a job post 50. i am in mid 50s and finding very hard to even get a call. maybe the covid market.

I've only heard of one incident where suing Cisco worked. A university hire was laid off and there job was posted online.

Just take the money and go. Not worth it. I’m in my late 50s and an on my third job in five years post-Cisco. Two of those jobs were better than Cisco and it’s always been my choice to leave. Stay relevant and move on.

Welcome to At Will employment. They can let you go for any reason they want and recoup anything that was offered based on terms. It is extremely unlikely you have any case against them. Even if you tried, they don't need to prove anything other than they didn't want you. The one they can guarantee a response to is that your salary was beyond your position which made you expendable.

Layoffs are done strategically to cost as little as possible. My example is that I had unvested HSA money totaling $29k. I would not vest that until 25 years. I was laid off and my severance was $45k. They retake the $29k to cover almost 2/3 of my severance. They only had to pony up another $16k to get rid of me. I am sure that happened often in the decision process. I am also fairly certain you made a mistake so minute, but they have it on paper, that can be used as the reason you were selected. While at IBM, I watched it happened the night after Business Conduct Guidelines had to be signed. There was a little piece in there that states you will not leave a phone number of a company, customer, affiliate, or anything to IBM. They wrote up security violations for leaving publications and soda cans on the desk. All of them had the company's phone number. They used that to get rid of a large number of people with almost no severance. They used security violations as the reason.

A better approach is to sue the company as a shareholder. If you have documentation of mismanagement, retaliation, fraud, as a shareholder you have much more standing than as an employee. Plus, you can seek class-action and have other shareholders join your suit. Such an easy target these days as they layoff people who know where/who the bad-actors are.

So not worth it.

The early retirement and November reductions were all "voluntary". The ER isn't an age-based layoff, rather they offered people that hit an age and years of service a voluntary package to leave. The next batch were also voluntary - you were notified that your position was "at risk" and would likely be eliminated. You had the opportunity to stay and find other opportunities or stay and risk it. You can say its a layoff by another name but the law is built on such distinctions. As already mentioned, you agree not to pursue legal action when accepting the severance. You are/were free to decline the package and pursue other remedies. IBM recently got nailed for age-based layoffs. That case is going to take years to resolve.

The IPF game was a lousy turn of events. In my group the IPFs were lowered for everyone and the money redirected to the teams and team members that were not going to be cut. From what I'd heard that was pretty much a decision of individual leaders. They decided that they wanted to direct those dollars to the people who would be kept. Budget was so much less this round, if I'd had the same IPF as last year it still would have been a huge cut. Discretion being the better part of valor, I chose not to make waves and accepted the package. I'm pretty confident that I'll come out further ahead in the long run.

Most unethical company. They punish hardworking quiet people who worked for 10, 20 years. We can only spread our part and make people not join the Cisco sinking ship. Eventually they will rot. There is no human emotions and VPs think their dad owns the company.

Above response is correct. That’s what the package is for, not because they are nice people that care. It’s your choice, go against corporate lawyers that have millions of $$ or take the money and be quiet. It’s sad really because they are breaking employment laws but they have years of hiding it. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen a senior person laid off and replaced by a person in their 20’s. Can’t let go for age but Cisco does it every quarter. I wish someone would fight it but for over 10 years the money has been more important.

If you signed the separation package and received a payout, you can't sue Cisco. Try to sue them and you will be asked to pay it back. And when you lose in the courts, you will be responsible for Cisco's court costs.
You can't win this battle. Just move on to save your sanity, the lil wealth you have. Cisco is like an old red-eyed "beach" and you can't beat her.

To answer to the above post. We are considering it!
Such an awful place!!