Does anybody else think a $500 severance for part-timers is insulting? I feel so bad for those who were laid off and learned that all their work and all their contributions were worth $500 in severance money. I would not accept it, to be honest. Especially if there's some kind of an NDA attached to it. Are you kidding me?
8 replies (most recent on top)
I thought I was the only one that experienced this. The crazy part is I was inquiring about where to resign and the next thing I knew I was locked out of all my 2U accounts. I was so shocked when I saw the severance email because I expected a conversation or something?? The no warning lay off thing caught me way off guard after 3+ years as a learning assistant, I definitely expected more respect.
Is anyone pursuing legal action?
The consequences of outsourcing your dedicated passionate employees to out of North America. All to preserve a plummeting stock price...
I worked there for just under a year and it seemed to be going downhill the whole time; hard to believe I get the same as those who have been there so long. I wish everyone who was let go all the best. Maybe we will cross paths again!
Been a tutor since 2019. Learned about my termination because my scheduled tutoring sessions were cancelled. Why did the terminate tutors!? Nasty work by the company.
Yup, I was a Learning Assistant, and a TA that started in 2019 and have worked there part time until today. Averaging anywhere between 15 - 28 hours a week. So yes a $500 severance is an insult.
Do part time workers at other orgs typically get severance? I’m assuming pt in the sense of not enough hours to qualify for benefits?
2U has always treated teaching assistants, graders, and other part-timers poorly. I started as a TA and then went full-time. I distinctly remember a meeting after going full-time where we were asked to brainstorm ways to help TAs "move on" and not consider their roles permanent employment. That was back in 2020 or so. Back then, the TAs, often recent grads from the boot camps themselves, were basically unpaid for the mountain of grading they were doing and were expected to assist struggling learners even if it meant staying way after class. So, the actual rate per hour was pretty dismal but the TAs were doing it because they were dedicated to the learners! By the way, never during that time when 2U was reflecting on the TAs staying too long did 2U connect the fact that the TAs were staying on as TAs for multiple cohorts because they could NOT get a job because their boot camp experience did not prepare them for a job and career services was a joke. So, the only thing that surprises me is that 2U actually offered the part-timers anything, even a $500 joke. This group of part-timers has always been the front-liners that the learners interact with and can make or break an experience for a learner. But 2U just doesn't care.