If you as the manager aren't also getting laid off, it usually depends on how high up the food chain you are. At 30+, they usually tell you and often you have some input.
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@nd I was laid off in October. My manager was informed when I informed him. Fearsomely awful communications. And why?
Previous manager here. I lost several folks in Oct RIF and was not notified at all. One of my folks impacted asked if he was the only one. I wasn't sure what he meant until I received another chat message from another impacted employee and then I realized what was going on. I didnt get the full story until several hours later after 3 requests to be filled in about what was happening. Traumatic and unprofessional all around.
Last month my manager and our entire team were RIF'ed on the same phone call, and she clearly had no previous knowledge of it.
Immediate manager pretty typically finds out an hour or less before notification.
Sometimes the direct manager doesn’t find out until a few minutes before or right after the rif.
A variety of possibilities but I’ve had direct reports on my team impacted before and literally told right before notification. Anything is possible.
Sometimes the manager is also being RIFed and doesn't know their employees are being RIFed and finds out after the fact. Sometime a manager knows who is on the list but the list can change. Sometimes it is the scond line manager notifying the employee. The lists are revewied and changed by leadership.
My boss was very bothered because they told him about 15 minutes before they did it. They also just hired me weeks before hand so he had no clue why they hired me to lay off.
They usually know a short time before it takes place.