@pc correct. In higher ed there are now only 12 (down from 35). expect the same elsewhere in the company.
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Working here is akin to the chaos in Trump Admin. For supposedly smart people, the ET looks really stupid. Black eye for the Ivy League. lol
Farewell dear friends - enjoy your well deserved and earned time off
@q6 I know people say stuffs like "it's probably for the best". But IT IS for the best. Everyone will be terminated eventually. It's only a matter of time. So one can keep working in this toxic environment or, hopefully, go somewhere better. Working here is akin to holding onto a toxic partner.
@q5 honestly, glad to be off the ship
@n4 It's a sinking ship indeed!
@n4 Is Learning Manager the new title for Learning Designer in Higher Ed?
@mc come on, be a big brave boy and give your name. You have a lot to say, so say it with your chest. Or is your bravado only for hiding behind an anonymous forum? I’m betting your personality is about as impressive as the jolly rancher in your pants.
How many layers of different levels of reps and managers that are all doing the same thing can one company have. Seriously. Another useless reorg and colossal waste of money.
They posted for the new Learning Manager positions today. Feel bad for any fools who apply for those jobs. And for any LDs who are now Learning Managers that are left—get out while you can. It’s a sinking ship!
@m8 I saw that. CEOs are sh---y.
@mv likely DP or KG. Lurkers here and really brave.
@mn 100%. Cengage couldn't make money for the life of them, so they looted the other profitable BU's over the last 15 years. Now they have run those into the ground and there no treasure box to loot after this.
@mc who TF are you?
@me saw that email. A bunch of word salad while saying almost nothing.
@kf I agree with the "don't let this place become your identity" point. but not all orgs are like this. Cengage is uniquely positioned in a struggling market (HigherEd) with very limited K12 business (more stable and predictable) to stabilize it. It has gone through multiple rounds of private equity investment, was subject to a failed merger with McGraw (which does have significant market share in K12 to buttress against the volatility of the Higher Ed market, failed to see the expected growth from major product innovation efforts (i.e. Cengage Unlimited, Infuse), and frankly for a company that has been PE owned and backed as long as Cengage has, it's amazing Cengage got as much time as it did to try to improve and deliver better returns. PE is "over it" at this point, they want their money out of the investment and if the company collapses in the process, fine. While it is true that corporations in general don't demonstrate a lot of concern for their employees when their business is under duress, the conditions at Cengage are particularly harsh, and the number of reorgs over the past few years is far above average. That said, there are markets that are less volatile and companies that are building products in and serving those markets. So it is possible to find employment elsewhere where reorgs are not biannual to quarterly way of life. Don't let the "the next place will be just as bad" logic deter you from seeking out those opportunities.
@ma MH is an out of touch DB.
I was just forwarded an email from NK with a lot of stupid words but implies lots of lay offs happened today. The sender (AK) ended by saying to ask my manager if I want the details.
@m5 bye bye baby!
@ma business as usual. I haven’t even heard from my DM or team
@m8 saw MH LinkedIn how out of touch can he be???? Does he even know what is going on?
What roles were impacted in HED? I was part of Project Horizons layoff, I’m sorry for everyone going through this
MH just posted on Linkedin, as this was happening, that he just spent Easter in Europe with his sons. Poor timing as people are losing their jobs…
@kp I can also confirm HEd... As I just got canned.
@km that's literally what PE ownership does. Strip it down to nothing, increase prices, inflate profits and sell. They want to pay the least amt of employees as possible.
@kq Gale is basically no longer- getting folded into HEd completely. Very few reps left and they will be gone in a year after they train up the institutional reps. Last years reorg was just the start- they can't do it all at once. Have to get the HEd reps enough time to learn the products and then they lay off - will be another round this time next year.
@kp have announcements already been made or still ongoing?
@kn I heard gale lost a lot of folks across sales
@kn can confirm higher ed sales
Is this primarily targeted at Higher Ed? Mention of other BUs....any insight to timeline? Sales and Marketing???? Or other teams?
@kd - It definitely su-ks to be laid off. But I can't imagine picking up the work of those who were let go. They were already having people do that; it's only becoming worse and worse with every reorg.
@kh We all know that First Friday is BS
@kf but, but, the Cengage ethos! We put learning first! We are innovators, inclusive and accessible to all! We are guided by integrity and accountability! We have a commitment to employee wellness!
The Google coughed up this about Cengage: "People-Focused: The company values its employees, authors, and customers, focusing on holistic employee experiences that are employee-owned and manager-supported."
Anyways I'm sorry for those who were laid off in this millionth "restructuring," and sorry for us left behind. I wonder how First Friday will go tomorrow.
@kd there isn't one major company that you are not just a number. Money will always be the bottom line, cengage has re-orged literally almost every single year. Life goes on and everyone will find new job, more than likely making more money. Don't let Cengage be your identity- it's just a place to work and get a paycheck.
@ka We are faceless numbers on the payroll. Loyalty, work ethic, performance mean nothing to top executives. Not just here but any large company.
I’m not justifying or minimizing the impact. It su-ks! My heart goes out to all who have been let go… and to those who are left on pins and needles waiting to hear what this big reorg entails for them.
Stress all around.
So sorry this is happening :(. Apollo has ruined this company.
@ka they’re doing it and have done it to a ton of people. it’s not personal, it’s apollo trying to strip copper out of the walls
Why are they doing this to me?
Does anyone know how many more rounds of emails will be going out to the Sales team or if they are done with sending them?
Lots of HR emails went out a little after 5PM EST. Everyone else is in the dark as to what is going on.