this isn’t how you make layoff decisions by Alison Green on December 12, 2012 This is dumb on so many levels that I don’t even know where to begin: Newspaper tells two employees to decide between themselves which one will be laid off Oh fine, I’ll begin here: You don’t make layoff decisions arbitrarily — you make them based on actual business factors, looking at performance, what the company […] Read the full article →
managers pushing us to work harder while we wait to be laid off by Alison Green on September 29, 2012 A reader writes: In mid-August, my company informed us that my department was to be laid-off sometime in September. It is now the end of September and we have not had any more information about the layoffs. Our bi-weekly department meetings have been cancelled and my direct managers have no information. Our senior managers have […] Read the full article →
laid off and lambasted by boss for not helping out more afterwards by Alison Green on August 30, 2012 A reader writes: I had worked for a large company for over 4 years when I was laid off. This layoff was not unexpected, given that my manager and I did not get along the last year of me working there. I had moved 500 miles away to take this job and turned out to […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: farewell cards when coworkers are laid off by Alison Green on July 18, 2012 I thought this would be an interesting one to throw out to readers to answer. Here’s the question: Is it normal to circulate company-sponsored farewell cards for coworkers who have just been laid off? I work for a smallish company (about 100 people) and last week there were 5 people laid off. This is a first […] Read the full article →
fired vs. laid off, and the difference between a hiring manager and HR by Alison Green on June 13, 2012 I see these words confused all the time, so let’s straighten out some vocabulary issues. 1. Fired vs. laid off vs. terminated Fired: If someone is fired, they are being let go because of their performance or behavior. Laid off: If someone is laid off, their position is being eliminated — the company was restructuring or having […] Read the full article →
are you always at least partly to blame if you’re laid off? by Alison Green on January 22, 2012 A reader writes: I am currently job searching right now and through the local library have ran across a couple of books by Cynthia Shapiro, who is a well experienced HR manager herself. In one of her books, she gave some good ideas of how to be a good employee and ways companies could come […] Read the full article →
my organization has a budget shortfall; should I be job-searching? by Alison Green on December 1, 2010 A reader writes: Thanks to your amazing advice and great “how to get a job” book, I landed a position in the development office of a small non-profit organization that does the kind of work I really believe in. It was truly a step up from where I was — a more than $13k raise, […] Read the full article →
can I ask my employer to lay me off? by Alison Green on May 14, 2010 A reader writes: I work for a major financial services company. I no longer wish to work for that company but don’t want to just resign. The company has been laying workers off and is planning more layoffs. I don’t want to feel like a sitting duck. I also want to leave and focus on a non-competing business that […] Read the full article →
should I tell recruiters I was laid off? by Alison Green on August 28, 2009 A reader writes: I just graduated in December, and started work in January. The company lost a large contract, and my site had to lay off 20% of the work force, myself included. Any recruiter is going to ask why I left, and a friend of a friend who works for a staffing agency said […] Read the full article →
should I warn my friend he’s about to be laid off? by Alison Green on July 9, 2009 A reader writes: About 8 months ago, we hired a new manager who moved very close to me and my family. I am his direct supervisor. Shortly after they moved here, we invited them over for dinner and we have since become good friends … dear friends, in fact. Our kids play together, we’ve been […] Read the full article →