It has been 20 years since my lay-off and I still have flashes of absolute rage. Does anybody else feel like this? I don’t want to give the people who selected me (it WAS personal) any power over me, but I genuinely felt trapped and vilified by my manager. And also the mean people from Compaq who seemed to have it out for me from the outset.
14 replies (most recent on top)
I too was canned during the MH years. My only takeaway was the decision to never return, which I held onto when HP asked me if I wanted to come back just a few years later. I told them that I was very happy where I was and thanked them for considering me. I figured that had I gone back would have eventually been WFR'd again.
Otherwise that layoff is little more than a faint memory to me now. I landed a new job before I was even eligible to claim unemployment.
@OP No,most likely your just F*CKED in the head
On the bright side, you sound like a good candidate for one of the many open mail carrier positions across the country!
@ac Well, we all knew of those like you. We tried logging complaints, but all that did was get us on the list.
No, I make more than HP/HPE every would pay me.
HP and probably HPE make it seem personal because they need a reason to not feel guilty for getting rid of you. You were singled out of by people who didn't know you and they gave your manager the hachet to do the job. Its easier to get rid of someone if you have a reason than if you don't, so they made one up.
Time to let it go .. I felt a bit peeved when WFR'ed , but cannot be bothered with it now. Much happier in my new role . And the severance made it happier once the lawyers had sorted it out.
Never been laid off, always left voluntarily including HPE last year.
Lots of mostly nice people, but a handful of real a--holes.
Don't dwell on it. If you still haven't gotten over it in 20 years, its time to seek out your ex-manager, and let them know how they made you feel, you may be surprised at what you hear in response. Or just seek him out and punch him in the face, whatever gets you through your emotional block. Good luck!
I don’t dwell on my wfr. The company where I’m at now values me much more than HPE did. HPE believes in using cheap labor. Their expectations are not high.
@OP Sumpin rong wit u. U must suk as humin bean an no it deep down. so reminders reengage. no fix for dat now. Bad parents then.
@bt Spot on. After I was hired I had a convo with one of the interviewers (from HR) who asked, "Have you ever been fired?" I had not but had been laid off and said so. She probed that a bit .... Speaking with this (now) co-worker that came up: Did I ask you anything that surprised you or skip anything you thought I'd ask? [I often ask this when I interview, at the end...] I asked about that question. "Oh, we just want to make sure you've gotten past it..."
@OP - Holding on to your rage is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy dies. In reality, all you are doing is hurting yourself. If you have not spoken to a therapist about your feelings, you should. I imagine you felt betrayal and heartbreak at being laid off which is completely understandable. Still, healing that trauma is necessary so you can move forward.
@ac - Do you honestly think WFR is strictly determined by employee value? Do you actually think staying off of a WFR list is completely under the control of the employee? If so, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
Does anyone ever blame themselves for their WFR? I do because I was working at home and totally goofed off all the time. I got tapped and was ever so glad to go. Maybe you need to look at your value add and not be so full of rage?