What are some questions I could be asking on the HR call where they let me go? I’m a U band. No stock vesting. Only ESPP. Is severance standard? Is there any negotiation on the way out or do you just take what they give you and say bye?
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- Record the meeting using non-company hardware
- Ask what JD is doing to hold himself personally accountable. Taking a $0.01 salary for the next year, giving up stock options, his weekend company jet, … nothing?
- Upload to social media
They are having thousands of these conversations. It'll be scripted. It's not their first time doing this. Take it and move on.
@dfu- whq tech laid off already?!!!
@xhu+1r64S5ob what is changed from september? How is severance calculated now? Is it fixed months salary?
Folks are walking personal items out to their cars in whq techops. We know Georgia and India are getting our jobs :(
@ldv+1r64S5ob Severance is not 2 weeks a year anymore. Your info is out of date. They changed it in September
“How do you sleep at night?”
I was laid off in the first wave in december. Here are some bits of info:
First, you pretty much take what they offer. Severance is based on years of tenure. It's roughly 2 weeks per year at around 10 years, increasing slightly for people with less tenure.
The conversation is brief and there isn't really anything to negotiate. The most urgent thing is transferring your phone # if you want to keep it, but they send everything to you in a box folder.
The worst part is I wasn't allowed to clean out my desk and am still missing a number of personal items they took away and even coworkers haven't been able to find.
If you have a Nike phone with your personal number, you may ask them about the process to get the plan transferred to your name.
There’s no negotiation. You aren’t going to hold their feet to the fire. The package is standard and you aren’t going to miss out on a benefit by not asking for it. Read the FAQ beforehand. Think of questions beforehand. Tell them ‘thanks for the opportunity’ and be done with it.
“What support or resources does the company offer to help laid-off employees transition to new opportunities or industries, and how can I best leverage these to ensure a smooth transition and secure my next role?”
Also ask about Cobra healthcare coverage details. Focus on HR not the figurehead delivering the news.
Best of luck. Cliche but what doesn’t ki-l ya makes ya stronger. Keep your head held high during this tough conversation and take the high road. Don’t act vengeful or upset. Prepare emotionally now.
In 2020 I was basically told - take it or leave it. I took it. They were fair. I am sure they will be again.
All the best to you All!
All of these questions are answered for you in the Workvivo post. Check out the personal finance Slack channel.