Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

I'd argue that older folks at Cisco do not have fresh ideas, the ambitious Cisco employees left many years ago. The company is just a bunch of sociopaths & brown nosers

2dst - your statement is part of the problem. You just implied older folks do not have fresh ideas. It is a form of discriminatory views. You are the problem.

I think you are missing the point. Even with the statement "staying with companies as a career is not what it used to be.", csco is a big company and it has many functions. Those 2 statements combined Mean there should be some set of folks say 15%, that make it there 25 to 30 years five to ten years from now and have higher performance. However there will be close to 1 maybe 3%. The only way the larger percentage does not happen is if csco is targeting the older folks. Simple averages and law of numbers would play that out.

My kin are mostly passive-aggressive jerks who don't care about anyone but themselves, so it makes sense to me that management constantly refers to the "Cisco family."

Cisco IS a family focused company, if you work for your own family goals. Even if you aren't an executive, if you live realistically as far as saving your money and saving for retirement, and are able to avoid being LR'd...well once Cisco does finally LR you...you will be in good shape financially. Save for the future, you'll need that money after restructuring.

2dst - I'd agree that "a job for life" is probably an unrealistic expectation in todays age, especially in the private sector.

However, in terms of how some want the world to be, I don't agree with your broad assessment against those who may want to stay with a company for the long(er) term. Especially, if that company is personally liked, and may offer varied career options. Changing roles every x years for example, to develop and to learn about different environments, technologies and to build new skills. Personally, I think that Cisco could be "that" company, and I would argue that Cisco "aspires" to be "that" company.... the reality though, is that (for whatever reason) many are getting laid-off who bought into this aspiration. I don't think that this makes these folks "boring or lacking ambition" in your words.

Some folks wish to gain experience moving from company to company or setting up on their own. All good. We are all different. I suggest to take a wider and more respectful view of the world before you commit to text.

Anyone who thinks a job is for life is living in cloud cuckoo land. Who really wants to say in the same company 20 plus years. How boring and lacking in ambition is that. And how is a company meant to be innovative if all the staff join as fresh face kids and stay till they retire. Much better to have natural churn. Not sure your litmus test has much value.

I am going to ask the same question that 1iyv did. What percentage of folks will be at Cisco that have worked there for 25 to 30+ years 5 or 10 years from now? You know the number is very small and that is the litmus test of age discrimination. The net result tells the truth.

Oh I am sure there will be arguments that "they left on there own". The record of who left on there own vs who was forced out thru lr past 15 or 20 years of service tells a different story.

From someone hoping to get LR'd in the next few weeks in Europe - otherwise I'll be leaving anyway - i think the whole "Cisco family" ideals went out the door with Chambers but was never much more than words. There are good and decent people here in Cisco; talent that will be appreciated outside of here, but the environment is toxic now and that has been caused by decisions at management and leadership levels and is ruining the company like a cancer.

I don't think judging the culture based on your anger after getting LR'ed is fair. I am LR'ed too but I felt more than a culture issue my LR was a result of bad leadership decisions and lack of ownership and vision on the leaders of my group. I had the opportunity to work with some of the gem of people with whom I am still friends with outside work. I never felt isolated because of my gender or race. I was fortunate to have tremendous support from my manager and my team when I needed it the most cause of some personal needs. Up until things went downhill and business wasn't looking bright. LR is a business decision not personal. Having said that, I don't thing I would ever want to come back to work at Cisco, not because culture is corrupt or people are bad but because it (the ELT) doesn't know what they are doing? there is no plan no vision.

Most of Cisco is not s-xist - but there are pockets of rampant s-xism, primarily in Public Sector

The claims of diversity are bogus for the same simple reason that by and large the workforce is whatever was there before Cisco acquisition and from there it is just layoffs so whatever equal-opportunity policy Cisco has - it has no impact.

The notion that women are being targeted is utter crap. In my round of layoffs last year, the vast majority of those affected were men. Sure, there were a few women here and there, but the majority were men 50+.

Ivjg - very true ageism is the worst discrimination going on at Cisco. The lr formula they use indirectly reflects that. Anyone that doesn't understand that is fooling themselves. Unless you leave you will eventually be impacted too. Here is the test - The percentage that will make it there for a 25 to 30 year career 10 years from now is probably no greater than 3%.

Don't appreciate the note inferring that men over 50 are by default "deadwood." S-xism and discrimination on basis of national origin are rampant at Cisco but ageism outweighs them all.

Cisco Operations is the definition of keeping women down. Fit RJ's culture of incompetence & bullying or get out of the company.

The biggest enemy of woman at Cisco, is another woman. The women here keep other women down. Trust me I see it all the time. - A Woman of Cisco.

Women are not supposed to be smart or ambitious at Cisco. Work for another company if you have a problem with that.

sorry- women are being laid off, because the "Mad Men" culture does not recognise women as capable and with a brain. The moment women show they are smarter than their boss, the boss puts them on LR.