It feels like any day could be the last one you spend working alongside your coworkers. When you're laid off, the separation is sudden—you lose access to everything and everyone connected to the company in an instant.
So, what would you say to your coworkers while you still have the chance?
8 replies (most recent on top)
I kept my co-workers personal email addresses and phone numbers offline just in case. I sent the sh---y laptop back ASAP so I could get my so-so severance. Until you're laid off, make connections on LinkedIn. The jobs section is horrible, but the connections are real and they might help you land on your feet when the next OT lay off hits (hint: June/July)
Agreed - never save anything personal on your hard drives. Use work email only for work (your former manager gets all emails routed to him or her for at least a year). And don’t save passwords for your personal accounts in the password manager.
I am a long time veteran of the Tech industry and have been laid off 3 times. I always tell friends and colleagues to plan each day like it is your last. I agree with the comment below to connect on LinkedIn with all colleagues (well those you want to maintain a relationship with😁) and have their work emails/phone #'s on your personal mobile device.
Also, make sure you keep nothing personal on work laptops that you cannot afford to lose access to. EX: Log in links, phone numbers and direct email contacts for stock plan and life insurance administrators and other benefits vendors. Things you will need that you don't carry in your wallet like a medical ID. They will give some very basic contacts and FAQ's in your 'layoff packet' but typically they are all call centers or links to "open a ticket".. Also keep the email of at least 1 payroll contact. I had an issue with my last paycheck and I emailed a long time payroll colleague instead of opening a ticket. It was resolved immediately. Lastly, (we all know this but it is a good reminder) ..always have an emergency savings fund (8 months should be a goal).
Most companies design the separation process to minimize any chance they will ever have to interact with you again, so as commenters below said "Plan ahead".
Good luck to those impacted. You will get another job, it will be a better opportunity, better work culture and highly likely better compensation.
Let’s be honest no company lets an employee use their laptop after being laid off. It’s a security risk. Most OpenText emails are first initial and last name at OpenText.com. Make sure you are connected to your co-workers on LinkedIn. Worst case get a one month subscription to https://www.beenverified.com/ and look up phone and email addresses.
Of course, with a serious company, you'd get to send out a farewell message. OT is not a serious company.
After 10 years with the company it finally dawned on me after getting the boot that I didn't have any personal email or contact info for any of my colleagues and as my access was cut off I had no way to get it.
Plan ahead.
We will all become redundant because of AI. It's not personal; it's just reality.
Per ChatGPT:
“While some roles may become redundant, AI can also create new jobs and enhance existing ones by automating repetitive tasks and allowing humans to focus on more complex and creative aspects of their work.”
I hope that true, but I believe that is unlikely. Rather that they is what the IT executives are training to models to say to justify layoffs.
I think we are on the early onset of large scale structural unemployment as AI replaces labour, with our only hope that this is quickly followed by a rise in self-employment as consumers (us common folk) gain access to AI and have it run their companies for them where we all become CEOs of our own company. But not sure how the world will look in the year 2100 with billions of one person companies. Will they all be needed? Do we get money from machines or humans? Will the annual income be at minimum wage or in the millions? God only knows but Karl Marx is laughing in his grave.
In the meantime, stay close to your co-workers and friends independent of work, since unless you are in the elite class, we are all in the same boat.
Same thing I always do when laid off, send a farewell message. Sure, my OT access will be gone, but I still have their contact message. Don't overthink it, just plan ahead.