Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

Don't take it personal but learn from it. Take care of your own finances and financial destiny. Get out of the "working for the man" mentality. Wishing you all the best as you work your side hustle

I would say the OP chose to be great at his job and committed rather than focusing on politics. Nothing wrong with that.

The fact you worked for 18 years at Cisco and did not understand Cisco politics or the Cisco LR process is why you were let go. Being good at your job is not a core competency at Cisco, BTW.

No doubts on the cost/people/contribution/# of people to backfill. Seen many good performers get LR'd. Either they were making WAY too much money or they try to hire 2 x cheaper people to replace them. Mgmt receive a mandate to "cut X %" from budget. Fat Kelly did that EVERY quarter until she had so much blood and mutiny her hands she had to retire filthy rich.

Cisco is an easy place to work. OP found it out the hard way. After only 1 year at the new job, he switched to another job and now he misses the old easy work at Cisco. OP: if you come to Cisco, you will be LR'ed again. Get used to doing real work instead of the 2hrs-work per day at Cisco.

Segment Routing lol! Proof point #1 that Cisco can’t innovate. All the smart people quit so SR is what happens.

The first response nailed it (over your median point). Happened to me. I received multiple raises before I was LR'd, and didn't realize it pushed me over the median point until it was too late. I was proud of those raises and deserved them for excellent performance, but they put a target on my head (and my age). Unfortunately, my group had no room for promotions......and the ELT views folks that go past their median pay grade as dysfunctional since they haven't been promoted into the next grade. It's a stupid thought process, but it is what it is at Cisco.

They are NOT looking for people who can truly troubleshoot. They are overstaffed with too many people who cannot troubleshoot.

And HR keeps telling them to spend budget, and then cut budget. The managers they hired are too scared to speak up.

Very likely short-term cost cutting to please finance. I have seen entire swathes of talented folks being let go. Folks with very hard to find skills: proper security specialists writing intrustion-prevention code. Gone. It's such a shame the ELT can't even recognize the long-lasting negative impact of LRs:

1. it deters skilled folks from joining Cisco
2. it destroys the internal morale for weeks on end and decreases productivity
3. the cost of hiring and training someone to reach the level of a LR'd senior staff member far exceeds the LR savings
4. it stresses regular personnel that doesn't quite enjoy the financial freedom ELT members do

In a nutshell, LRs are a complete admission of failure from the ELT. But guess what .. the board doesn't seem to see this as problem so everything's allright!

Limited Restructuring, my ar-e.. [It's] been going for so long now, years, it's not exactly limited. It really [does] not shine a good light on the Executive Leadership Team.

And the fact that they're having to focus more attention on certain areas or core functions, which seems to change from one year to the next, shows the ELT doesn't know what Cisco needs to focus on. They're just making wild a-s guesses (WAG) or lying to everyone to explain why they need yet another LR.

The new CFO admitted that layoffs are a failure on the part of the ELT.

I hadn't heard that. He won't be around long after that faux pas. CR and FC won't like being embarrassed like that, as true as that statement is.

Are you a white male over 50?

Maybe they'll chop the ELT next round instead.

Karma will catch up

The new CFO admitted that layoffs are a failure on the part of the ELT.

Cisco is not a performance based company. Your Director/VP probably wanted your headcount for a friend or family member.

Another reason could be that your management sacrificed you instead is because they wanted to keep their buddies around based on relationship rather merit or contributions. They did you a favor in my opinion. They had to sacrifice someone. But don't feel bad, they did you a favor. Keep on truckin!!!

And to the id--t with the rude post - the fact that they still care shows their commitment and passion for their craft.

I agree with both of the below posters. There is a 99.9% chance you were let go strictly for cost cutting measures. There is absolutely nothing you could have done about it. Cr-p happens. As a result, I also agree with that other rude poster that you should definitely move on. Life is short. Don't dwell on cr-p that happened in the past which you cannot change. Having been laid off myself it's not going to do you any good.

I suspect it was only to do with cost cutting and nothing to do with your skill set. Its a very dangerous path and I big worry. To reduce costs to make cisco look better for the shareholders maybe ok, if thats the right word for a short term, but what happens long term when engineering skills are needed to resolve a CAP case? When Segment Routing started I was on one of the early internal hands on SR beginners course. The mix of us were presales and post sales (TAC Advanced Services - CX now? ). The three guys from AS were asking very in depth questions about SR, so much so the instructor could not answer. To be fair a second follow up SR course was ran. On the call the AS guy told us he had been LR'd but was allowed to attend this 'follow up' course. He had already found another job in NY City. My point is, with his skill set it was insane to LR him because he will be needed, so frustrating. Limited Restructuring, my ar-e.. been going for so long now, years, its not exactly limited. It really dose not shine a good light on the Executive Leadership Team.

The fact that you still care proves that you're worthless. Move the F on. It was 3 years ago. Get over it.

Simple. You cost too much. You were over the median point of your pay grade, no doubt.