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AI

Time of year I get my checkups done. Of the 3, 2 went straight to AI schedule the appointment. Mentioned it to the receptionists when I arrived. 2 of the 3 had no idea it was implemented at their business. Just noticed the call volume seemed to be down. Wondering how many businesses are using this without making everyone aware that it was taking some of the work from them?


Update your LinkedIn to open to work

Sorry to those impacted today. Notifications have gone out and will continue throughout the morning. I recommend updating your LinkedIn profile to “Open to Work,” as recruiters may reach out given awareness of today’s layoffs. If you choose to engage, please ensure they are from a reputable company.


NCR Voyix going in to fleet payments like it's 2015

https://www.ncrvoyix.com/newsroom/ncr-voyix-partners-with-u-s-bank-voyager-to-enable-fleet-card-acceptance-through-voyix-connect

"With Voyix Connect, the company is focused on simplifying payment enablement and supporting scalable integrations that help fuel retailers serve fleet customers efficiently."

This is the exact same playbook that Corpay had 15 years ago, when it was calling itself Fleetcor. And it worked! But someone should tell James Kelly and co. that the this is not an exit strategy will work for him or Voyix, because the payments industry is not what it was back when he was fleecing Global Payments. (For anyone not paying attention, the only two payment industry investments worth owning are Visa and Mastercard.) Better find another savior, James. And another playbook.


RIF Wednesday. Let's make it a Nielsen Holiday.

Hey JH, I got a WIG for you, RIF Wednesday! Lay off the Middle Management that has sat dormant for years in their home offices su-kling on the corporate teet. Proposing endless meetings, pushing papers from side of their desk to the other, the ones that think that they can fix every issue by cutting IP. Clean some house on those that have been here for 30+ years that haven't had a fresh idea in over a decade. Cut the apron strings on those that seem to only know how to bobble there heads in agreement to your every word. Put some trust back into the ones that are your "boots on the ground".
When was the last time you got in a car and did a ride along with an MR or FR? Did you completely forget where you started from? I encourage you to get back out in the field, get your hands dirty. Go out to middle America, come see the west coast, mix it up. Hang out with a National rep, have lunch with a Local. Don't wait for them to explode on a call or ask their opinions during an exit interview.


Mubadala divestment continues

https://ca.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/why-is-globalfoundries-stock-tumbling-today-93CH-46

Down to ~73% Majority stake from recent previous of 78%. With restrictions in place every 60 days in between these events and already having done the same a couple of months ago, only a little more to get under the 50% mark. Notice this time GF did not announce Share buybacks. The cash spigot runneth dry perhaps?

RUN!!


Job Cuts Threaten Worker Life Insurance

U.S. layoffs reached 5.2 million by March 2026. The tech sector saw significant job cuts. Major tech companies reduced staff, citing AI shifts. Many terminated workers lose their group life insurance. Experts advise against relying solely on employer-provided coverage.

https://www.usnews.com/insurance/life-insurance/layoffs-personal-life-insurance-2026


Good advice

Best advice I got when I was laid off a few years ago was to treat job hunting like a full time job. Job hunt and interview for the full work day, but constrain it to work hours. Take breaks, meet people for lunch, and most importantly sign off at a reasonable time. Enjoy your evening best you can.

Bumping this from @b0+1kr24ryf6, more people should read it.


Congress challenging legality of this Quantum investment

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/05/uss-big-bet-on-quantum-computing-may-not-be-entirely-legal/

It clearly falls outside the confines of the CHIP Act intent.

Article also points out how utterly ridiculous the idea of a "quantum chip foundry" is in 2026.


Is AT&T any better?

Has anybody here worked at AT&T? I might have a chance to make the switch, but reading through their page here makes it seem like I’d just be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone with firsthand experience before I make the decision.


Advice for folks still employed at Cisco

Cisco is a pump and dump for Chuck and the board. Cisco doesn't innovate anymore, it just buys other companies, slaps the Cisco logo on it, and calls it macaroni. The ONLY way Cisco can boost the stock price is by (A) laying off employees or (B) Buying something. But it's short term ..the stock goes up for a bit , levels off and comes back down. If you have or get RSU, (more like IOU) it's a carrot on a stick. When they lay you off you lose any unvested stock. Start looking for jobs but if your in good financial shape, hold on as long as possible until your RSUs vest. The layoffs will pick up the pace, export more within 6 months. DON'T VOLUNTEER ANY AUTOMATION IDEAS! Your sc--wing your co-workers over. Make yourself as indispensable as possible by taking on as much work as possible (especially if your customer billable). If you work in Collab/WebEx ..time to change technology path...learn SDWAN or Security.


I dont think people realize how amazing PIP's actually are

I mean sure, surface level they su-k. They load you up with impossible metrics to meet, MORE work, and basically make your job impossible. Most half smart people know it's a way for HR to get rid of you... without firing you.

BUT, a PIP is typically at minimum 3 months and sometimes even 6 months. That's 3-6 months of PAYCHECKS, Insurance, etc... Take advantage of that and spend 95% of your time looking for and applying to new jobs on dells dime. The thing with PIP's is that they can be extended so long as their is progress being made. So the key is to work and at least TRY to improve but, don't put too much effort into it also.

A PIP is a fantastic package tbh. Far better than what you'd get if you were laid off. Also, if you do find a new job within the PIP time period, you can quit dell and that PIP doesn't get recorded by HR. It basically never existed. PIP's are recorded ONLY if you pass it, or fail it and are then terminated.
Source: Have been PIP'd before.

OP: @gv+1ks2vwndd

This deserved its own thread.


We need to start leaving reviews on Glassdoor

Actual, truthful reviews. Too many of them paint a picture that's anything but true, so I'm guessing HR is hard at work to fix the company's image. Take a few minutes and post a real review over there, so people who're considering Oracle know what they're getting themselves into.


Avoid the Train Station neighborhoid!!!

I have relatives visiting from out of state that wanted to see it, I was ready to take them down there for dinner until I saw this article. The family agrees it’s better to look at photos online.

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/05/22/detroit-band-cancels-all-shows-after-alleged-as--ult-at-corktown-bar-left-member-hospitalized/


Brainstorm for Yourself, Not for Oracle Clowns

From my experience at Oracle...

Stop sharing your big ideas or new project concepts with management. Most of them honestly don’t understand the real technical depth behind the work.

They rarely join brainstorming sessions or real idea discussions. They only show up when the final result is ready. They don’t want the struggle or hard part of building something. They just want the finished product handed to them so they can approve it, sign the document, and take the credit.

If you suggest new ideas or projects before having complete results, management might even start seeing you negatively. And honestly, a lot of these managers can’t even get proper resources or support for their own teams. They have just something called Managerial EGO.

They love starting trendy discussions around hackathons, POCs, innovation, learning sessions, and all that. But most of the time, they only know the buzzwords because they heard them from someone else. They build vocabulary, not actual understanding.

At the end of the day, you’re there to finish the work assigned to you.Not to help management look smarter using your ideas. Some of those ideas could actually become your own startup someday and make you far more successful instead of helping useless managers climb higher.


Lawyer Up

I hate hearing everything that current employees are dealing with. It su-ks. It was a great company and I was proud to work there. I worked at Fannie Mae for nearly 20 years.
I was part of a big layoff several years ago. I was laid off just before a large scale early retirement package was set to be offered (and it was widely known this was happening!). With my downsizing, I was offered an AWFUL exit package (with no extended insurance and less $ than expected). So I hired an attorney.
I HIGHLY recommend that anyone laid off - do not sign your letter before you speak to a qualified attorney. Trust me - you’re leaving a lot of money on the table.


12 Brutal Career Truths

1. Your Potential Means Nothing
↳ Results speak louder than capabilities
↳ "I could have" doesn't pay bills
→ Start delivering before someone asks

2. Loyalty Won't Save You
↳ Companies are loyal to profits, not people
↳ Your growth is your responsibility
→ Always have a Plan B ready

3. Being Good Isn't Good Enough
↳ Excellence is the new baseline
↳ Average performers get average lives
→ Identify your unique edge and sharpen it

4. No One Will Hand You Success
↳ Mentors guide, but won't carry you
↳ Your career is your business
→ Stop waiting, start creating opportunities

5. Comfort Is Career Death
↳ If you're not uncomfortable, you're not growing
↳ Easy today = obsolete tomorrow
→ Seek the tasks everyone else avoids

6. Politics Matter More Than Performance
↳ Great work without visibility is wasted work
↳ Relationships amplify results
→ Master the art of showcasing impact

7. Time Choices = Career Outcomes
↳ Every 'yes' is a 'no' to something else
↳ Poor boundaries ki-l high performers
→ Master the art of strategic declining

8. Feedback Is A Gift (Even When It Hurts)
↳ Criticism shapes champions
↳ Defensive people stay stuck
→ Seek tough feedback early and often

9. Skills Have Expiration Dates
↳ What got you here won't get you there
↳ Industry demands evolve rapidly
→ Stay current or become irrelevant

10. Your Network Is Your Net Worth
↳ Relationships are your career currency
↳ Tomorrow's opportunities come from today's connections
→ Invest in people before you need them

11. Your Attitude Eclipses Your Aptitude
↳ Difficult geniuses get fired
↳ Pleasant performers get promoted
→ Choose your battles wisely

12. There Are No Guarantees
↳ Security is an illusion
↳ Change is the only constant
→ Build adaptability as your core strength


Laid Off - What are you doing about Insurance? NEED ADVICE

Those of you laid off, what are you doing for Medical Insurance?

With the healthcare.gov marketplace prices having gone up significantly, as well as COBRA cost on the individual end's increasing - what are you doing for insurance / paying a month for Medical Insurance?

Lowest monthly premium on healthcare.gov is $200 or so higher than COBRA in my case, so i guess COBRA is the way to go in my case while severance is still being paid.

COBRA is tough though, if you cancel the month prior to severance ending to avoid paying for COBRA at full price and you are not in the Enrollment Period - you go without insurance for a short time until you can enroll?

What a joke the whole concept is honestly. Getting the shaft from multiple angles so wondering if anyone has thought this through.

Health share? Insurance less? Finding any job with benefits to avoid paying full premiums for medical insurance?

Let's hear your options all you titans of the Healthcare industry!!!


Be aware of At&T Business hiring practices. R2B and B2B

If you are jumping ship to AT&T, they are asking for 30/60/90 day plan which includes your major accounts, stakeholders, and most wanted accounts. Do not give up your sensitive information and easily hand them your sources. They are just farming the intel from your market and most likely won’t hire you. So, if they are abusing you from the beginning guard yourself by being vague and do not include actual contact info of stakeholders. Like companies they might not know about.


The way I see things...

I worked as a developer in the Fusion Middleware area, first on the on-premise tools and later on Oracle Cloud.

My experience at Oracle was extremely negative. I believe a large part of that was because I am female, honest, and a highly competent developer.

Those qualities were not valued in Oracle development. Let me address each of them individually.

Female - There were no female managers or architects in the area where I worked. Management was dominated by Indian men from a culture where women are expected to be subordinate to men, and in my experience that attitude showed clearly. I worked for multiple managers who used the same kinds of tactics. They sabotaged demos I was giving by providing incorrect conference numbers, setting me up to demo on systems with bad network settings that caused slow screen updates, telling me to prepare slides for a two-hour session and then suddenly saying I only had one hour while pretending surprise that I had created slides because I had been instructed to do so. I was also once paired with another manager’s aggressive subordinate, who went first and then claimed I was demonstrating something different from what I had been told, making me appear unprepared.

I was undermined in many other ways as well. I was restricted in what I could work on, excluded from status meetings, denied information, given incorrect information, and subjected to every kind of obstruction imaginable.

Not everyone behaved this way, but enough men did that it became impossible to function normally. I was constantly forced into a defensive position. Although there were a couple of senior managers above me who supported me, my direct managers did not, and they had enough control to make it appear that I was the problem when I was not.

There were a few women I interacted with. Some, like me, were honestly trying to do their jobs. But one woman in marketing appeared to believe it was in her interest to undermine me with the men, and another woman who was very involved with one manager also helped set me up at one point. Because of that, I eventually felt I could not even trust the other women at the company.

Before Oracle, I had been a very successful developer at other companies and had received awards for my work. Oracle has serious cultural problems, and if you are a female developer, I would advise leaving the company. There is a much better life outside of it.

Honest - The managers were, in my opinion, largely incompetent. They were deeply insecure, and even the slightest sign of initiative beyond what they explicitly directed was treated as a threat. From what I observed, this was true of nearly every manager I encountered. They were paranoid, dysfunctional, and operating inside an equally dysfunctional environment. Managers would temporarily align with one another to sabotage employees or other managers they wanted to target. It genuinely seemed like they enjoyed doing this, and that much of their professional world revolved around schemes to damage someone else’s reputation or career.

By the end, I felt as though I was working inside an organized crime operation. The sabotage never stopped. One manager cultivated loyal enforcers who would do whatever he wanted to anyone he targeted. Unfortunately, I ended up under this truly toxic individual. Oracle moves developers around like interchangeable parts, and you often have no control over who you work for. This manager made s-xual comments toward me and treated me in a degrading way. He isolated me from others in the group and refused to assign meaningful work. In my opinion, he was deeply disturbed and manipulative.

Later, he worked with another manager and a woman connected to that manager to isolate me further and pressure me into writing a new application they intended to take credit for themselves.

There is no place for honesty at Oracle. If you want to be a thug and enjoy the idea of operating inside something that feels like a mafia structure, then Oracle may suit you. Honesty will not help you succeed there.

Extremely Competent Developer - If you are a strong developer who wants to build meaningful products and do real engineering work, Oracle is not the right place. I was an excellent developer. Earlier in my career, there were times when my abilities were questioned because I was female, but I was always able to prove myself and earn the trust of the men around me through competence and results.

At Oracle, competence was not appreciated. The managers I worked with valued loyalty above all else, and the people most loyal to management were often the least capable technically. They protected their jobs by flattering managers, attacking other developers, and helping management manipulate or undermine people within the company.

I was promoted once while I was there, but I believe that only happened because of intervention from a senior manager above me. Even while I had support at higher levels, the manager directly above me continued sabotaging me constantly.

I would have left earlier, but I had reasons for staying, so I continued trying to demonstrate what I could do, just as I had at previous companies. None of it mattered. Management remained determined to harass me regardless of my abilities.

I also saw other highly competent developers, including men, targeted in many of the same ways. My impression was that management feared capable developers because they themselves were incompetent, insecure, and uncomfortable with real technical discussions about products or code.

One important thing to understand is that none of this was obvious at first. The managers were skilled at hiding what they were doing until you started paying very close attention. They always had plausible explanations ready, and because you want to be cooperative and professional, you initially accept those explanations and move on.

For a long time, I had an application that I mostly worked on independently, and that insulated me somewhat.

My competence also allowed me to survive there longer than many people would have. My first manager gave me increasingly difficult assignments. Initially, I believed that meant he trusted my abilities. Later, I realized he was escalating the difficulty in hopes that I would fail. I believe he wanted to point to the “incompetent woman” and say, “See, she couldn’t handle the work.” But that never happened because I successfully completed every assignment I was given.

It is a deeply unhealthy place. If you dislike women, will blindly obey your manager, including sabotaging coworkers, and especially if you enjoy attacking people and playing dirty tricks, Oracle may be the place for you.

If you actually want to do real engineering work, almost anywhere else would be better.


Affected folks - those laid off since April 2025 - Have you found new jobs?

Has anyone forced out or currently training their replacements have any luck finding a new job? Can you share any tips? Did that "job search assistance" they offer help at all? I read that you get taxed in your severance for that "benefit". If it is useless can we opt out so as not to pay taxes on that?

Please keep this on topic and don't have this thread devolve into "the usual". This is for job hunting information only.


Kaskida Project. A world class boondoggle?

Hearing some great intel and insights that Kaskida is being challenged by Meg for potentially not meeting economic and technical hurdles…
Please share your insights on this complex project that was rammed into FID by Murray’s go team…What does Elliot Management think about their capital6 deployed and possibly destroyed? When the the technical class challenges sanctioning


Future and Recommendation for Youth

My three kids are all in high school right now, my oldest son and his two younger sisters, all just a year apart. He’s getting ready to pack up for college here soon, it’s hitting me hard. For the longest time, I thought I knew exactly how to guide him. I figured a solid field like software engineering or business was the way to go. But looking at what’s happening at my own job and this company, and seeing the entire office now Indian and all this AI tech... I'm not sure what to suggest. At the same time, I’m terrified of them just picking a lib arts major, drowning in student loans, and ending up without a job. We learned that lesson the hard way. My wife went to an Ivy League for a degree that took us years to pay off with no return(never do it). I love my kids more than anything. They have so much life in them. It breaks my heart to imagine them ending up in some WF type office, surrounded by the exhausted, lifeless faces I see every day, working for a evil CEO who doesn't care about them at all. I want them to be happy with their life.


Layoff Survival Fund

Survived this round. There will be more rounds.

Assuming that I have about 7 years of experience, late 30s, mid 200K total comp, wife is not working, have a toddler. No debt/mortgage (renting in So Bay). Working in sales.

Is there a rule of thumb for how much should someone like me have to have saved to hedge layoff risk?


How we work

If your EMG is talking about “how we work” and is having your leader write out each of your job duties and what it entails, that is the first step in deciding who gets their 60 days notice. Word of advice, make sure you let your leader know EVERYTHING you do, even if it seems small and non interesting, the more the better.