Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

The above post is not "the chuck" obviously. For whomever posted it, I'm sure they had their reasons. I also hope they are on the list so they discover empathy. It’s never the changes we want that change everything.

I think we have different views of what a grunt in the trenches is. If you are a grunt in Cisco, you have a lousy skill set. When you interview in other companies the first thing they will note is that Cisco employees do specific jobs where as in most other companies you need a broader skill set. Also, if you are a grunt in Cisco you get zero RSU's where as in the old days everyone had ownership in the company and that really did matter. If you are a grunt in Cisco your compensation is well below the Silicon Valley average(yes I am venting for Silicon Valley only). If you are in product development(engineering) you will work 3-5 active projects at a time and will be planning on another 3-5. So, why don't I f-cking leave? Well, as a grunt I have a limited skill set which is half my fault for not working at it and half Cisco for pounding me with workload. So, why don't I f-cking leave? You can't deny that Cisco has awesome benefits. As a current cancer survivor I can straight up tell you that Cisco benefits gave me medical options for great care. Now I can say if you have a decent skill set, you really have no reason not to leave. You will definitely make more money and deal with less stress. Cisco has a severe problem. In 2014 we had the mother load of layoffs to make sure we didn't have to keep with this layoff strategy. In 2015 rumors ran rampid on the next round of layoffs but in 2015 Cisco targeted layoffs to keep in hush hush. Now here we are again in 2016. Cisco preaches culture but this is the real culture that they have created. If you work in product development you know that Cisco products have a horrible quality level and it is sad, very sad because employees just don't care anymore. Let's face it they are just like me. They are here for their own reasons, they are here for the benefits, but they are definitely not here for the company. Cisco management has broken the mules back and employees could care less about the success of the company because there just isn't anything there for them other than benefits and a paycheck. I know this is a long venting message but it is Sunday night and I am depressed as f-ck that I have to go to work in 7 hours so I can interface with the Bangalore team which is working way more hours that I do(most of who will leave within a year because they have a ton of better opportunities) and truth be told I have a few beers in me because that is the only way I can face the next day. Sad oh hell ya it is.

I am a grunt in the trenches and have been for 16 years with Cisco. Look at the stock price over the last 16 years, no freebies to retirement during my time. Not sure why anyone believes Cisco owes you anything when they've sent you a paycheck every two weeks that more then feeds your family and pays the bills. If you invested just a small amount in a 401k over 10-20 year span an employee should have a nice retirement package, take responsibility for yourself as the company gave you options. I've had 16+ years of loving my job, working my tail off and loving the compensation along the way. If it all ended today I wouldn't have changed a thing. If you've kept your skills up to date there will be 100's of jobs available inside and outside of Cisco.

When many Cisco employees risked their lives in NYC during and and after 9/11 to assist customers and now living everyday with continued health fears from being on-site, Cisco execs at the time pleaded for us to stay at Cisco and retire at Cisco. Not offering an ER package is shameful.

I've been here 20 years and I knew Chuck in his early days. I find Chuck to be the answer to our problems but he has a mess to clean up. I have been extremely frustrated with my company but I certainly don't lay the blame on him. I would really like to see the company do everything they can to show tenured people more respect, give them time to find another job inside Cisco if performance isn't the issue. I can tell you that being here 20 years I have worked myself to death and health problems came with it. I am finr now but often times the mental and ohysical aspect of all this never gets considered. I am a businessman and I understand the stock market very well and the responsibility to shareholders but our great company is going to eventually suffer a talent shortage if we dont do something to correct the reputation we are developing. I think Chuck will work hard but I also think he was handed a huge mess. Good luck, Chuck! I wI'll be here!

Part of ethical business conduct is being transparent with shareholders and employees (many of whom are both)

Pro-forma accounting is fraud and you know it. Share buybacks (when the per share price is higher than the intrinsic value) is fraud and used only to enrich the senior executives.

Cisco buybacks are a waste of money.

The shares are bought at high values and immediately diluted by employee stock awards. This is supposed to increase loyalty but with the annual layoff ritual, it actually creates bucket loads of resentment. Why not instead drop the layoffs and invest in 'real' growth and innovation.

Some people need to get canned (always true) but it should be done throughout the year. It is lazy and unethical to let poor employees stay on so you can do a mass LR and avoid the difficulty of culling based on merit.

I hope I get LR'd. I am so disappointed in Cisco

Ok, I read your comments. Why don't you just f-cking leave?