Purely speculation but it seems to be the pattern since October 2024
5 replies (most recent on top)
Layoff coming on Friday..,
I’ve worked at Avaya for ten years and let me tell you, the experience has been nothing short of infuriating over the last few months. After a decade of glowing performance reviews, consistently hitting targets, and being one of the top earners in the company, I suddenly find myself at risk of losing my job. Just like that. No warning, no explanation—nothing. Absolutely disgraceful.
So, naturally, I reached out to HR to get some answers. I’ve sent multiple emails and made numerous calls to try and get any kind of clarity or even an acknowledgment. Guess what? Not a peep. It’s as if they’ve just disappeared into thin air. If I could get a response from them, I might’ve expected some sense of professionalism or urgency. Instead, I get nothing.
The local HR team in Europe is, honestly, always on holiday. I know it’s not just me—they are consistently absent, and when you escalate to the leader in Canada, you get absolutely no sense that anyone gives a toss. She’s like a walking zombie—completely disinterested, unengaged, and let’s be honest, not even remotely aware of what’s happening with the people she’s supposed to be supporting. It’s not even about poor service; it’s about a total lack of service.
I’m not the only one who’s been dealing with this appalling HR performance either. My colleagues are facing the same runaround, and when you ask HR for help, they trot out the same tired excuse: "Oh, we’re stressed out," "Oh, we’re so overburdened," "Oh, it’s too hard to keep up with everything." Well, let me tell you, every company has challenges—yet this one seems to think that’s an excuse to totally ignore its legal obligations.
It’s beyond me how a company that prides itself on being “professional” can’t even get the basics right. There are compliance issues all over the place, and I hope the company realises that not following employment contracts is more than just a poor look—it’s a quick way to find yourself in front of a magistrate. If this is how Avaya HR operates, it’s only a matter of time before the company finds itself facing much bigger problems than disgruntled employees.
Honestly, this place has become a joke. If you’re expecting any real support from HR, don’t bother. It’s as though they’ve given up completely on doing their job. You’re better off sorting your issues out on your own.
Layoff next weekend?
The layoffs come in an email early evenings, normally Tuesdays. Invitiing you to a HR call mid morning next day . Calendar invite titled Business Update. If you are the leader of the team you will have an individual email invite and a different time, normally earlier than the wider team call .
It appears that layoffs tend to occur just before upcoming All Hands Calls. Following these reductions, leadership, including PD, ML, and their team, typically deliver messages emphasizing the company’s progress while maintaining a lighthearted tone—an approach that does not resonate well with employees affected by these decisions. They have be informed by others at Avaya that their candor is disrespectful but likely it won't change.
The past two CEOs, along with the current one, have significantly impacted Avaya’s trajectory. JC previously promoted an optimistic outlook, citing stock growth, though it has since become evident that the reported numbers were not entirely accurate. AM’s tenure seemed focused on reassuring investors, employees, and customers by dismissing concerns of bankruptcy. However, this narrative ultimately proved misleading, while he personally benefited financially.
Now, under PD’s leadership, layoffs continue, despite his relatively short tenure of approximately five months. His role appears to be centered on aggressive cost-cutting, possibly positioning Avaya for acquisition at a reduced valuation. If an acquisition does not materialize, the company may face a more severe financial outcome, potentially leading to Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which seems increasingly likely. But of course PD wont care since he will still get his millions.