Thread regarding Oracle Corp. layoffs

What worked for me (elsewhere) was to mentally think of myself as a consultant, not employee. No loyalty either way. I had been there 5 years. I had an office, but this would apply to a cubicle too:

--did not keep anything in the office that I would regret others seeing or that I would not want to leave behind

--to get there, I slowly removed personal papers, souvenirs and memorabilia, favorite items like pencil cups and pictures. I did this slowly, a few papers or trinkets at a time.

--to avoid attracting attention with a str#pped out/bare wall workspace I brought in "new" items l was not attached to

--the different decor and lack of personal items in my desk helped me focus on the reality of the "relationship"

--I brought in a Safeway reusable shopping bag and kept it in my desk drawer

--when the axe fell 18 months later, I put my stuff in the shopping bag and walked out. Another petson they laid off that day went on to be CTO of a major social media company.

--it is not your fault

Best to you all.

I take a mercenary view of working for any company, my services are available to the highest bidder and all full time jobs are temporary. As soon as a better gig comes along I move and never lose sleep over a job, management certainly doesn't lose sleep over you.

Last gig lasted a bit over 7 years at a company larger than the red O, finally had my fill of their BS and wound up here. When I accepted I never dreamed there could be anyplace more f'd up than where I had just left but I have to say Oracle is trying really hard to prove me wrong on that.

So now I find myself doing the interview process again looking for the next new position. No hurry, after 7 years working my way to ever deeper circles of hell at my last gig I can handle a lot more of the weirdness that is working at Oracle but ultimately it isn't a long term gig in any way, shape, or form.

If you want job security, you need to work for .gov Make sure your children understand that so they don't make the same mistake you did. The private sector is and always will be a layoff factory.

The only people that feel stressed or get stressed about the layoffs and job security are the ones that actually care about their job. My advise is to stop caring about the place, take their money and when the party ends move to a better job elsewhere.

I left Oracle. That's the best way.

But if you are preparing for the possibility of leaving... updating skills, updating resume, looking for other companies that might be interested in you.... those things are all positive things that you can do. Stress is reduced by actively doing something to improve your situation.

"For private sector jobs in the USA, job security is non-existent."

This. Everyplace I've worked at in the past 20 years was a hire and fire environment. Big and small. At the smaller places the turnover could be phenomenal. There was one place (about 100 employees) where after just 3 years about 70% of the staff present when I was hired had moved on, both voluntarily and involuntarily. Most who left of their own accord saw the hand writing on the wall. If you weren't some big wig's pal, you would eventually be let go, so most would move on after just a year or two; though it wasn't unusual to see people quite before a year has passed. It's basically like being a contractor, except you get paid time off and health insurance.

For private sector jobs in the USA, job security is non-existent. It's not just ORCL. Once you get used to this, things get easier. You can mitigate some sleepless nights by saving like crazy and building up a RIF fund for when SC decides that ORCL doesn't need you anymore.

Change your loaded diaper, powder your bum, and deal with it.

I left because I couldn't change myself so much to not care about my job and my dignity. But it's a personal choice. you need to find what makes you happier

So you kind of have two choices - use this time to look for another job, or, if you can make yourself "not care" like the other poster, do that. I found it wasn't worth waiting for a package but that's a personal choice. I just couldn't deal with the uncertainty/anxiety/worry and depressing environment. Everyone is different. A lot may depend on what you have saved, how many years of working you have left, etc

Since layoffs at the end of 2016, I have been concerned about my job security and have had anxiety resulting from this (umm wonder what the lawyers would say, another post I think), After each round, I was still here so finally about 6 months ago,I stopped caring. Now I can sleep at night. If it comes, fine, if not fine.

If you are in the US where typical employees have close to zero rights in the workplace, this is what you can look forward to. The 90s and 2000s are done. A combination of automation, downsizing/right sizing, globalism and something called monopsony power. That is when there are less employment opportunities because of rampant merger and acquisition activity over the past two decades. Remember all the handwringing and pearl clutching over the Microsoft antitrust case in the 90’s? If you are a certain age, you may. Perhaps you were a baby or not born yet? Anyway it is all connected.

What can you do about it? Same as always. 1. Find the best gig you can working for someone else, or 2. strike out on your own. There is always the FIRE movement, but that is controversial and requires you to accumulate $5million and retire at or before age 30. Not too practical.

My point is, I’ve been there. Re-tool and plan something. Doing that alone will help. There is something empowering in taking control of your life from a bad employer. And let’s be honest. Oracle is among the worst.

Good Luck. [Your religious entity of choice] Bless!

I dealt with it by leaving.

You have two ways to approach this. You either ignore it as something you can do nothing about or you get out as fast as you can.