Eeeeek - Several people in my department just got axed

Ugh.....
The mood is depressing, everyone is quiet like someone died. Didn't get much info, but there will be no back fills for their positions.
Our Co. lost some revenues in 2016 and I think this might be the reason for this.
Have you gone through this, what were you thoughts? The moral is really low, at least that's how it "feels".
The mood is depressing, everyone is quiet like someone died. Didn't get much info, but there will be no back fills for their positions.
Our Co. lost some revenues in 2016 and I think this might be the reason for this.
Have you gone through this, what were you thoughts? The moral is really low, at least that's how it "feels".
Comments
'My dear you are ugly, but tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be ugly' Winston Churchil
Yes, like others have mentioned, now is a good time to update your resume and LinkedIn just in case it is you next quarter.
Couple of bullets from the take away
Going to have to step up
More work but we feel you have the bandwidth
Stick around good things are going to happen to you in 2 - 3 years
Document all the projects and send them to me
That was about it.
I was assured this is normal right sizing for the company
We let 5 people go. You have to step up to do their work. The company saves OpEx of over 100k to have you do it. At no increase.
We admit its more work. However we arent going to tell you its going to suck. We feel you can do it. You might just be tired after.
We dont know what the next 2-3 year holds. If you like uncertainty the hold on!
Document all project. This is pretty forward.
"Right sizing" is still saving money by letting people go.
I would get ready for moves. Because this doesn't look exactly bright from our perspective.
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1. This could be really needed as work loads will increase and you need to be ready to take on others task and good documentation is key.
2. The next round could be soon, and if they have to outsource, at least they will have the docs to keep business running.
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I don't want to make a mole hill into a mountain, but you folks are really good at synthsizing this situations with relatively light information.
Thanks
Side note a few of the junior guys are totally panicking they can't even do their job. I am trying to hold it together while I help them hold it together.
Management has gone dark, all close doors at the moment. When you pass by one they have the look that their favorite dog just died. It's rough man.
Got snapped at when asked who I was reporting too. "We need solutions at this point not questions". It wasn't menacing but it had a snarky undertone.
Any RIF is no fun for anyone involved and least of all for anyone that is impacted. I hope that your management at least had appropriate empathy.
The comment about asking for project information is a bit odd.
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While working at a start up, before thing went south and the previous company I landed this job, so while the precursors were there (close doors, termed projects) never had to deal with the human resource side of this like I am now.
Another time I was working help desk and again before people started to get rift from our department I had joined another company so once again I didn't have to experience the after math of loss. The help desk job had rumors etc so that dark feeling was present so it was sort of like this. It really hasn't set it, everything is moving so quickly. Hell look at me I am the one that usually provides answers on here, I don;t have any at the moment. Paul I am under the impression this was going to be it for this year.
Taco - I guess tonight I'll talk to my wife and come up with a plan.
Translation:
1. Going to have to step up = This is usually followed up by "We believe that you can do it we have faith in you"
2. More work but we feel you have the bandwidth = We don't care that you're now doing the job of 2 people even if it kills you
3. Stick around good things are going to happen to you in 2-3 years = Who are you again? Followed up by we never made any promises or we never said that
4. Document all the project and send them to me = this is code for we want all the info necessary to outsource your job
Run! start lookin for another job, that is your job now!
In any RIF - the way that management decides on who is on the list is based usually on employee performance, redundancy, and compensation relative to role. Different sized companies may have different criteria. A line-of-business at a S&P 500 company for example may simply look at headcount and discount cost if the business was already profitable. A RIF in January may be tied to expected sales forecast for the upcoming fiscal year and intended to maintain a net operating profit margin. So this RIF could truly be a right-sizing exercise (I hate that term). Ultimately, the more productive and skilled employees survive RIFs so you could at least count yourself as doing work that is considered valuable to the firm.
However, if you are at a private company where the revenue and profit margins are not shared with employees - then it may be tougher to gauge what will happen in the next year.
Thanks for the write up makes a lot of sense. Deep breath
All is well.
to me this is the real red flag. dont get me wrong, I'm a big proponent of documentation, i think every role should have great documentation that anyone can follow, I always figure the cream will rise to the top one way or another.
but yeah, asking you to document stuff after firing people makes it sound like they want to have an insurance plan if you bail or they get rid of you
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I'm glad that my partner and I were able to get a job quickly before they actually closed the doors. I was told that some companies actually don't tell employee's and let them find out the hard way.
Second time in my life where I got laid off but the partner and I go better paying jobs as well so its a win win.
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Most people are likely to hire people that are working than those who are laid off.
Look at the pros and cons of your environment and weigh them against a new position.
Good Luck !!!
Also feel free to keep some of us on here in your back pocket in case you do start looking.
I have always been afraid of being laid off. Its is probably one of the biggest factors for pushing me to go the extra whenever I can, though I know sometimes that isn't the determining factor in staying vs going.
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Don't even think about believing this - it's 100% bull and simply designed to get you to stay while they shop around for cheaper alternatives.
Definitely update your resume and start planning your plan B.
If your bossess boss is saying to document all projects and send it to him then your boss is likely toast. Also the bossess boss is wondering what the hell the team your boss has been doing all this time. He wants to see what your productivity is and what is going on. This is why when I was a lead we document everything and I mean everything that goes on. Even as a manager you should have project codes and your team should bill time against them regularly to show work and effort are going on. It doesn't hurt either for the boss to give a presentation to the C's about how great the team is and the value they are providing the company and the services you bring. Part of being a manager is selling your team and what it does. Doesn't sound like you manager was doing that at all. Especially since his boss wants to see work.
I really hope it all works out for you buddy. Let us know how things go!
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