Layoffs at work

[Rapidskies]

Pretty freaky friday, guy next to me gets the pat on the shoulder by our supervisor, goes to his office, comes back and puts his coat on and heads for the door. "I just got layed off." he said, obviously shellshocked. Then came word that three other people outside of our department were going as well. We were told that there will be no more layoffs but everyone is pretty skittish now. Bad part is I'm getting stuck with all the guys router work, good part is I have a job. Sucks, I've been with this company 14 years in different roles, and this is the first layoffs they have ever had. I feel really bad for the guy they let go, at least he is single, and very smart so he should be able to find something. I hope the economy comes around, IT is the suck right now.

 

[bleeb]

Thats why its a good idea to get out of IT. I'm finding that they are using less skilled workers or shifting the work load to other people (in your case). For example, a guy from the English department got an IT job, while a bunch of CS guys I know are jobless. Go figure?

 

[alkemyst]

Yeah that sucks, at least they didn't do something stupid to the guy like have him come in on a Saturday to work or not then lay him off after he signs the 'release'.

Also for guys reading this that may face a layoff as far as I know there is absolutely no way they can make you sign anything in order to get your final paycheck. Now if there is no reason you have not to sign, go ahead, however if you feel you were violated or wronged, don't sign anything and get an attorney/talk to one...

After my wife's INS crap is done this month we will be more than likely suing our former employer on her behalf.

H1B Visa holder contracted for 3 years.

Laid off after 1 year and given a plane ticket home (a requirement) that was cancelled the next day by the company which claimed it would be helping an illegal alien since she was no longer employed.

Reason for layoff was she asked why she had to work 10 hour days with no lunch break and everyone else worked 8-10 with a lunchbreak. She also had to work Sat and Sun for any holiday she took or make up 16 hours of time during the next pay period . Also she was the only one paid half what every other employee was making (the company believed in paying a flat rate to all employees)...as the only woman and a minority at that, as well as a VISA worker a labor attorney will have a field day.

I quit the place when they were tried to get me to sign off on triple billing clients (wanted me to sign time sheets showing I spent 8 hours total on each of three separate jobs a day)....

 

[Ferocious]

I know a history major who became an IT worker for the same company.

She did work in finance.

Neither her previous position nor her new position had a damn thing to do with her major.

 

[her209]

IT is easy.

 

[Gyrene]

Originally posted by: her209
IT is easy.

 

[rufruf44]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Yeah that sucks, at least they didn't do something stupid to the guy like have him come in on a Saturday to work or not then lay him off after he signs the 'release'.

Also for guys reading this that may face a layoff as far as I know there is absolutely no way they can make you sign anything in order to get your final paycheck. Now if there is no reason you have not to sign, go ahead, however if you feel you were violated or wronged, don't sign anything and get an attorney/talk to one...

After my wife's INS crap is done this month we will be more than likely suing our former employer on her behalf.

H1B Visa holder contracted for 3 years.

Laid off after 1 year and given a plane ticket home (a requirement) that was cancelled the next day by the company which claimed it would be helping an illegal alien since she was no longer employed.

Reason for layoff was she asked why she had to work 10 hour days with no lunch break and everyone else worked 8-10 with a lunchbreak. She also had to work Sat and Sun for any holiday she took or make up 16 hours of time during the next pay period . Also she was the only one paid half what every other employee was making (the company believed in paying a flat rate to all employees)...as the only woman and a minority at that, as well as a VISA worker a labor attorney will have a field day.

I quit the place when they were tried to get me to sign off on triple billing clients (wanted me to sign time sheets showing I spent 8 hours total on each of three separate jobs a day)....

Never heard that employer must provided H1-B with a return plane ticket to their home country. All I'm aware is that within 10-14 days (not exactly sure how long) after layoff, they will violate their visa term if they didn't leave the country.
Also, H1-B worker must be paid at least the prevailent minimum wage setup by the labor department (varies from state to state and from jobs). Its usually pretty low, but as long as the company pay above that amount, they are satisfying the requirement (regardless how much they are paying their other employee). Now for the holiday thingy, thats definitely messed up.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: her209
IT is easy.

Could you elaborate? I know plenty of people who do some pretty shady things within I.T. departments. Sure, might be able to write a module in code. But, it's another thing for for an analyst to come along later and resolve issues with the module when something isn't working right and the module isn't documented and no comments are present within it.

A year ago, I was laid off from my I.T. position and I have 14+ years of solid I.T. experience. My Bachelor's major was also CIS and I graduated with a good 3.76 GPA. However, the market sucks. Not enough positions for the numbers of those ready to work. However, I believe it will turn around. Even thought some of the work has been "offshored" - there will still be a need for those who are "talented".

Whade, I'm glad that you escaped this latest round of lay-offs.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: rufruf44
Never heard that employer must provided H1-B with a return plane ticket to their home country. All I'm aware is that within 10-14 days (not exactly sure how long) after layoff, they will violate their visa term if they didn't leave the country.
Also, H1-B worker must be paid at least the prevailent minimum wage setup by the labor department (varies from state to state and from jobs). Its usually pretty low, but as long as the company pay above that amount, they are satisfying the requirement (regardless how much they are paying their other employee). Now for the holiday thingy, thats definitely messed up.

Read the laws, if an H1B employee is laid off before the end of contract, return travel arrangements must be provided for them by the sponsor.

The H1B worker must be paid the minimum wage no differently that a US worker. However, they cannot be underpaid and they cannot be hired unless the company cannot find a suitable candidate locally....now that probably does not happen in real lift but that also does not make it legal. You could possibly say the H1B candidate had less skills and pay them less, that would be legal....however in my wife's case they would have a very hard time proving she was not the most qualified employee they had. 1) she had more programming experience than the ages of two employees 2) she worked for the main programming company and a direct affliate to IBM in Japan....programming most of the national programming systems in teams she was a lead of on 5-10 year projects. There is a lot more details to the whole thing....between her INS stuff and that we have a file cabinent full.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech

Originally posted by: her209
IT is easy.

Could you elaborate? I know plenty of people who do some pretty shady things within I.T. departments. Sure, might be able to write a module in code. But, it's another thing for for an analyst to come along later and resolve issues with the module when something isn't working right and the module isn't documented and no comments are present within it.

A year ago, I was laid off from my I.T. position and I have 14+ years of solid I.T. experience. My Bachelor's major was also CIS and I graduated with a good 3.76 GPA. However, the market sucks. Not enough positions for the numbers of those ready to work. However, I believe it will turn around. Even thought some of the work has been "offshored" - there will still be a need for those who are "talented".

Whade, I'm glad that you escaped this latest round of lay-offs.

I wouldn't be too sure of that. There are announcements from more Fortune 500 Companies laying off thoudands and thousands to ship every job that can be done by computer over to India.

There are many poeple still saying in here that is perfectly fine and the Economy is fine and getting better everyday. I still don't believe that for a second.

I have no problem with the U.S. Companies shipping every computer job that they can to India but under one condition, they can no longer be considered a U.S. Company. They should be forced to lose their U.S. article of Incorporation and be treated as a Foreign Company that they now are.