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If I heard a company lays people off by locking them out instead of actually telling them to their faces first (I’m assuming meaning they don’t even trust you e

If I heard a company lays people off by locking them out instead of actually telling them to their faces first (I’m assuming meaning they don’t even trust you enough not to steal information or sabotage after being fired?) then I’d make a mental note not to apply for a job there, ever. Was it always like this or is this a new phenomenon? I haven’t heard about anyone being locked out before hearing they are getting laid off, unless there was serious wrongdoing. But I’m not in the US.

mk89 4y ago
I heard about this for the first time 7 years ago. An ex colleague couldn't enter the office - the badge simply didn't work anymore. Imagine how freaking embarrassing: you try to enter, nope. Then you ask a colleague to open for you and later you find out that, ... well.... Nowadays thanks to remote working it's less embarrassing: your account simply becomes "deactivated" on Slack while you're in the middle of a chat with someone. We made a lot of progress over the years I have to admit...
musicale 4y ago
> Was it always like this or is this a new phenomenon? I haven’t heard about anyone being locked out before hearing they are getting laid off, unless there was serious wrongdoing. But I’m not in the US. Always like this. First, layoffs are kept as secret as possible to avoid affecting the stock price as well as to facilitate insider trading by execs while limiting it by lower level managers. Second, to avoid potential trouble with disgruntled employees, employees are locked out before being notified. In the rare case that someone is laid off mid-day, they immediately lose access to their office and are escorted out by security. If this sounds abusive, it is because it is abusive. Not all companies operate this way, but many of them do.
- WhiteOwlLion 4y ago
  I recall Facebook handle terminations this way. Maybe eBay too?

mk89 4y ago

I heard about this for the first time 7 years ago. An ex colleague couldn't enter the office - the badge simply didn't work anymore. Imagine how freaking embarrassing: you try to enter, nope. Then you ask a colleague to open for you and later you find out that, ... well.... Nowadays thanks to remote working it's less embarrassing: your account simply becomes "deactivated" on Slack while you're in the middle of a chat with someone. We made a lot of progress over the years I have to admit...

musicale 4y ago

> Was it always like this or is this a new phenomenon? I haven’t heard about anyone being locked out before hearing they are getting laid off, unless there was serious wrongdoing. But I’m not in the US. Always like this. First, layoffs are kept as secret as possible to avoid affecting the stock price as well as to facilitate insider trading by execs while limiting it by lower level managers. Second, to avoid potential trouble with disgruntled employees, employees are locked out before being notified. In the rare case that someone is laid off mid-day, they immediately lose access to their office and are escorted out by security. If this sounds abusive, it is because it is abusive. Not all companies operate this way, but many of them do.

WhiteOwlLion 4y ago
I recall Facebook handle terminations this way. Maybe eBay too?