It's easy to tell managers that haven't gone through layoffs before, because they refuse to address the big elephant in the room. I'm sure they they mean well, but if I were in their shoes I'd be giving space to my teams to upskill, sharpen resume, etc. I'd be frank in telling them that the inevitable is coming and there's not much anyone can do other than what's within their control, instead of suggesting "of everything is going to be OK". It will be painful for many. I guess everyone has their own management style but to me this attitude hurts more than helps given thew current state affairs.
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I don't like the not knowing anymore than anyone else. I can see my head on the chopping block as much as anyone else. It is a double-edged sword.
You go looking, find a job that is a bit less money, longer commute, etc., but you have to jump or you might not find anything else, so you jump ship. If they were on the layoff list, you gave up any severance. If not, then you jumped ship too early. If your next company does cutbacks, it is normally last in - first out.
There is then the whole anger response at finding they are letting you go. If someone knows they are getting cut before it happens, then protections to precent that person from doing major damage to the company won't be in place.
So, for example, if your manage tells you to pack your things and you do something out of spite, that manager could get held liable for giving privilege information out.
I don't like sweating it out anymore than anyone else, but I do get that this, usually, isn't a personal decision, but a business one. Unemployment is not a great option, but it is better than getting a check that bounces.
And it's definitely the MIDDLE managers who seem unable to acknowledge things.
Honestly many of them are the ones who should be cut, if cuts are necessary. Strikes me as a similar redundancy as 3 CEOs. What do they even do?
Thanks for response.
@xdf+1uAp11pg It wasnt based on headcount but $$ and its around 20%
They aren't sharing anything. I asked my manager to drop some kind of hint if I should be looking elsewhere and said he couldn't.
Any chance SVP can share what percentage of his org chart that might be ..
Middle managers might not have a clue what is going on. I am an SVP that has to reduce 12 people in my organization and they are making me do all 12 reductions. 15 minutes at a time and back to back to back etc
Oh man, people are gonna think this comment is from me because I’ve been the only member of my team vocalizing this same sentiment.
The job market is the worst I’ve ever seen right now. I hope others have been using some of this time to apply and prepare for interviews. I am grateful to have had some extra time to get in this mindset and start to get other opportunities lined up in case the hammer does fall. Godspeed everyone 👍
If anything this shows the leadership void evident in groups within VH's org. Folks are left to their own devices with no one really claiming accountability or holding the reigns. Some have their heads buried in the sand aimlessly drifting from meeting to meeting.