The product has changed. We are now a SaaS or service company. Also, with heavy use of open source and the services are less complex applications, help is readily available for hire. No need for workers with long term knowledge retention. Workers are hired to implement a feature or two, donate all their ideas, and replaced. Anyone still left at the factory should know their vulnerabilities and protect themselves.
Why? All the management hires are protected with up to 6 months severance packages for VPs and sweet deals to protect themselves, while the typical workers get chump change. We should do the same since we don´t know when they will whack us.
As layoff survivors and need to be prepared for the next one, we can protect ourselves.
Review some of potential jobs and the skills needed, and get trained on those skills now, either as part of any company sponsored free learning time or projects. If you are ready and willing to separate, you are in control of your future and can negotiate other terms.
Take vacation each quarter. They did not change to unlimited vacation for nothing. Since vacation is not acrued, we can work nonstop all year and if we get sacked, we get nothing. If scheduled vacation needs to be deferred, get management to request in writing, we we´re let go we can get payout for those deferred weeks.
We´re still at the farm, so they need us for now. Review your severance package now and if you feel you need better terms, negotiate now for an agreement. You have the advantage now, use it, like the VPs and management to protect yourselves like a contract worker that can be whacked at any time.
Avoid stock options or shares with future vesting. Cash is king. One in the hand is two in the bush. Request for it up front as much as possible, in lum sump over salary. Remeber, you may not be around in the future.
What else?