Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

I just used to ask people what grade they were in. And I meant middle school, not pay grade.

Management is kept around. VPs are compensated with giant bonus and stock plans on top of salaries > $300k. But they're not held responsible when their plans don't work out. And if they're doing layoffs, obviously their plan to make money isn't working.

UK Folks - as the paid Muppet lays you off ask them this - look them in the eyes and ask "Are you worth your salary. Are you worth your 100%+ bonus. Why don't you do the honourable thing and resign - your business "plan" failed. Your strategy failed and yet I am being punished". Make them squirm - do not walk blandly into it folks. Make them suffer.

Make it easier to layoff people if they can't object on the basis on good performance. Also remember leadership performance is measured on the number of all hands meetings they hold.

They keep track of it. It's just that you never know where you stand. Nobody is judging the performance of those that judge the rest of us. All Cisco Employees are equal, yet some are more equal than others.

I was one of the giant telecoms' ex employees who got laid of a couple years ago in my 40's. I feel for the affected folks at cisco though some of you might probably have saved a lot to weather through the upcoming unemployed days and some might not. In my case, I was called back multiple times as a contractor to work on the very same things/projects that they said "redundant". I declined. Two years later, I still get the same job/contract description from various staffing agencies asking me to come back. It's really pathetic I tell you. It's the insult of my intelligence that I declined to come back. They could have just asked me to take a pay-cut (20 or 30%), and I would gladly do so believe it or not, but they just decided to lay me off. Anyways, there's life out there guys. For some, it might be an uphill battle; for others, this is a new exciting challenge. I wish you well.

Performance? Cisco doesn't track performance at all. Do not confuse an as# kissing contest with performance.

Oh believe me. They are keeping track of your performance and your relative rank vs your peers.