Thread regarding Qualcomm Inc. layoffs

Anonymous147817, I've seen correspondence from someone in ER that says that the severance does not have to be repaid, even if you rejoin within a year. When/if I receive a severance package, I'll be sure to look at the terms in great detail.

147949: That depends. You need to be particularly careful of language used in a General Release clause. That essentially describes your pre-determined settlement agreement to any listed type of lawsuit, and will be enforced as such, so long as the signer agreed "knowingly and voluntarily." On the one hand, it usually isn't much; on the other hand, it's more than you'd get if you had to wait for some sleazebag attorney to file a class/collective action. And you don't have to hire an attorney to get it. BUT an employer cannot make you sign a release in order to get benefits to which you are already entitled, such as WARN Act pay and benefits, vested rights to exercise options, vacation/sick pay, pensions, COBRA, etc. See the following website for more information: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda_severance-agreements.html

Briefly, and in lay terms, this is how the WARN Act (and Cal-WARN) works. Since QCOM is laying off/terminating over 500 employees in at least the San Diego facility, the WARN Act applies. You are entitled under federal and state statutes to Notice, and the 60 days pay and benefits--regardless of whether you stay or leave. The purpose of the 60 days pay is to assist employees who are attempting to retrain or find work, so it would be a violation of public policy for the employer to say you had to stay and continue working obscene hours because we are short-handed because of the excessive influence of Barry JANA "stupid" on the Board of Directors. Benefits include your health care under the Plan; however if you take a job with another employer, you will have to convert to their health care plan. COBRA is an entitlement, provided you are willing to pay for it, when the 60 days is up. (Just as an FYI, there are also Conversion (private) health insurance plans with United or other insurers that are much less expensive than COBRA.) When you leave the company, you are also entitled to your accrued vacation pay, sick pay, and holiday pay that may apply for that pay period. Vested stock options usually must be exercised within 30 days of leaving the company, however that may have changed. The Severance Package--or GTFO--is something entirely different. This is money that the company pays as a goodwill gesture/"lovely parting gift" or to insure that you won't sue them for any wrongs or "butthurt" you may be feeling. The GTFO package is "optional." The employer doesn't have to give you one.

What if you ate wrongfully terminated due to a disability, genderor, race or retalition for whistleblowing. Does signing the severance package waver make qualcomm immune to illegal activities such as above?

If you term before 11/20, you will miss the RSU vesting - good incentive to stay for many. The severance package will also likely be conditioned on staying during the full 60 WARN notice period.

Guys you can do the following, once you get the notification and severance package just say "I cannot stay for two months" I will sign but remove the 2 months of pay offered in the package and done deal, they cannot force you to sign and yes they are "so kind and generous" to tell you Get out after these many years....

Insurance can be purchased viA COBRA they can't deny that as it is the law. Now COBRA is expensive but if you need insurance that badly for 8 weeks you should stay. If not and you don't have a lot of RSUs or options left to vest then Why Wait?

Insurance can be purchased viA COBRA they can't deny that as it is the law. Now COBRA is expensive but if you need insurance that badly for 8 weeks you should stay. If not and you don't have a lot of RSUs or options left to vest then Why Wait?

Actually you are wrong. If you egtbrehir d within the year you have to return the severance (prorated).

Anonymous147791, Qualcomm does rehire people who have been previously let go. Also, if you get laid off and receive a severance package, and then later get rehired, there is no stipulation that you must repay any money. As for whether anyone might want to rejoin is a totally different question. I would guess that very few people would want to.

@Anonymous147614

Qualcomm is one bridge I will never recross. I'm sure from an HR standpoint they don't rehire terms. I've heard of people leaving and coming back but never heard of someone PIP'd out our let go, coming back. Why would you want to? Just put a QC friend on your resume. HR and management are just not trustworthy.

Anonymous147771, where did you read/see that? From what I can tell from reading state law employment websites, it would appear that, for the vast majority of employees based in California, there is zero legal right to severance. If a severance package is offered, it is so Qualcomm gets you to sign away your right to sue. The idea that Qualcomm is doing good to the employee by offering a 'transition' package is nonsense. It's entirely so that former employees don't sue the company. If it wasn't, they wouldn't stipulate your release of rights to sue in the "severance agreement".

Makes sense if your severance will be very small and you have a new job lined up. Severance pay is taxable, so you'll likely lose about 40% of it. Most people's joining bonuses that they get in a new job after QCOM will dwarf their severance, so don't stay unless you need to.

According to the law, once you receive the notification you are no longer required to stay so basically they have to give you the severance immediately as you were fired, HR cannot asked you to stay, this will be ilegal!!

makes perfect sense, they want to get rid of you so you leave 2mo early to screw them, yup perfect sense..

You forfeit your severance package if you don't perform in the 2 months.

Ever hear the term "burning bridges"? Not a wise thing to do

Except that you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't have alternative insurance options. The insurance would expire at the end of sept vs at the end of nov. after the notice, just work from home every day