I've figured out the game here. Most managers won't fire you for saying no because that requires confrontation and documentation. They're cowards who depend on you doing the work they can't do. So they just let it slide. Meanwhile they're building a list of people to sacrifice in the next layoff. You want on that list? Say no more often. Protect your energy and watch yourself move up the rankings. When the cuts come, you'll have a lighter workload and a severance package. It's a win.
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@jr Managers do make recommendations but according to my manager the recommendations are only about 50% followed.
@jr I don't know if different orgs have different processes when it comes to this. At least in my org, I know for a fact that managers are asked to provide the names.
On the other hand that could very well be because our director is (or was, at this point) completely useless. Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if that was one of the many things he should have done, but couldn't be arsed to actually do.
"The manager will be thankful for not having to make any hard decisions" - as far as I am aware managers don't provide the names. The list is shared with our managers, they just need to communicate it to those impacted. Am I wrong?
Just quit already and hit the bricks tu-d burglar
You're all missing one simple factor. For most managers, director level and above, they need to have x number of direct reports in order to maintain their own status. You could sh-t on their desk and they wouldn't lat you off. That's the very definition of a dysfunctional, f***ed up company.
Just QUIT already and get a different job. The severance package isn’t that big of a deal.
If you say you want to be layed off, you won't get layed off. At that point management knows you are likely to leave on your own without a severance package, which is exactly what they want to happen.
They should lay off those who have asked to be laid off, especially those who can retire. The problem is that they usually have dead weight that contributes nothing to the team, and even though the ones who want to be laid off aren't optimal, they are still better than the dead weight.
Why make it complicated? If you want out, just tell your manager on your next 1x1 that if they need to put a name on the next layoff list, you'd like to volunteer.
After that you keep doing your job to the best of your abilities. The manager will be thankful for not having to make any hard decisions, you will not risk being put on a pip instead and absolutely nobody is going to try to force you to stay (because they already know you're already looking elsewhere and they literally don't have any cards to play to regain your interest from a financial standpoint). And god forbid you at some point want to come back, you won't have a 'no rehire' tick in the HR-systems.
Everybody wins.
Been doing this for 6 years.... It isn't working.