Thread regarding Chevron Corp. layoffs

HR is there for management. As a former manager at Chevron, I can tell you with 100% certainty that HR is not there for the employees, it is there for the managers/supervisors. Don't trust them to help to help you. Whatever you ask them, will be communicated to your supervisor.

You actually can be laid off while on medical leave if it's a "no fault" layoff. You just can't have the reason you are laid off be that you are on medical leave.

I'd be careful saying that by law you have to have your severance'

No company is required by law to give severance.

However, you cannot be laid off while in medical leave, that IS by law.

Chevron has to wait for you to come back to then lay you off, and that's when you'll find out if you will have your severance. But to cover themselves from discrimination lawsuit, most likely they will give you the same severance as everyone else.

Do the surgery as scheduled. Your health always comes first. Plus, getting it over with means you will be able to job search that much sooner, if you are let go. You won't miss out on severance although your STD payouts will take the place of any redeployment time you are given. Being on STD does not change your last date with the company.

I would definitely go ahead with the surgery, especially since it has been scheduled for so long already.

Notifications for left-standing will be April 7-11 so will know you fate anyway.

Trust me, you will NOT lose out on getting your severance if you are left standing, even if you are required to stay home recuperating after a medical procedure. It's the law. Make sure your supervisor and HR are well-informed that your surgery is already scheduled and necessary. Do that by email and after getting their response, print it and take it home for your records. My motto is always CYA.

I went through this! The timing for you is interesting as it was for me. You will go on Chevrons short term disability program. You probably have 6 months full pay (if you have been there over a year). You will get your severence. So here is a probable scenerio. You will go on STD for procedure, STD gives you every benefit as a full employee ( you have medical). You will recieve your STD payments until you are released. Let's say 6 months. After 6 months you will then be terminated. It's that simple. You will already have your severence. Here are few points.

● It is not that Chevron will try and screw you it just incompetent employees. So don't get paranoid.

● You will have a contact from STD company that is competent

● FMLA does not apply to a person in a large layoff

● You will have to manage this more closely than if you were at another company, but not a big deal!

Good luck and don't panic. It all comes together.

Thank you for your reply. The surgery is medically necessary, but I would not want it to cost me the severance if I happen to be left standing.

If your surgery is medically necessary and not elective, keep your appointment or have it done as soon as possible. That's my opinion. Your health is more important than a job. If you are laid off, you get 6 months of subsidized COBRA medical insurance at the same employee rate. After that, who knows? Unsubsidized COBRA is expensive and if you are still recuperating from surgery, that might preclude you from searching or starting a new job. Don't ever put off healthcare if you are able to afford it. Best of luck. Hopefully you are able to stay at Chevron.

If you're in ca, I'd wait and get state disability after your six weeks redeployment period it's over. Pays way better than unemployment.