Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

Former US-based worker. After years of misery, my wife convinced me to go out on short term disability. A note from your doctor is basically all you need. Cisco has zero control in terms of approving it. Don't expect your job to still be there when you use it up. I had just been switched to a new department (3rd in 6 months!) and my new boss was in Czech Republic and actually totally cool. I told him my plan, he talked to HR, HR called me a few hours later. I explained my situation to them. They agreed that I could freely take STD.

But... "this week's unadvertised special" was that if I voluntarily resign, given my accrued vacation (before unlimited happened) + sick days + severance + added severance for having 10 years of service (6+ from before getting acquired), added up to six months of pay. PLUS three months of prepaid COBRA. PLUS cash to pay the taxes on the COBRA. AND... Since healthcare is paid on the 1st of the month, if I quit on the 1st, that meant an extra month of healthcare (so four months total).

So I took a week of vacation to get to the 1st of the month, and then resigned with six months pay in a lump sum plus three months of healthcare paid in a lump sum, plus healthcare through the end of the month. I landed a new job a week later (this was early November), and told them I could start January 1. I paid for December healthcare through COBRA, and pocketed the rest.

And had two months to decompress from the toxic world of Cisco. I've never been happier.

If you are in SJ go to Cisco clinic and work with Doctor there. They are meant to understand the stress and culture of Cisco, so can more easily do the documentation for STD. One of my coworkers was immediately taken out of work by her doctor because of the physical impacts of job stress. Good luck. Take care of yourself!

Same situation, took a leave due to not sleeping and anxiety (6 weeks) came back and same boss helped me find a new role that I was much happier. It was some paperwork but looking back it was the best decision for my mental health. Wish you luck.

if you do a extended leave, Cisco will let you go either way after the legal protection is over. the hard part is that some of these go into your legal record and then your next job will not come easy.. due to background check will review some of the traits.. like long leave of absence, taking disability check from the insurance companies.

hence many people end up suing to get $ from the worker's compensation law.. to get a larger sum.. there are specific lawyer on worker compensation, this will get you a larger sum that allow you to basically switch to 2nd career.

You should get extra time off for your STD.
Good luck

Ok so... people are terrible and I'm sorry you're getting so many terrible responses. You're genuinely asking for help here, and not getting what you need. So let's start with what is real:

You have "unlimited" Vacation Time Off, 2 weeks of Sick Time Off (to be used at your discretion WITHOUT doctor's note), and Critical Time Off (for emergencies or when you need to care for others etc.)

If you're having the emergency, then you take a Leave of Absence.

You can take FMLA, which is unpaid leave for a medical condition of up to 12 weeks. It's job protected.

If you're looking for short term disability, then you need a doctor to fill it out with, with objective medical documentation... ie, the stress is giving you a bleeding ulcer, you are depressed and taking meds etc.,

If you want to go STD route, you need clear medical documentation that your health is suffering.

Bottomline: document your symptoms, make sure you have medical documentation and track record with a provider, and they are able to show that it is impacting your work and vice versa.

Or take the 2 weeks sick time off and reset from there...

It’s worth noting a new doctor (Psychologist etc.) are not going to immediately put you on disability. They will prescribe medications and monitor you before giving you STD certificate to proceed with Cisco Disability Leave. This can take time and could be a six months process.

@OP most people don't understand the detailed aspects of leave policies, however they are actually not difficult to navigate. It's important to understand that the 'time off' (job protection) leave and the 'paid' leave aspects are related but managed separately. For paid leave you need a dr to administer a standardized mental health assessment (a series of yes/no questions) to support your case and go forward from there. The hardest part might be acknowledging on record you have a diagnosed mental affliction (anxiety/depression) affecting your job performance-- which sounds like it's probably true, however the documentation process is another matter and can be somewhat intimidating. But it's not fundamentally difficult once you have support from your medical provider, and most are sympathetic.

Is it possible to get a sick leave for that in the US ?

When I was younger most companies in the US offered 10 days vacation which is paid if you didn't take it and 10 sick days which aren't paid if you don't use them. When I hit Cisco they gave you 20 days and said do what you will with them. I left long before the "unlimited" vacation so I don't know what the rules are but management used to freak out when a US citizen took a couple weeks of vacation at a time even when it was planned after a project delivery and before the next project spun up.

I doubt a few days will help OP. That likely puts them in the short term disability bucket and that's a whole different world with a lot of process and a lot of documentation. Those that came back at full force and could put in 60 hour weeks were kept, and those who were limited by ongoing disability to 40 or less were disappeared.

If the team is in crisis they aren't going to approve losing a resource via LOA and if you assert it's a disability when you haven't mentioned using any of Cisco's benefits to get help for both the mental and physical symptoms already you'll be laughed out the door.

A few of us have been telling people here to keep their skills and professional network up to date and to interview from time to time to be ready either for a better opportunity or at least be in the game should you get laid off.

It sounds like you are now fighting a war on both fronts. It's time to set ego aside and take any help you can to get through this period. The bad news is if it is as bad as you think it will be a truly brutal experience. The good news is if you find your way to the other side you'll have far more confidence and the tools to keep moving forward. Best of luck.

Is it possible to get a sick leave for that in the US ?

go for it! not sure why so many responses here are negative

worst case, you will be guided to the exits

best case, you get real time away from work which will have immense benefits

you have nothing to lose

Boomer here ... Su-k it up buttercup or leave.

It's too common unfortunately. Not much you can do except hoping for that manager to get ejected. When enough people complain, it usually happens.

if your mgr is mentally ill, harassing and bothering other employees is his/her medication. don't let him get his medication. ignore him/her. if this mentally ill mgr makes it personally, remind him/her that you're only interested in taking of Cisco's business. if you happen to be onsite, give him/her a scary dirty ugly look. that's how I handled my mentally sick mgr. luckily he was given the boot 6 months later. everyone on the team was fed up with that wacko.

Short term disability (STD) is not easy unless you really have it. Tried and not easy this route. If you have a major surgery then try to get couple weeks offs with doctors note. In USA, doctors want you back and moving, not disabled. Good luck in your pursuit.

Better way may be to confront management and raise issue with HR if they listen.

@ak

It is not paid time off and after a period of time you may be terminated.

is this state some where on CEC ?

Been there. The only cure is to leave. You will be in purgatory until you get away from all this mess. Focus on getting another job.

First take a look at the terms of an LOA in the Benefits Portal. It is not paid time off and after a period of time you may be terminated. I would suggest going out on Short Term Disability (STD) for which you will need a doctor's note. Your manager does not need to know the purpose of your leave. Sedgwick is a third-party company that manages STD claims for Cisco; you'll find info on them in the Benefits Portal as well. Disability payments are not taxed (at least in CA) so you end up taking home more money than your regular pay. STD lasts up to 6 months while your job is still protected. To return to work, you will need a doctor's release in writing.

Definitely ask this toxic group of ppl; don't look on the Benefits portal. Or better yet, how about you quit since you can't seem to think for yourself.

@aa

managers from all nationalities are toxic at Cisco

Only managers from 3rd world nationalities are toxic .

Start from HR.

The managers from all nationalities are toxic at Cisco. It is very sad that so many employees go through abuse from inexperienced, mentally ill and insecure management. Cisco management is a big scam.

All abused and harassed employees should complain to HR.

Also you can take sometime off for a mental break.

@a1

Cisco is ignoring them

Cisco HR is also Indian folks...
@OP
better luck at your next company

Sorry OP, many many HR cases like this are opened due to micro-management from Indian mgrs but Cisco is ignoring them...