Does this really keep someone from being laid off?

[PhillyGuy]

Taking off the day that management is selecting people to be laid off

 

Sharing a lot of personal stories with your boss like possible eviction or family drama.

 

 

I have heard from some friends that people at their company has done both of these things and was not chosen to be laid off.

[Thaddeus]

Whoever told you that just not showing up on layoff day, or giving your boss some sob story, would spare you the axe is lying.

[Trialbyfire]

A high profile as the "go to" person, prevents you from getting laid off. Beyond that, flip a coin.

[PhillyGuy]

A high profile as the "go to" person, prevents you from getting laid off. Beyond that, flip a coin.

 

 

Yeah I have heard that too. Like the back up person for the boss

[Trialbyfire]

Yeah I have heard that too. Like the back up person for the boss

Any boss looks for people who makes his/her job easier. This means if you hold that role, you'll be the last to go.

[PhillyGuy]

Any boss looks for people who makes his/her job easier. This means if you hold that role, you'll be the last to go.

 

 

Makes a lot of sense. I was known in the past to always run away from extra responsibilities and not speak up much in staff meetings due to shyness.

[jerbear]

Coming from a HR background, taking a day off on the day of reckoning does not prevent one from getting laid off. It just prevents the notice notification by one day; or how many day you take off.

 

Taking to many days to avoid the news can actually make it worse because you can be reprimanded for excessive absences. Now you're one step closer to getting fired versus getting laid off with unemployment benefits.

[Thaddeus]

Any boss looks for people who makes his/her job easier. This means if you hold that role, you'll be the last to go.

I think that used to be the case, TBF, but I'm not so sure anymore.

 

I suppose it depends on the size of the organization too. One's immediate supervisor may not have any idea or any input on who gets the axe. It's been the experience of those I know personally that, sadly, it doesn't seem to matter how good you are or how effective you are or how committed you are or how loyal you are or how hard-working you are... when the axe falls, it falls indiscriminately.

[PhillyGuy]

I think that used to be the case, TBF, but I'm not so sure anymore.

 

I suppose it depends on the size of the organization too. One's immediate supervisor may not have any idea or any input on who gets the axe. It's been the experience of those I know personally that, sadly, it doesn't seem to matter how good you are or how effective you are or how committed you are or how loyal you are or how hard-working you are... when the axe falls, it falls indiscriminately.

 

 

And I thought staying late like I was every night until 7pm and out performing my coworkers in certain areas would have prevented me from being cut but I see it doesn't.

[Thaddeus]

And I thought staying late like I was every night until 7pm and out performing my coworkers in certain areas would have prevented me from being cut but I see it doesn't.

Unfortunately, no.

 

Staying late every night doesn't mean anything other than that you can't get your assigned work done in the time allotted.

[Trialbyfire]

I think that used to be the case, TBF, but I'm not so sure anymore.

 

I suppose it depends on the size of the organization too. One's immediate supervisor may not have any idea or any input on who gets the axe. It's been the experience of those I know personally that, sadly, it doesn't seem to matter how good you are or how effective you are or how committed you are or how loyal you are or how hard-working you are... when the axe falls, it falls indiscriminately.

It's true that it depends on how your organization is run. Some of my projects as a consultant, are geared towards downsizing. I use job descriptions, KPIs, process flow charts and industry specific matrices to define which jobs get cut. What happens a lot of the time, is that the individuals involved, if they're excellent employees, get shifted into new roles.

 

In smaller companies, the supervisor or manager involved, is given an annual budget. Then when cost cutting comes along, they're given a dollar figure to cut. Your largest costs are usually employee based, so most elect to cut staff, which usually ends up being the dead wood.

[PhillyGuy]

Unfortunately, no.

 

Staying late every night doesn't mean anything other than that you can't get your assigned work done in the time allotted.

 

 

Really? I thought that showed commitment

[Trialbyfire]

And I thought staying late like I was every night until 7pm and out performing my coworkers in certain areas would have prevented me from being cut but I see it doesn't.

Increased productivity usually needs to be for an extended length of time, to be noticed. Also, if you're not high profile enough, no one's going to notice.

[PhillyGuy]

It's true that it depends on how your organization is run. Some of my projects as a consultant, are geared towards downsizing. I use job descriptions, KPIs, process flow charts and industry specific matrices to define which jobs get cut. What happens a lot of the time, is that the individuals involved, if they're excellent employees, get shifted into new roles.

 

In smaller companies, the supervisor or manager involved, is given an annual budget. Then when cost cutting comes along, they're given a dollar figure to cut. Your largest costs are usually employee based, so most elect to cut staff, which usually ends up being the dead wood.

 

 

When you say being shifted into new roles you mean being laid off and then rehire for a different position? Or not being cut and being given a new role?

[Trialbyfire]

When you say being shifted into new roles you mean being laid off and then rehire for a different position? Or not being cut and being given a new role?

They lay off certain employees and then their jobs get absorbed by others they've kept. There's the risk of a civil suit if you give one job to another, one to one, unless it's part of a bargaining unit whereby seniority trumps everything else.

[curiousnycgirl]

When push comes to shove those who will be laid off will be the ones who contribute the least from a relative value perspective. The harsh reality is that in medium to large size companies, we are forced to rank our employees from 1 to N - those in the bottom 10 percent are likely to be at risk.

 

A few years ago those ame individuals may have been in the middle or even at the top of the heap - but the bar has been raised to uncanny levels.

 

What time you take off is irrelevant, unless it is in excess of allowed time off. The stories you tell management might put you at risk, if management feels your life troubles distract your from your work.

 

We are in a very harsh environment - the touchy feely stuff just isn't flying anymore.

 

Why do you ask?

[PhillyGuy]

They lay off certain employees and then their jobs get absorbed by others they've kept. There's the risk of a civil suit if you give one job to another, one to one, unless it's part of a bargaining unit whereby seniority trumps everything else.

 

I get angry when people say-"don't take a layoff personal" How can someone not take a layof personal when certain people were not selected to be cut? I'm always going to take a layoff personal because it's a person I know that survived 5 or 6 downsizing moments which means she is doing something right.

[Trialbyfire]

As background Phillyguy, I believe that curiousnycgirl, works for a global conglomerate, or at minimum, a very, very large corporation. My experience resides with small to medium-large firms.

[jerbear]

And I thought staying late like I was every night until 7pm and out performing my coworkers in certain areas would have prevented me from being cut but I see it doesn't.

 

Not necessary. Sometimes it could mean you can't get the work done in the time allotted. There are metrics to almost everything even some that are fluffy in the in air stuff. If you are new, staying late to learn the system, methods and processes is a good thing.

 

Working late due to client requirements with your team to get that proposal out, final copies for client review, and delivering tangible or financial results is the key. That would help prevent you from getting cut but not a panacea. Corporate can still layoff an whole division to reduce their risk.

 

Talking about staying late and not producing results, you are in fact consuming extra resources for non-value added work.

[PhillyGuy]

Not necessary. Sometimes it could mean you can't get the work done in the time allotted. There are metrics to almost everything even some that are fluffy in the in air stuff. If you are new, staying late to learn the system, methods and processes is a good thing.

 

Working late due to client requirements with your team to get that proposal out, final copies for client review, and delivering tangible or financial results is the key. That would help prevent you from getting cut but not a panacea. Corporate can still layoff an whole division to reduce their risk.

 

Talking about staying late and not producing results, you are in fact consuming extra resources for non-value added work.

 

 

I also heard that getting to know the people in HR and Finance is another good way to stay off the layoff list.

[Trialbyfire]

I get angry when people say-"don't take a layoff personal" How can someone not take a layof personal when certain people were not selected to be cut? I'm always going to take a layoff personal because it's a person I know that survived 5 or 6 downsizing moments which means she is doing something right.

Employees are classified as key on downwards. She sounds like a key employee.

[jerbear]

I also heard that getting to know the people in HR and Finance is another good way to stay off the layoff list.

 

Yes but when a whole division or an whole shift gets laid off HR and finance can't help you. That is rough.

 

Employees are classified as key on downwards. She sounds like a key employee.

 

Yeah... I've seen nepotism, being married to an high powered person outside the organization, bringing in more revenue, having access and contacts... Sometimes the "key" employee has access to "key" people.

[Trialbyfire]

Yeah... I've seen nepotism, being married to an high powered person outside the organization, bringing in more revenue, having access and contacts... Sometimes the "key" employee has access to "key" people.

If this person in some way, whatever way, generates more revenue or provides the company with a broader range of important contacts, they bring something more valuable to the table, than someone who only does a job that another can do. It's all about bottom-line.

[nobody's girl]

Um yeah, in this economy nothing keeps you safe. My boss knew I was broke. Knew I filed bankruptcy a few years ago. Knew I have no family to fall back on. Knew if I got sacked she would have to do all the work and there was a lot of it she didn't know how to do. Didn't matter one bit to the powers that be and I was laid off over 8 weeks ago. My boss sobbed the entire time. Mostly because she knew she was going to be screwed with all the work she'd have to do. But also she was upset on my behalf. Yet there was nothing she or I could do about it.

[PhillyGuy]

Um yeah' date=' in this economy nothing keeps you safe. My boss knew I was broke. Knew I filed bankruptcy a few years ago. Knew I have no family to fall back on. Knew if I got sacked she would have to do all the work and there was a lot of it she didn't know how to do. Didn't matter one bit to the powers that be and I was laid off over 8 weeks ago. My boss sobbed the entire time. Mostly because she knew she was going to be screwed with all the work she'd have to do. But also she was upset on my behalf. Yet there was nothing she or I could do about it.[/quote']

 

 

I had a similar story which was 2 weeks ago. My boss gave me a letter of recommendation. I'm glad to have the LOR but I'm still insulted by the layoff because of some of the people who were kept who were low performers.