I might be getting laid off... is it possible to prevent it?

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jingramm

Senior member
Oct 25, 2009
779
2
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A higher level up person that I work under has scheduled a meeting for tomorrow with someone from HR. I know it has been happening to people in our company (in fact in the meeting schedule invite, he didn't even replace the name). I didn't think this lay off would come so soon. Is there something I should say during this meeting or information to gather?
This is the first time and I'm nervous about what is going to happen tomorrow. Thx

Update: I did get laid off. I hope I find something soon :(
 
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gevorg

gevorg

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 2004
5,070
1
0
get all the dirt you have on them

EDIT: on a serious note, see if you can get reference/letter of recommendation if its appropriate for your industry, should help in your job search
 
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purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,658
6,533
126
most likely they've already made up their mind. at my old job they laid off like 14 people (over 10% of the staff) and it came out of nowhere, and then immediately had a company wide meeting. then after the company wide meeting, everyone met w/their managers individually to discuss it in general.

i was told that i was close to being laid off.

in retrospect, that is the best thing that has ever happened to my career, because it got me looking much harder for a new job (I was already looking due to a bunch of other reasons).

i found one w/in a few months, received a 25% raise, and everything about my new job is better than my old job.
 
J

jingramm

Senior member
Oct 25, 2009
779
2
76
At my firm, there are different divisions. I'm going to try to fight to see if I can get aligned there and keep my job. Or even mention a pay cut. Has anyone done anything like this?

Like I said, this is my first time going through it.
 
GodlessAstronomer

GodlessAstronomer

Lifer
Oct 27, 2007
17,009
5
0
anus.jpg
 
V

Via

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2009
4,670
4
0
I'm sick and wrong....

I read " I might be getting laid, is there any way to prevent it."
 
AreaCode707

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
133
106
Layoffs are usually done for financial reasons, so there's not much you can do to avoid it if it's happening. :( Would spend some time getting your resume up to date, and I hope you have an easy time finding a new job if they do actually lay you off.
 
P

paulney

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2003
6,909
1
0
Get all your personal info from the computer, save any useful information from your email, clean your desk so that it takes less time to GTFOutta there - all well before the meeting. They will disable your account and access the minute you step into the room. The less time you spend packing under the sorrowful eyes of your colleagues, the better. That is, if they give you such an opportunity rather than escorting you straight out the door.

The decision has been made, you have very little chance of influencing it. Collect all your papers (COBRA, final paycheck, etc) and don't forget to speak your mind to HR during the exit interview if you get any. Don't be coy. They don't care, so you shouldn't either.
 
C

Corporate Thug

Lifer
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
jingramm said:
A higher level up person that I work under has scheduled a meeting for tomorrow with someone from HR. I know it has been happening to people in our company (in fact in the meeting schedule invite, he didn't even replace the name). I didn't think this lay off would come so soon. Is there something I should say during this meeting or information to gather?
This is the first time and I'm very nervous about what is going to happen tomorrow. Thx
Click to expand...

I imagine you are at will so there is nothing you can really do. Just make sure you don't leave any confidential info/doc on your comp.
 
foghorn67

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
paulney said:
Get all your personal info from the computer, save any useful information from your email, clean your desk so that it takes less time to GTFOutta there - all well before the meeting. They will disable your account and access the minute you step into the room. The less time you spend packing under the sorrowful eyes of your colleagues, the better. That is, if they give you such an opportunity rather than escorting you straight out the door.

The decision has been made, you have very little chance of influencing it. Collect all your papers (COBRA, final paycheck, etc) and don't forget to speak your mind to HR during the exit interview if you get any. Don't be coy. They don't care, so you shouldn't either.
Click to expand...
This helps a bit.
I was laid off during a massive, err, layoff. We knew the drill. I saw this happen three times earlier in the year.
The day before I was laid off, we got word this one was going to be big. So everyone packed up their personal stuff and organized any equipment or things owned by the company. Each department had a conference room of their own for the ordeal. Gave us a sympathetic speech, and said what to expect. We went downstairs where I had my laptop and BlackBerry ready to hand in. And they handed me a box of my personal stuff I already wrangled up the day before. Also got the schedule for the severance and vacation payouts.
We went to Dave and Busters to celebrate. The folks that weren't laid off had the day off.
The company was medium sized, but we all felt like it was very tight knit. It wasn't uncommon for everyday folks like me to be buddies with company officers.
It felt like a big party ended, or a family splitting up to relocate. Very emotional. After the daytime party ended at d&b, we went to Fox Sports Bar and Grill (no longer there) at night. Most of the company officers showed up to buy us drinks and reminisce of good times.

1)Separate your personal stuff on your desk. Take the bigger stuff with you after hours.
2)Remove personal data from company computers, laptops, phones. Throw them on a flash drive.
3)Don't be afraid to ask for references. I got a boatload of references from folks even outside my department.

Do everything with discretion. Don't make a scene. Try to make it look like you aren't expected to be laid off.
I did my packing after hours. My boss was the one that had to gather everyone's stuff. I didn't want make her work any harder than it was.
 
J-Money

J-Money

Senior member
Feb 9, 2003
552
0
0
You could apply for a job in a country that isn't going down the shitter.

Or kill someone who isn't being laid off and take their spot.

Any peers that may be illegal immigrants?

But realistically if it happens, don't be dramatic and angry because it'll hurt chances of a reference. Be understanding even if you aren't, thank them for the opportunity and try to get some references. You never know, could be the best thing to happen to you if you land a way better job. And you'll need the references for it.

<-- Married to Certified HR Professional
 
highland145

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,338
136
Who was it a while back that had video of the boss swiping the bathroom key, after hours, with some woman? Wondering if they still employed.

OP, send out resumes.
 
V

Vic Vega

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2010
4,535
4
0
Get two letters of reference... one stating why you have been laid off, one not mentioning it.
 
Wyndru

Wyndru

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2009
7,318
4
76
The last time I got laid off it was really sudden. I walked in and immediately they brought me into a conf room with just my boss and he was actually trembling. I was calmer than he was (it didn't take long for me to realize what was going on).

There isn't much you can say or do, you just have to deal with it. He mentioned that if budget changed in the future they would call me, but I'm sure that's just to loosen the tension in the room more than anything else. They had laid off 30 people that day and I guess some decided to go out either stealing stuff or making a scene, so I was escorted back to my desk to collect my things, then escorted out.
 
Macamus Prime

Macamus Prime

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2011
3,108
0
0
There is no stopping it.

And, would you really want to stay with a company you have to beg to stay? I suggest moving on. Be diplomatic about leaving, don't burn any bridges and move on.

If they offer a work training program to help you find employment, take it.

Now, here is a horror story of sorts when it comes to lay offs. One dude was pulled into the room and as soon as he saw the HR person his reaction was "you have got to be shitting me". We shall call this dude, Tim.

Tim did NOT allow his then manager and HR person to talk or walk him through the lay off process (severance, etc). He said that if they lay him off, he will report the company to the IRS for evading payment of taxes on it's employees. This company had a practice/policy of hiring consultants and keeping them past the 6 month mark as consultants. He was the one responsible for pulling this practice/policy off. So, he had details records and savings reports of how much money the company was making (saving) off of this approach.

They ended up doubling his severance package and made him sign an agreement to keep his mouth shut about the details of his job at this company.

OP, unless you have some nice steaming dirt on your company, just be polite and leave. And, even if you DO have a steaming pile of dirt on your company, you still have to leave - you just end up getting a bit more $$$ on the way out.
 
Jeffg010

Jeffg010

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2008
3,435
1
0
I have seen several lay offs over my 13 years at my work place. We are a very large company that has grown to 50k+. The first week I started as an intern and I was removing PCs from whole departments and felt like the grim reaper, some people left right away some stayed a few more weeks until the end.

Then a couple years later the big one hit and every department had to cut at least one and every contractor was out the door. I was still a temp and was a couple of years into doing PC work when this all went down. Right before all the cuts I was e-mailed out of the blue for a full time job. I ended up taking it and that save my job. They wanted to get rid of anther guy on the team because he was stupid when it came to supporting computers.

I remember we were all in a conference room and the department manager came in and stated mumbling crap and started to cry. Ya the mood that day was not good. 1000s of people were let go.
 
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