One of the worst companies to work for!!
No value for employees. I was about togo on maternity leave starting next month and they were in the process of hiring a temp contractor while I was gone and they laid me off yesterday without even offering me a re org or lower compensation position. Other team members in my team are safe and have been re organized conveniently, even team members who haven't shown any concrete work or deliverables in the past year. Leaders taking such decisions do not deserve to be parents ever! How can they do such a thing when they know the person needs this job more than anything else at this point. Completely insensitive and ruthless!!!
12 replies (most recent on top)
hey "Hate to be the bearer..." hand me a kleenex will ya? Hope you continue your great attitude if Staples or SP helps anyone but themselves it is 100% unintentional and if they could they would take it back.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you will likely need to take it on the chin like thousands before you have done. The decision of who stays and who goes is typically made using a ranking system or some other well documented, defensible criteria. Staples is way too savvy to terminate a pregnant woman without having the documentation to support their decision. The truth is that going out on maternity leave probably made it less attractive to select you for a RIF. First, if you are non-exempt, your pay over the next few months will be 60% of your regular pay and they will assume you are also going to take unpaid leave once short- term disability is exhausted. That is a huge savings in payroll dollars. Also, they would consider that there is a possibility that you won't return after your mat leave reducing staff by one without needing to provide severance. Therefore, it is likely that you were selected for a RIF for reasons unrelated to your pregnancy and it is a sure thing that Staples can substantiate their decision.
Don't think I am protecting Staples; I can assure you there is no love lost on them. I was impacted by the last layoff at the age of 63 after 30 years with Staples and while on leave caring for my child who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I didn't sue because I needed my severance and knew that I could never prove that I was selected for anything other than a legitimate business reason. I took it on the chin, took my severance, and have been cherishing each moment I spend with my child. My recommendation is to see this as a blessing. Take your severance and your unemployment and enjoy your freedom to spend time with your new baby. When ready to return to work you can find a job where you are appreciated and without the stress of working for a crumbling organization.
Being impacted by a RIF is always difficult. No matter the reason you were impacted, it is only natural to take it personally and feel devalued. Trust me when I tell you that at your age it always works out for the best; creating a better opportunity that you may not have taken without being pushed. Look on the bright side, you could be me.
Good luck and God bless you and your new baby. You will soon realize Staples did you a favor.
File an EEOC claim through the US government for pregnancy discrimination
Heard from formal head counsel that they settle on most things under $200k. Don't know how true that is anymore.
it's your own fault for having a kid!
I am sad and angry
It is a patten with sp. they target women on mat leave or close.
talk sure but do not pay for a lawyer, really do ya think the lawyers on staff at Staples & SP would let them do something where you could sue them and win? I hope you get through this,
Being Pregnant does not automatically qualify you for a job. Just because your situation is visible doesn't mean other people don't have financial obligations to their families or elderly parents or already born children.
I agree, I was on Mat leave Jan/2019 and survived through the new fiscal layoffs I actually came back end of march to a newer roll and pay increase. I would Sue.
Sue!
sounds like you have a case. If all others were given other positions, you should probably talk to a lawyer