Thread regarding Qualcomm Inc. layoffs

Wow, the signal to noise ratio on this thread is very low.

Anon98085: this thread is not about cubicles versus offices, it's about layoffs or severance->PIP->firing and unemployment insurance eligibility. When you say "targeting old guys" is common, do you mean layoff or PIP/severance?

Anon98081 (the post calling out "HR scumbags"): I hope you don't mean the posts made simply asking the OP's Division were made by HR? I can assure you they were not. In fact, the only HR on this thread appears to be Anon97934, attempting to stifle information that has nothing to do with protecting anonymity.

The OP's point is very old-fashioned. QCOM's engineer office was a long time ago, now most of the engineers are in cubics (some used to call it "cubic farms". RSU is not special in many of the big companies. As the size of the company grows, bonus is getting much lower. They used to offer options instead of cash bonus long time ago. For the past few years, they did hired many NCGs, but their cost is not really low as many think. The company raised the base salary more than 15 to 20% for getting them on board. Many old guys only get salary raise of %3 annually.

They keep getting rid of old guys for a long time. Actually everyone can be replaced in this mature market. Targeting old guys is not just for the cost, but also lower down the management risk. They want these experience and knowledge can kept inside the company and transfer to young people instead of kept on some old guys only.

Nosy and shady at the same damn time. Typical HR-scumbag's traits.

The intention is to see if OP is speaking about a policy within a particular division that is not uniform across the organization. OP started this thread by saying "Qualcomm does not layoff engineers", a highly dubious blanket claim, then further clarifies saying "Maybe there's been a lay-off of engineers at some point in the past, but if so, it was not in my department (I've been there a long time)." Knowing the division would be an obvious alert to those in that division that at least one department may have such a brutal policy, basically severing or firing admittedly qualified, even well performing individuals. Such an absolutist approach may even constitute layoff evasion or age discrimination, going beyond the bounds of "this is just business", as the callous OP causally spews.

why do you need to know Anonymous97386's division? What is your real intention?

Poster asked for division, not department. There are thousands per division, so how is there any anonymity risk?

QREF

Anonymous97386, do NOT give out your department information. Keep things anonymous.

OP/anon97386: It would be helpful if you could give us a clue about the division you work in? CRD? QMT? QCA? QCT? QUiC?

I you are an engineer and can move anywhere in the US for work, where would you move to?

Employment lawyers are going to do well in San Diego.

Did anyone hear of the coming cuts? I heard it is department wide with focus on teat engineers(pdt, pte, mst)

Anonymous97482 is right on the spot! Resigning from a job or getting fired will be categorized as "dismiss". It's very different from getting laid off. Getting laid off will qualify you for unemployment benefits. You have no idea how fast your savings will run out when you're unemployed with a mountain of bills to take care of. When you think you are being targeted for unfair dismissal, you should start document every single thing in details. Save the updated copy daily on your personal computer as well. If you're lucky, a good lawyer will make sure that you will never have to work another day in your life again. Happy early retirement.

Remember The Firm (Grisham)? You get the regular work for a while and get the salary and a loan for a house. After you are tied down by the house and kids’ tuition, you are forced to do the dirty work. At that point you can neither quit nor go to the authority. You are trapped. Don’t think about the options.

Anonymous97480, you might have underestimated an individual's violent behaviors. For some people, their jobs are everything to them. Thus, they won't give a f*ck!

Be careful if you are targeted and forced to make decision either to take lay-off package or PIP!

I have heard some who signed the agreement and took several month lay-off package were not able to receive the unemployment pay from CA state, since the company told the government they resigned.

The HR guys always tell you that you can still get unemployment pay, but once you sign it, your fate is under their control and you have constructed a perfect legal foundation that disqualifies you to receive unemployment pay. Actually you are not laid-off in this case, but you still have change trying to claim your unemployment pay. If you have mortgage and you are not sure if you can get another job in short term, you might need to think about unemployment pay which typically is 450 per week up to 9+ month. If you are in WARN notice, which not every department applies, they have to tell you at least 2 month earlier or 2 month pay. Just keep clam and think about what is your need once you were forced to make choice. Work hard!

QCOM lay's off engineers, anyone who says otherwise just doesn't know the truth.

As far as employees getting violent, that's a joke, you going to throw away any future employment in this industry by attacking your boss because you have a last day and IOT isn't going well? No, you are not.

If it's a large layoff standard package is 3 months. If it's a voluntary severance (meaning an individual on a pip offered a severance or An offer to IOS (hard coming off a PIP but can be done if you have contacts) then they usually give you 2.5 weeks per year of employment or 3 months whichever is more. For example: for 10 years of service you would get 30 weeks. A large scale layoff is a whole different ballgame and you have to treat everyone the same as far as severance.

You also have to know each department runs a bit differently depending on leadership. Offers for voluntary severance are discretionary based on the circumstances.

@97386: You said “You should consider yourself a business as well. You sell your expertise and ability.” What if a manager said bend over (physically) and I will give you a raise? Selling your body is a business, and pleasing someone does take skills.

Anonymous97386, how can you let some employees know in advance that they'll get cut unless you meant WARN layoff notices (60-day notices)? It'll be a dumb move if you let people know that they're about to get cut and still allow them to come to work. Certain individuals are violent when their backs/jobs are against the wall/on the line. Performance reviews are a joke. I've witnessed talented engineers, who were exceptionally rated year after year, that got cut because they didn't get along with stupid managers.

For those still claiming QCOM lays off engineers- No, they don't. Maybe there's been a lay-off of engineers at some point in the past, but if so, it was not in my department (I've been there a long time). They do lay off people from non-engineering positions though. I know some who were laid-off. They were told in advance about it and given a severance package that included a baseline number of weeks, plus time for each year of employment. I participate in this process (in engineering). We identify the lowest x% (whatever we're told to cut) and start the process of firing them for poor performing below expectations. Most take the offer to resign rather than complete the PIP.

This is business. QCOM does what's best for shareholders (as they should). If you're a QCOM engineer, you should do what's best for you. You should consider yourself a business as well. You sell your expertise and ability. Keep yourself marketable and be ready to move on. That's always good advice.

The multi month baseline is the incentive on top of the 2.5 to make it voluntary so they don't have to report a layoff.

If you are out on PIP, document your efforts and fight, then you will likely get offered the package. Most people out on PIP give up in the fact of the inevitable but there is a lot to be gained by fighting it, especially unreasonable assignments and missed meetings. Don't roll over for them.

I have more assuredly seen engineers laid off, although not for several years, but if a big layoff is coming then Q will bite the bullet and do it. You can't PIP 5k people. They might be able to sell them, if they can't it will be layoffs.

Bitsy, you mean 2.5 weeks in addition to 3 months, or no multi-month baseline?

The average QCseverace is 2.5 weeks for every year you were employed plus any unused vacation and a vesting schedule of options that vest within the year. RSUs go away. You sign a covenant not to sue and you can collect unemployment . And trust me I worked there for many years, engineers do get laid off (and fired) and there is a big difference. If you are offered a voluntary severance that is the way to go but they usually do not offer it if you fail a pip and are actually fired. If you are fired no severance. But you will still get unused vacation and unemployment.

I have been a managet in qcom and have seen this happening

business circumstances forces out the low performing engineers

its a mix n match ..

anon97304, do you mean that after the 3 months the individual is not able to apply for unemployment benefits? typically those who resign cannot claim UI benefits, but perhaps there is some exception in California law.

You are wrong anon97285. I don't know of any engineer who've been laid-off from QCOM. Some probably call it being laid-off, but in reality, they are fired or resign to get the package.

Qualcomm does indeed lay off engineers, what they will do is something like give you a severence offer and tell you take it or you have 3 months and a lesser severence, give you an incentive to quit so they don't have to lady you off.

That combined with PIP.