How do I convince leadership to let me go back to my old role/team instead of laying me off? I have been moved around to so many times in the last few years, I’d really like to go back to what I was doing prior to all the re-org’s. Also, does anyone know if HR will offer a lower position in another are vs. laying someone off? I really don’t want to get laid off (despite all the trolls on this site) and willing to take a lower job.
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The fact that people even consider doing this shows how toxic WF really is.
There is no escaping Chainsaw Charlie. He’s going to find you, and If you moved to a lower level/lower paying role when he does, your severance will be less when they kick you out of the 2nd (lower) role.
@b5 Sorry to hear about the sad state that makes employees feel so much pressure at work. Good luck to you!
@b4 Need to pay the bills.
@OP I have had my doubts about all the extremely negative comments here about WF as an employer so I am curious to know if it is as bad as all the comments report, why would you want to stay there?
You have to apply for an open position to move. The headcount in your old group may not exist. They cannot prevent you from applying to an open position. In fact, it's encouraged. Not enough people do.
The hard truth is that these decisons are (often) about the position being eliminated... not about you personally, so appealing to leadership to keep you almost never works. What does work is "internal mobility"//. If your old team still exists, reach out to your former manager directly - now, before any official notice - and ask if they have open headcount or anything coming up... A mgr who already knows your work can sometimes pull you onto an open req. If you do get a displacement letter, go over it and ask HR exactly how your redeployment window works --- you typically get a set period to apply for internal postings before your end date... sometimes with priority consideration. HR won't offer you a lower role on their own you have to find the posting and apply yourself. but here is caution: if you voluntarily take a demotion to avoid the cut, you usually give up severance, and depending on your years of service that can be real money - u do the math first. Either way quetly update your resume and linkedin now so you have options. Ignore the trolls which will pile on here, wanting to keep your job is THE sane position.