5 ms·
I was laid off once. The reason on paper was budgetary, times are tough, etc. But the real reason was that I was a bad fit for the role - for a variety of reaso
by nrclark 2y ago
I was laid off once. The reason on paper was budgetary, times are tough, etc. But the real reason was that I was a bad fit for the role - for a variety of reasons.
I got pipped, and foolish me tried hard to work on the items in the pip (to no effect). The layoff came right on schedule.
A few years later, I was chatting with an old coworker and I came to find out that the director of engineering had demanded it. It was in direct response to me refusing to participate in building a knowingly DMCA-violating product.
The pip was theater. The "times are tough" bit was theater. The reality is that the director wanted me gone, and that is how they did it for legal coverage reasons.
I don't really blame the company - I was a bad fit, and I can see that clearly in hindsight. But it did teach me never to accept budgetary layoffs at face value.
- ergocoder 2y agoI don't see the theater as bad or good. If anything, it's slightly good. It gives people an out; a soft landing. Being fired because you suck is going to destroy your confidence and tarnish your work reputation (because layoff is public).
- cultureswitch 2y agoImagine getting fired because you wanted to respect the DMCA of all things. I'd be curious for details, though you probably shouldn't tell.
- nrclark 2y agoI was never really concerned about the ethics, but was more worried that I'd be personally liable for it. I kept thinking about the VW emissions scandal, where the engineer that implemented it was given prison time. In hindsight, it was probably a stupid thing for me to worry about. I also never should have expected that I'd be able to change the director's mind by refusing to do what he said.
- horrible-hilde 2y agoyou absolutely did the right thing. Are you doing well now?
- nrclark 2y agoYes, I bounced back. Getting soft-fired really shook me, and it was a hit to my self-confidence. I did learn some valuable life-lessons from it though, and including that nobody should ignore office politics. Afterwards, I found a job that was a much better fit. That next job changed the direction of my career, and I'm very happy with where I am now.
- dijit 2y ago> In hindsight, it was probably a stupid thing for me to worry about. Wrong take. You did the right thing. Fuck that guy.