I don’t think that this is the end of the layoffs and I don’t want to stick around and be exploited by taking on the workload of the people who were laid off while having to fake being grateful about it. I want to know if it’s feasible to ask HR if they’ll let me volunteer to be laid off since they need to cut costs and I want a severance package exit.
8 replies (most recent on top)
@OP don’t even bring it up. It will not happen. Put your head down, do some work. There will be another round next year. You can always look for opportunities while there’s chaos to clean this current mess up.
That’s only an option if you are union. It’s called a buyout and the company would offer buyouts before layoffs. Typically buyouts offer better packages than layoffs. Quitting is what happens when you voluntarily leave - which is what you are describing. Quitting = your choice, therefore no severance and no unemployment.
You don’t need to be fake about anything. That doesn’t save a person from losing their job. It takes months to fire someone. Layoffs are random and quick. Be yourself. Express your feelings. And don’t work 80 hours a week to do the job of the 4 people who were just laid off. Do what you can but still stay sane. No reward for hard work or burnout. Layoffs are not based on job performance.
"they need to cut costs and I want a severance package exit."
You must be new to corporate America. No, you can't quit and and ask Target to cut you a check.
You call it "exploited," which it kinda is, but this is a new reality. The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence. The overall job market is a sh*tshow. Have a game plan, don't wreck your career making emotional decisions.
@a6 As far as not working, the BEST option is layoff with severance. People think it's bad because it wasn't their choice, but getting that extra pay from severance is obviously a better option.
If you quit without another job, you get zilch. No severance, not even unemployment.
I know this feeling well, but consider your options:
talk to your supervisor before you talk to hr if this is something you want to explore seriously. But only if you think they can be trusted and objective about your options. Its possible they could help make this happen in the future.
if you really want to leave target, start looking for options. Theyre slim now but they exist. Leaving by choice is always going to be the best option. Take any extra time you have at work to work on your resume. Take guild classes. Meet with a career coach (all free through target!) meet people within target doing a different job you want-even if its not at target, they can give you ideas or recs (and everyone has bad feelings about the company right now) make a plan for your next step
and if youre really feeling burnt out or sad: check out for a bit. Take a mental health day. Do something to care for your heart and head that gets you away from the job entirely. Tell your boss this su-ks and you need a break
Most people dont like their job in general right now. (Or ever.) The economy su-ks. The job market isnt ideal. If you can, try to find a silver lining. Youre in the land of opportunity, even if the land is pretty overcast at the moment. No one wants to be here but here we are. We can still make the best of it and plan accordingly for sunnier days.
So don't take on the workload. Go home at the end of the day.
Odds are nobody would let you do it anyway. It'd send the wrong message to everyone else. HR makes about zero decisions, all they do is implement the decisions of upper management, enforce rules, and manage benefits.
If they wanted to do the "voluntary separations", they would have done that months ago.
Are you d-mb?