As I understand it, the Wichita office lost 65 (+/-) loyal, dedicated and talented team members today, including folks with as many as 43 years of service dating back to the NCR days. NCR built the facility in 1973 and some of these folks had been working here ever since. I wish them all the best of luck, especially those who have almost-but-not-quite made it to "retirement" age.
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A number of the SolidFire engineers are recent defectors from NetApp Boulder office. I imagine they were horrified to find out NetApp had acquired SolidFire too. They will be only too familiar with the NetApp integration routine. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them hadn't already found new opportunities elsewhere. If not, they are probably in the process.
NetApp doesn't give a rats ass about their Wichita employees. Never have, never will.
They play like they do but it's just a show.
They should have stayed in CA and let the Wichita group do what the job required, as they know what to do and how to do it.
It does seem like an oxymoron, 43 years ago "tech" was on a dirt road both figuratively and literally (in Wichita the plant was on a dirt road in the country.) If I'm not mistaken, Wichita started out building NCR cash registers and over the years the business changed hands and the mission evolved to other things to what it is today. But the wichita facility was involved early on in the data storage revolution with people there who worked on the various standards like SCSI and FC for instance
Was there a typo? 43 years of service ...... or did you mean 4 years and 3 months.
If it is 43 years, then you shouldn't be complaining, Tech and 43 years of service is an oxymoron.
Anyways at 43 years of service, one must be close to or past 65, so better get the heck out and enjoy the reminder of your life.........
You guys still don't get it. The long term strategy for Netapp is .... uh .... wait .... no .... TO BE SOLD!!! Wring your hands about unfairness to long-time employees all you want. It doesn't matter. Priorities are (1) reduce cost (layoffs), (2) enhance value (Solidfire), (3) raise stock price (to maximize returns).
LSI Corporation's former Engenio Storage Group (ESG) was purchased lock, stock, and barrel by NTAP on May 6th, 2011. ESG and it's predecessors date all the way back to 1973 therefore those employees immediately became the longest tenured employees of NTAP even though they had not worked a single day for them prior to that day. Pretty sure the vast majority of those employees have since retired, died, or been forced into retirement (laid off)...
I don't understand. NetApp didn't exist 40 years ago. also, careers shouldn't last 40 years.
In all fairness, that's corporate America, been that way for a couple decades now; no longer is there any benevolence towards long term employees...
I find it hilarious/sad to see how many folks have said the same thing - I wish I had been laid off and got the package, they are the lucky ones, I'm just holding out to get the package, etc. So sad that one of the best workforces in technology has descended into this demoralized wreck, so hilarious that the exec team do not see what they are squandering.
Of course, I'm glad that those affected by the layoffs got a safety cushion from the company.. take a deep breathe, shake off the dust, and move on to bigger and better, it's out there! That being said, the severance weeks go by fast, dont be complacent.
Personally, I got out last summer after 7 years. I saw a good opportunity that fit my skills and took it. Opportunity to grow and learn is worth way more than any severance package. Best of luck to all - those who stayed and those who went. Depend on yourself, better days lie just ahead.
@GdZr8AX-zdv Well said!
EDIT for previous post: It'll be us that get laid off*
Let's be honest, none of us in Wichita were expecting this many people to be hit. Many of them without any good reason as to why them vs me. Even though I wasn't personally hit with a layoff yet, I and several others that are still employed are deeply impacted by watching our friends leave without prospects in a non-tech town.
These consistent layoffs show more color than any email from the top as to who the company really is and how much we're valued as employees. Yes, it's a business. Yes, many other companies are worse. That doesn't mean we're wrong when we point out how much bullshit drips from managers and execs mouth about how this time is different, that management is being transparent, about pretty much any initiative you can name in the last 3 years. Complete, utter, horse shit. We have been swallowing more work with less people for the same pay for years. Everyone is burnt out. At some point you can't blame the engineers or support anymore.
But don't worry everyone! Our next goal of being efficient is going to save us if we just believe in it. Meanwhile, EMC/Dell will undercut us. Amazon will continue to erode our revenue. And we'll become more and more stressed until each of us leave trailing one by one until the next 10% layoff same time next year.
Terrific job management and execs. You've completely destroyed the morale and nobody gives a shit anymore except to do just enough work to slide by. Maybe next time I'll be lucky and it'll be us that remain.
Seriously, 40+ years and almost retirement age and they were let go. What a stab in the back!
NetApp, you couldn't let those people transfer to a different group? It's pathetic and embarrassing how a 6+BILLION dollar company treats their most loyal long term employees.
Shame on you NetApp..... Save face and transfer those employees within the 60 days!!!