Will you get a call if you’re on PTO or will they wait until you’re back to tell you you’re laid off? I bet they call.
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Ten years ago while working for Optum a colleague of mine had knee replacement surgery on a Friday. The following Monday while recuperating at home they received a call informing her that she was subject to a RIF with immediate effect. They do not care.
@ze This is a good opportunity to remind people that when you are on PTO, you are on PTO.
Don't take calls, check your email/messages, whatever. You set up coverage before you leave, note your return date in your Out of Office reply and include a suggestion that anyone with an urgent matter contact you about it on that day if they need your attention urgently.
I go so far as to use a burner phone number while on vacation. The number that the company has will go to voice mail.
I know of one person who used this strat to successfully avoid a layoff a while back, which wasn't their intention. Took off Tuesday for multiple weeks, manager started blowing up their voicemail and both work and personal emails Thursday morning, but they were strong, turned the apps off and ignored them.
Returned on schedule 10+ days later to discover that several of their teammates were gone, but they still had a job. Apparently the team was directed to cut a certain number, including the vacationer, but the next week the person they were planning on dumping all of the work onto had a health problem, necessitating immediate extended leave. This made the vacationer the last available person in their org that could cover this workload.
Because they weren't "notified", apparently it was easier for lazy finance/HR people to unwind their layoff than one of the people who were notified, so they didn't even bother trying to keep one of them and the vacationer got to stay.
Back in 2024, I was called on my cell phone for a 1:1 meeting with my manager on the second day of my honeymoon in the Caribbeans. I was told I was getting let go. Knowing that I wouldn't have a job waiting for me when I get back home, and knowing that from now on, I had to be very careful with my expenses, it ruined my and my wife's vacation.
If you anyone thinks the management cares about your feelings, that should tell you all you need to know.
They have to contact you to get you off the books. PTO FMLA matters none
"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
If you don't answer the phone are you still RIF'd - YOU BET!!!
@b4 this is not true. It’s normally senior leadership that delivers the news- last time it was our RVPs.
Also you’re getting the call regardless if you’re on PTO or FMLA. Your job is not protected if it’s a RIF.
Yes they will call
And yes, managers do deliver the news at times
This is FAKE BS post - managers don't tell reports thier RIF'd - its hr with a uniformed robo message
They don't care, I got the call while on paternity leave in April of this year. They don't give a sh-t.
That's why before you go on true vacation tell everyone that you are going to a place where there won't be any signal. And put phone on DND with only family allowed to get through
Still at Optum (somehow), and about 8 years ago I was told I had to tell my impacted report that they were RIF'd even though they were on PTO. They were in transit at the designated time (aka Thursday morning, 9am central) so I had to text them to let me know when they could talk. They called me from the airplane during a layover and that's when I had to tell them they lost their job. They were on their way to celebrate their wedding anniversary with their kids for 2 weeks. It su-ked.
Yes, I know of multiple people who were called when on PTO. They were called even when their manager advised that it was not a good time to call. The folks making the calls have to confirm by the end of the business day that contact was made for everyone they are asked to contact.
Hey if you get the RIF don’t worry about it that’s business. If you’ve conducted yourself with dignity then the chips are stacked against you. Most of the time leaders that get cut are just really bad leaders and have played too many political games. Life goes on, business goes on.. you’ll land you next job. The difference is if your team respected you, or your peers then hold your head up high! Hopefully you’ll get a good severance!
I know someone who got a call while in the hospital
Manager still has to call even if you’re on PTO.