Just a little background, I had been at Cigna for 25 years until this past Thursday. I wasn’t laid off because of performance, but instead due to the ego of our director. The last 2 years since this director came on they have ruined our organization and created an environment of utter chaos, anxiety, back stabbing and I would say about 70% of the org looking for a new job. In my nearly 25 years at the company I have never had a leader be so bad. But, I think that is more a reflection of Cigna as a company since the ESI merger. The culture overall has become toxic and employees are no longer valued by the company. What I can say is that since last Thursday I have been getting the best sleep in a long time, little to no anxiety and feeling calm and relaxed. With the 9 week notification period and severance I have until May of 2027 to find a job and had been applying externally since before the JE. I am currently in various stages on around 10 different positions both FTE and Contractor and hoping to have a new less stressful job within a month. So I guess being JE’d isn’t so bad when you get a month vacation and then get double paid for about a year. That doesn’t include the better sleep and less anxiety and chaos. Thank you Cigna for the job elimination!
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@h0 Same here. I am not even negotiating, just glad to be out of here and am thankful it was only 6 years and I am at the height of my career still and nowhere near retirement.
@cr Max is 52 weeks as of the Termination date, which is in May so 52 weeks from then would be may 2027
Could’ve wrote this post, also laid off last week by a dumpster fire department led by cold out of touch directors hooked on power that have made life miserable for all of us, l feel intentionally to force resignations without severance. I don’t know anyone not looking to escape. Nothing but relief and peace since my three min scripted cut from the company I’ve given 10+years to, no acknowledgment of my work, nothing, but not surprising. I lost any expectations of human decency from these “leaders” long ago. Good luck to those left behind in he-l. Getting a severance and a ticket out of there felt like a literal gift.
@OP Congratulations! It is indeed nice to sleep in and not wake up / show up to a toxic team/boss/environment. I know a few people that have put in +25 years whose positions Cigna eliminated without a 2nd thought. Take this time to assess where you want to be in your next chapter, whether job seeking or retirement and always prioritize your health and wellbeing.
You were laid off because you were at the top of your pay grade after 25 years and an older employee, which you can’t prove. Cigna can pay someone in India to do your job for half the salary without paying American employment taxes or Social Security.
@dm RE: Can you get a job before severance starts and still get severance?
The more important question is your formal termination date. If you start a job after that date, you are still entitled to the severance pay. If before, and the company learns about that, there could be issues.
@dm from my reading of the severance package you would only forfeit severance if you return full time to Cigna. If you got a job elsewhere how would Cigna even know? Only reason they would know about if you came back would e because it’s in their system
Can you get a job before severance starts and still get severance?
@c1 I was already looking for a new role externally as there were signs of JEs hitting our team. I’m in various stages of interviewing for about 10 roles currently. Hoping one of these comes through and between background check and screening I’m back to work within a month. The spend about 14 months getting double paid
You get 9 weeks paid prior to severance even started if laid off, I didn’t realize so long- is that for everyone? 9 weeks from your last worked day or notification?
Wow, 15 months of severance. Good for you. I only got 52 weeks (12 months) from VRP with longer than 25 years of service.
@OP lucky you were there long enough to get that much severance time. Most are not that lucky
Ehh it depends. Just saw a LinkedIn post not too long ago of a PM, not from Cig, not finding work after 6 months, with unemployment benefits gone. Would su-k if you were sole provider with dependents for sure. But for your case, definitely nice, and congrats, what’s your next plans, just chill for 6 months then start looking?
@a6 I have 50 weeks of severance due to me being here 25 years plus 9 weeks for the notification period where you don’t work but still get paid and then my severance.
Correction. Being laid off isn’t so bad FOR YOU
Not everyone has the luxury of ~15 months of post-termination pay.
@a6 he has 25 years of service
Wow what band are you? Severance until may 2027 sounds amazing