Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

Cisco is the top technology company when it comes to implementing layoffs having a lot of experience doing so in the past 20 years. The basis of this is Robbins flat revenue since he assumed the CEO role and brought in less than stellar ELT staff.

It is the workers that bear the burden of the ELT's lack of abilities. The layoff document that you receive to sign is quite consuming and protective of Cisco. I have known those who hired lawyers but gained no traction. No doubt there is age discrimination but that document covers them detailing all the ages of the staff that received the layoff.

It is a cr---y time to implement a layoff but I assure you there are companies out there that have much better environment than Cisco.

Sounds like is really just the standard "5% cost reduction" process. Could be 2 x younger, cheaper or 1 x older, expensive person.

Just had that meeting with my manager and his manager, this was a surprise for me, I got laid off on webex which is the team I work, brutal

I had my 1 on 1 and it went fine. I did not get a reason but was also told it was not performance based. I was told they simply had to make numbers work. The director also told me that they would personally help any way they could. No hard feelings on my end. It's business at the end of the day.

So I can at least say that my director handled it well. He was actually very compassionate but I guess it depends on who you have.

Did they give you a reason why you were selected?

Being laid off via a tool you built. That's special.

No emotion, No sympathy , Director just read the prepared script from HR to me
at the end of conversation, I just said thank you and hang up on Webex

That is such poor leadership. I notifed 3 people today and whilst I know there are some things I can/cannot say - I didn't read a script.

People deserve for you (the manager) to be prepared for that meeting. Learn what you need to say. It's the very least you can do in such an awful situation.

What about the contract workers that do the same work? There's no call or severance.

It's a cruel environment.

Last poster is definitely correct about the “giant load”

There was training for how to notify people but some managers just suck at connecting with people. I feel like there is a huge lack of empathy coupled with a giant load of “at least it’s not me.” If a person can’t have the hard conversations then they shouldn’t be in management.