Thread regarding SAS Institute layoffs

@q7 I used "only" to refer to the 200 Epic Games employees laid off in Cary -- because the original headline referred to 1,000.

There were in fact 1,000 laid off globally, but only 200 locally. For SAS employees laid off / bought out / forced out in Cary, 200 is better than 1000.

"Job security without accountability... explains why the company has regressed so badly."

True that.

Nobody who gets fired ever thinks they deserve it. Like in sports when a ref/ump makes a call. What? Me? No way!!!!

It is always somebody else's fault.

@ym Yes -- certainly more thorough than HR, who blindly accepted the managers' words.

Most managers are decent people trying to do their best. But at SAS, the few toxic abusers are never corrected. Lack of accountability is one reason for the company's decline.

@yk “trumped-up changes”. Sounds like you did a thorough investigation

There were no heroes in the story I told. I was lucky that SAS was growing at the time, so it was easy to find a new position.

For my two friends, those trumped-up charges ended their careers. In this economy, it can be tough to get started again, especially for senior people.

There was no accountability. The two managers who forced out my friends are still in their high positions at SAS.

@w9 I literally said “everyone” is the hero of their own story.

That quite clearly includes managers.

You seem to imply that the manager is always wrong and that the worker is always right.

We both know that isn’t true.

@t7 - Yes, even the managers.

“I saved the company from that employee I didn’t like through a series of contrived situations and traps! Now I can hire my friend whom I know is an awesome employee!”

Ever thought of this “hero” story? I’ve seen it, at least twice.

@sz PIP as in accountability…

Everyone is the hero of their own story

My trumped-up charge sheet was part of a PIP. The manager writes down a list of lies, and the HR person sits there and supports them. You are permitted to write a response, but it has no effect. You are warned that you may be fired at any time.

In this situation, you can't win. You can hire a lawyer -- but SAS can hire more lawyers. Your only good move is to leave.

This happened to me many years ago. At that time, SAS was still growing. So I was able to find another manager who wanted me, and move within the company.

It happened to two of my friends more recently. The company is no longer growing, so they had to leave SAS -- and compete against all the people laid off from other tech companies.

Ignorant people make jokes about trumped-up charge sheets. But in this economy, it's no joke if it happens to you.

@qy Maybe. I’d have to know your name. I don’t deal in gross generalizations.

But if I did then I’m sure you are right. trumped up charge sheets all around.

The corporation is infallible and they do not use trumped up charge sheets to manage employees out to save money. Those who received them are simply bad employees — we didn’t have the proximity for serendipity or some other bullsh-t….right?

@q7 If there is no accountability then how do you account for all the layoffs you guys always go on and on about?

Let me guess… Those aren’t accountability but trumped up charge sheets.

If there is accountability people complain that it is unfair. If there isn’t accountability people complain that it is mismanaged.

@OP “only”. Spoken like a true SAS employee who has no idea how lucky we have it. Job security without accountability. Also explains why the company has regressed so bady

"Private" means you can do what you want. SAS may have laid off as many as Epic Games, but if they don't want to publicize it, I don't blame them.

On the bright side, yesterday's Epic Games layoff affects only ~200 in Cary.

https://www.wral.com/business/epic-games-cary-layoffs-1000-500m-cost-savings-fortnite-decline-mar-2026/

Epic Games is also a private company. Compare and contrast the transparency

@dg I’ll skip the private company can do whatever they want within laws if you’ll skip the SAS is horrible the art department is safe bullshot. Doesn’t work that way though.

Notice the transparency of Epic’s layoff statements (wral.com) compared to those SAS provides. Please skip the “private company” defense.

Also notice, the Art Department, which is safe at SAS, isn’t safe in the real world.

The movie “Company Men” is free on YouTube. It shows what happens to people after these layoffs.

SAS don't share their numbers, so who knows? They just don't do enough at once to require announcing them.

Games and development are moving overseas. Too expensive here and talent is cheaper with no drama overseas. Manila, Bangalore, Shanghai and Montenegro all now have stable T1 connections. Do something useful using your hands besides typing. Welding or plumbing. Simply as this

Y'all hiring?

This appears to be headed for careers for people that speak Hindi. That before AI takes over.