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Two things I would have liked to have seen in layoffs I've been through: 1) Some understanding from management that these are "resources" or just $$ values you

Two things I would have liked to have seen in layoffs I've been through: 1) Some understanding from management that these are "resources" or just $$ values you're cutting. These are people. People with families, bills, mortgages, and dreams. People who (like the article indicated) are still close friends of those who remain at the company. In most cases, people who've busted their ass for the company in the past. 2) Just once I'd fucking like to see at least 1 member of upper management affected by a layoff. They've got the biggest salaries, wouldn't you get the most "bang for the buck" by cutting a couple of them? But no, they're always immune. It's just the nameless faceless rabble that suffer for what are usually management mistakes to begin with.

krschultz 16y ago
Well, you haven't been looking hard enough. My father was the president of his division in a multinational company. Had roughly 250 employees reporting to him. They axed him and about 40% of the guys at his level world wide, but nobody below him. This lead to "head-less" divisions for the last 2 years (they just didn't replace the presidents) coasting along. Not sure what their game plan is long term. A year after he was axed, sales were down significantly, and 15 people more people were laid off. A year after that, another 20 people were laid off. Lockheed Martin is currently going through the same thing, 600 upper management positions in the last month. Not to complain "managment are people too", since clearly you don't want to think about it, but he had been with the company 28 years with 3 ownership changes during that time, started as a salesman and made it to president. There was no performance problem, it was a financial calc. His boss tried to save him (2nd level down from CEO) but the CFO overruled. He was also 60 at the time which probably contributed. Considering he was planning to retire at 62 it didnt make much sense, because he just walked out with all of his plans and didn't train a replacement. Tell me it wouldn't make more sense to just have a transition period for 2 years?
- donw 16y ago
  You know, I have a hard time thinking of any company that was saved and rebounded, by having an accountant steer the ship.
- theBobMcCormick 16y ago
  I'm sure your Dad is an awesome guy, and I'm sure that being axed was a difficult thing for him, but.... If he was the president of a division of a multinational company, I'm sure he had to have been making a healthy 6 figure salary, had a good retirement plan, some good severance pay, etc. You've got to admit that clearly, getting axed (as difficult as it might have been) was much easier on him that it would be on a low level line worker making a middle five figure income?
  - krschultz 16y ago
    You're right, it was easier than it would be for most people. But that has nothing to do with his salary (less than you'd think considering his title) or anything like that, or the ability to find a job (harder at the upper level and when you're older), but on his own decisions and being frugal. 1) My parents live in the same house they bought 34 years ago when he was a salesmen, so the 25 year mortgage was paid off years ago. Sure they've renovated since then but every time they thought about going bigger, my dad used to say "there is no way a house is worth this much, there aren't that many people who make this much money in this country". I used to think he was naive, but post housing bubble it makes a lot of sense. 2) The last time he had bought a car (new or used) was 1999. And it was a Ford SUV. He got laid off in 2008, it has 130k miles at the time. They recently replaced it, with a 2010 version of the same car they plan to have for another 10 years, but he has since founded a new company and has income and investors. Spending money wisely matters a lot more than what you actually make. At my company now a pile of the factory guys drive cars made in the last 3 years (probably leased), while in my engineering group the "newest" of the cars owned by the 6 of us is a 2006 Mazda 3. We all make at least twice the guys in the factory. I'll be digging around under my car to replace an oxygen sensor this weekend, even though I could afford to be buying a new version my car I'd rather put the money in the bank. Why? Because I want at least 12 months of living expenses in the bank before I start buying expensive stuff, "just in case!". Wonder where I learned that from? Anybody can do this stuff, you just have to live within your means. And that is basically putting a lot of your net pay in the bank for a rainy day.

krschultz 16y ago

Well, you haven't been looking hard enough. My father was the president of his division in a multinational company. Had roughly 250 employees reporting to him. They axed him and about 40% of the guys at his level world wide, but nobody below him. This lead to "head-less" divisions for the last 2 years (they just didn't replace the presidents) coasting along. Not sure what their game plan is long term. A year after he was axed, sales were down significantly, and 15 people more people were laid off. A year after that, another 20 people were laid off. Lockheed Martin is currently going through the same thing, 600 upper management positions in the last month. Not to complain "managment are people too", since clearly you don't want to think about it, but he had been with the company 28 years with 3 ownership changes during that time, started as a salesman and made it to president. There was no performance problem, it was a financial calc. His boss tried to save him (2nd level down from CEO) but the CFO overruled. He was also 60 at the time which probably contributed. Considering he was planning to retire at 62 it didnt make much sense, because he just walked out with all of his plans and didn't train a replacement. Tell me it wouldn't make more sense to just have a transition period for 2 years?

donw 16y ago
You know, I have a hard time thinking of any company that was saved and rebounded, by having an accountant steer the ship.
theBobMcCormick 16y ago
I'm sure your Dad is an awesome guy, and I'm sure that being axed was a difficult thing for him, but.... If he was the president of a division of a multinational company, I'm sure he had to have been making a healthy 6 figure salary, had a good retirement plan, some good severance pay, etc. You've got to admit that clearly, getting axed (as difficult as it might have been) was much easier on him that it would be on a low level line worker making a middle five figure income?
- krschultz 16y ago
  You're right, it was easier than it would be for most people. But that has nothing to do with his salary (less than you'd think considering his title) or anything like that, or the ability to find a job (harder at the upper level and when you're older), but on his own decisions and being frugal. 1) My parents live in the same house they bought 34 years ago when he was a salesmen, so the 25 year mortgage was paid off years ago. Sure they've renovated since then but every time they thought about going bigger, my dad used to say "there is no way a house is worth this much, there aren't that many people who make this much money in this country". I used to think he was naive, but post housing bubble it makes a lot of sense. 2) The last time he had bought a car (new or used) was 1999. And it was a Ford SUV. He got laid off in 2008, it has 130k miles at the time. They recently replaced it, with a 2010 version of the same car they plan to have for another 10 years, but he has since founded a new company and has income and investors. Spending money wisely matters a lot more than what you actually make. At my company now a pile of the factory guys drive cars made in the last 3 years (probably leased), while in my engineering group the "newest" of the cars owned by the 6 of us is a 2006 Mazda 3. We all make at least twice the guys in the factory. I'll be digging around under my car to replace an oxygen sensor this weekend, even though I could afford to be buying a new version my car I'd rather put the money in the bank. Why? Because I want at least 12 months of living expenses in the bank before I start buying expensive stuff, "just in case!". Wonder where I learned that from? Anybody can do this stuff, you just have to live within your means. And that is basically putting a lot of your net pay in the bank for a rainy day.