6 people at work got fired yesterday

[Ruptga]

It's always a good time to be fired. If you aren't being valued(or not providing value) then you are just taking up space and time. Time for these 6 to look forward and find an opportunity to seize upon. I've been fired before (Boss's kid "needed" my job) and all it did was motivate me to move forward. No one "owes" you anything other than the paycheck you exchange your time for. I'm sick of people expecting more than they agreed to when it comes to "jobs" or "careers".

As Magnus said, treating employees right is in the company's best interest for a long list of reasons. As for what we're all owed, I'd say we are all owed a little dignity and respect. It used to be called common decency, but these days that's about as plentiful as common sense... Whatever, people have always been douchebags, we're just more up front about it these days.

Depending upon what's in the employees' contract, they may be entitled to their bonus, either prorated or in full, but I'd bet my balls that the necessary lawyer and court fees would be just as much or more than the bonus.

If I were in a position of authority in that company and I had people I legitimately needed to fire at the end of November, I'd give them any bonuses they'd earned, prorated according to how much of the year they had worked for the company.

I'm sick of people defending eminently selfish and foolish decisions on the basis that they can do whatever the fuck they want because they're in charge. Might doesn't make right in the civilized world. That shit doesn't fly when pirates ask for $10M in exchange for your ship, and that shit doesn't fly when a suit asks for hard work and endless loyalty in exchange for stability, decent pay/bonuses, upward mobility, and the ability to take back any of the above on his whim.

 

[KlokWyze]

As Magnus said, treating employees right is in the company's best interest for a long list of reasons. As for what we're all owed, I'd say we are all owed a little dignity and respect. It used to be called common decency, but these days that's about as plentiful as common sense... Whatever, people have always been douchebags, we're just more up front about it these days.

Depending upon what's in the employees' contract, they may be entitled to their bonus, either prorated or in full, but I'd bet my balls that the necessary lawyer and court fees would be just as much or more than the bonus.

If I were in a position of authority in that company and I had people I legitimately needed to fire at the end of November, I'd give them any bonuses they'd earned, prorated according to how much of the year they had worked for the company.

I'm sick of people defending eminently selfish and foolish decisions on the basis that they can do whatever the fuck they want because they're in charge. Might doesn't make right in the civilized world. That shit doesn't fly when pirates ask for $10M in exchange for your ship, and that shit doesn't fly when a suit asks for hard work and endless loyalty in exchange for stability, decent pay/bonuses, upward mobility, and the ability to take back any of the above on his whim.

CADsortaGuy was saying don't have the expectation that your company "will treat you with respect". 9/10 they won't. They are using you to make money. It's a fucking contract to exchange your time for their money, etc.

It's up to YOU to decide what you are going to get paid. What YOU are worth. Go into the situation expecting all this morale bullshit and feelings just makes you look like a fucking pussy. You will get a shit contract, paid nothing and probably be the first one to go whenever they don't feel like paying out that year.

You sound naive.

 

[alkemyst]

It's always a good time to be fired. If you aren't being valued(or not providing value) then you are just taking up space and time. Time for these 6 to look forward and find an opportunity to seize upon. I've been fired before (Boss's kid "needed" my job) and all it did was motivate me to move forward. No one "owes" you anything other than the paycheck you exchange your time for. I'm sick of people expecting more than they agreed to when it comes to "jobs" or "careers".

It doesn't always work like that and your hate about your situation shines through. I hope you don't bring this story up at every function.

It's really hard today for many to find a good job.

It's really easy today for many companies to RIF.

What's sad is they no longer do it out of seniority, they do it out of who is cheap to keep.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

CADsortaGuy was saying don't have the expectation that your company "will treat you with respect". 9/10 they won't. They are using you to make money. It's a fucking contract to exchange your time for their money, etc.

It's up to YOU to decide what you are going to get paid. What YOU are worth. Go into the situation expecting all this morale bullshit and feelings just makes you look like a fucking pussy. You will get a shit contract, paid nothing and probably be the first one to go whenever they don't feel like paying out that year.

You sound naive.

You sound like a corporate drone. We're complaining about management who don't do what they say they will and only act in their own best interests and not the company's. It's Not about morale and it's not bs. It's about professionalism (pro tip : getting paid doesn't make you a professional), long term profitability and, retention of highly trained workers.

 

[BUTCH1]

It's always a good time to be fired. If you aren't being valued(or not providing value) then you are just taking up space and time. Time for these 6 to look forward and find an opportunity to seize upon. I've been fired before (Boss's kid "needed" my job) and all it did was motivate me to move forward. No one "owes" you anything other than the paycheck you exchange your time for. I'm sick of people expecting more than they agreed to when it comes to "jobs" or "careers".

No, it "always" isn't, when your over 50 and this happens to you, get back to us and see if your so ballsy then. Is it wrong to expect loyalty if you've given your work all you can and try and make yourself valuable, train new people and still get canned??.

 

[KlokWyze]

It doesn't always work like that and your hate about your situation shines through. I hope you don't bring this story up at every function.

It's really hard today for many to find a good job.

It's really easy today for many companies to RIF.

What's sad is they no longer do it out of seniority, they do it out of who is cheap to keep.

Not sure who would NOT hate a situation like that.... lol

What's RIF?

 

[KlokWyze]

You sound like a corporate drone. We're complaining about management who don't do what they say they will and only act in their own best interests and not the company's. It's Not about morale and it's not bs. It's about professionalism (pro tip : getting paid doesn't make you a professional), long term profitability and, retention of highly trained workers.

What is your point? I mean, what business doesn't have some self-serving assholes in it? Maybe it's the company's best interest to fire these people and not have to pay out $300,000. I mean that sounds like a great deal. =P

Professionalism.... some people are truly professional, but this is rare. Most people that would describe themselves as professional have no fucking clue what it means.

 

[alkemyst]

Not sure who would NOT hate a situation like that.... lol

What's RIF?

Reduction In Force.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

What is your point? I mean, what business doesn't have some self-serving assholes in it? Maybe it's the company's best interest to fire these people and not have to pay out $300,000. I mean that sounds like a great deal. =P

Professionalism.... some people are truly professional, but this is rare. Most people that would describe themselves as professional have no fucking clue what it means.

That is my point. Just because every company has assholes doesn't mean join them or leave. My professionalism demands I push back and require them to follow the same standards they ask of me. It's why I work for people instead of companies. The company may sign my check but, management knows I hold them personally responsible.

 

[1prophet]

It's been going on far longer than Obama 's been around you partisan hack.

Yes it has, but why is the new Captain of the good ship America staying the course by filling his administration with Goldman Sachs types and other Wall Street wannabees, not putting in jail Banksters, signing of new union busting free trade agreements with foreign governments and not trying to reverse or at the very least change the course of his predecessors which is eroding the middle class?

 

[KlokWyze]

That is my point. Just because every company has assholes doesn't mean join them or leave. My professionalism demands I push back and require them to follow the same standards they ask of me. It's why I work for people instead of companies. The company may sign my check but, management knows I hold them personally responsible.

Hmmmmm. I'm not advocating being an asshole. I'm advocating looking out for yourself and not expecting every company or manager out there to give you "what you deserve".

So.... how do you remain absolutely professional with assholes that don't cooperate with you? People that are openly antagonistic or uncooperative?

 

[1prophet]

It's always a good time to be fired. If you aren't being valued(or not providing value) then you are just taking up space and time. Time for these 6 to look forward and find an opportunity to seize upon. I've been fired before (Boss's kid "needed" my job) and all it did was motivate me to move forward. No one "owes" you anything other than the paycheck you exchange your time for. I'm sick of people expecting more than they agreed to when it comes to "jobs" or "careers".

When you were fired were you providing value at the time?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Hmmmmm. I'm not advocating being an asshole. I'm advocating looking out for yourself and not expecting every company or manager out there to give you "what you deserve".

So.... how do you remain absolutely professional with assholes that don't cooperate with you? People that are openly antagonistic or uncooperative?

I speak calmly and reiterate my job responsibilities and theirs. They always hate to be reminded of their responsibilities. It also doesn't hurt to have more experience and education than management. Although, that's not hard to do these days. 😀

 

[alkemyst]

I speak calmly and reiterate my job responsibilities and theirs. They always hate to be reminded of their responsibilities. It also doesn't hurt to have more experience and education than management. Although, that's not hard to do these days. 😀

So why aren't you higher paid and / or management?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

So why aren't you higher paid and / or management?

Because I enjoy being a Chef. I get extremely frustrated with those who think meetings are work. The sad fact is that the majority of food service employees whether management or workers get paid very poorly while being held to very high standards. The job while honorable, simply isn't respected in the U.S.

 

[OverVolt]

CADsortaGuy was saying don't have the expectation that your company "will treat you with respect". 9/10 they won't. They are using you to make money. It's a fucking contract to exchange your time for their money, etc.

It's up to YOU to decide what you are going to get paid. What YOU are worth. Go into the situation expecting all this morale bullshit and feelings just makes you look like a fucking pussy. You will get a shit contract, paid nothing and probably be the first one to go whenever they don't feel like paying out that year.

You sound naive.

Mondragon would so never hire you 😛

 

[IEC]

Having formerly been on the other end (management) I will say this:

Letting six people go around the holidays is pretty damn lame, and the timing certainly seems fishy.

HOWEVER, in my experience:
Someone may seem to be an okay worker and a friendly person to work with, but they might actually be causing more work and/or harming the company's reputation... and when HR comes to you at the end of the quarter/year/whatever and wants the list of bottom performers... you're not going to list your best people. Guess who makes the list.

Under legal/HR advice we were never allowed to discuss the reasons for an employee leaving/being let go. My workplace was a GOOD one, so it wasn't because the reasons were bad/lame/whatever - just in order to avoid the blood sucking attorneys some mediocre college grad prima donna might employ after getting the boot, because they OBVIOUSLY were GREAT at their job despite killing the production server and losing $millions in downtime costs.

 

[Ruptga]

CADsortaGuy was saying don't have the expectation that your company "will treat you with respect". 9/10 they won't. They are using you to make money. It's a fucking contract to exchange your time for their money, etc.

It's up to YOU to decide what you are going to get paid. What YOU are worth. Go into the situation expecting all this morale bullshit and feelings just makes you look like a fucking pussy. You will get a shit contract, paid nothing and probably be the first one to go whenever they don't feel like paying out that year.

You sound naive.

I sound naive because I'm talking about what OUGHT to be, not grousing about what IS. Most people (around my factory, anyway) think philosophy is what's on posters in the break room, and morale is why Jesus hates the gays. Getting them to add three two-digit numbers at once requires a calculator or a pencil. I adjust what I say and how I say it according to who I'm talking to at the time.

Anyway, reading a few more posts, it seems this was all just a misunderstanding. I'm all about looking out for yourself and not expecting every company or manager out there to give you "what you deserve," because the majority of them just don't. It just grinds my gears when they arbitrarily screw people because I know there are better ways to do business, and I mean better for everyone involved.

 

[Elixer]

If ever I ran a company it would be customers and employees first. I would make it a great and secure place to work, and also make sure the customers are happy and that the product is good. I would do everything to increase morale which in the end would lead to happier customers. Especially once you get into the millions for profit, the rest really does not matter, it's just a number at that point. You're not spending all that money in a single life time. May as well share some of that profit in the form of bonuses, stuff around the office to make employees happier, etc..

This is the problem in this whole thread.
Lots of people don't have a clue what it takes to actually run a business, and they think, if they are only "nice" to the employees, that, that will automatically make a successful company.

You not only have to make a profit to keep in business for the current year, but you must also be able to invest in the business to continue to make profit for years down the road.

There are tons of hidden costs running a company that nobody ever talks about, they just like to talk about the 'fat cats' at the top. You should see some of the red tape that hampers growth!

I know a few small/medium companies that treated their employees like family, and when hard times came along those same employees couldn't give a rats behind about the company, they just want their $$$, and don't care about anything else except themselves. In one case, they refused to take a 5% pay cut in order to keep more people on the payroll. They rather get the full amount, and force the company to fire people.

So, you see, it goes both ways. There are some good employers, as there are employees...and some bad employers & employees.

It would be nice to hear the other side of the OP's story, from the companies view, but realistically, that will never happen.

I also don't believe that all employees automatically deserve a bonus, in my book, you have to earn it.

Now, for big conglomerates, it is a whole different ball game, with much different rules than the average business model.
I have no love for the CEOs that have a golden parachute when they did a terrible job running the company. In those cases, they don't deserve a dime.

 

[Red Squirrel]

This is the problem in this whole thread.
Lots of people don't have a clue what it takes to actually run a business, and they think, if they are only "nice" to the employees, that, that will automatically make a successful company.

You not only have to make a profit to keep in business for the current year, but you must also be able to invest in the business to continue to make profit for years down the road.

There are tons of hidden costs running a company that nobody ever talks about, they just like to talk about the 'fat cats' at the top. You should see some of the red tape that hampers growth!

I know a few small/medium companies that treated their employees like family, and when hard times came along those same employees couldn't give a rats behind about the company, they just want their $$$, and don't care about anything else except themselves. In one case, they refused to take a 5% pay cut in order to keep more people on the payroll. They rather get the full amount, and force the company to fire people.

So, you see, it goes both ways. There are some good employers, as there are employees...and some bad employers & employees.

It would be nice to hear the other side of the OP's story, from the companies view, but realistically, that will never happen.

I also don't believe that all employees automatically deserve a bonus, in my book, you have to earn it.

Now, for big conglomerates, it is a whole different ball game, with much different rules than the average business model.
I have no love for the CEOs that have a golden parachute when they did a terrible job running the company. In those cases, they don't deserve a dime.

True but you have to remember these big corporations are still making billions. No matter how hard the times are, they're racking in TONS of money. Even if they make 10% of what they made last year, they're still racking in billions. All we ask as employees from a company is for at least some loyalty. Big corporations also tend to waste tons of money on stupid stuff (just like governments do). They could streamline this stuff and make the most out of their money without anyone suffering from it (customers, or employees).

 

[AViking]

I don't think there can be another side to the story due to the way their pay is distributed. A guaranteed end of year bonus that large is ridiculous and just asking for problems. Maybe I misunderstood though. If that bonus was only for the top performers and they were never going to get the bonus in the first place then at worst the company is just terrible for not being nice enough to wait until after the holidays.

 

[Ruptga]

I see what you're saying, Elixer, but right now capital has labor at its mercy, so it's natural that most bitching would be directed at capital.

Those small companies absolutely made a mistake when they chose to treat their employees like family. Employees aren't family, but neither should they be expendable. Employees and employers are all just people, and people sometimes decide to be dicks, but a lot of that can be prevented by a little good faith and a lot of foresight.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Much of the problem can be laid at the feet of the lack (notice I did not say 'poor ') of communication. Management knows that if they make known what they're doing, they may be held accountable. Personal accountability is to be avoided at all costs. Our marketing department actually thinks (and gets away with) that being too busy is a valid excuse.

 

[Midwayman]

My favorite thing about getting laid off just before the holidays is that its nearly impossible to get HR to talk to you until mid january after all the holiday craziness. You lose a month of work just waiting on people's vacations as nobody who can approve hires is in all at the same time.