Thread regarding Open Text Corp. layoffs

@kt the grass is always greener on the other side. There is no such thing as a free lunch. And never underestimate the power and influence of id--ts.

Imagine, while I agree that OT needs help and that it can be brutal on one's state of mind, I have been through much worse from an employer.
What bothers me in this world is the imbalance and the injustice (everywhere). I once worked at a global corporation with a CEO that turned out to be fudging reports so that share values would increase and his bonuses would increase. When that was revealed he was let go (with a big severance, of course), and thousands of others, including me, were let go to appease the shareholders... it took me nearly three years to find a job, I had to move in with relatives to avoid homelessness (not kidding), while the former CEO was hired as CEO of another global company and continues to earn an eight-figure salary.

While OT is very, very far from perfect, it's a bleedin' dream compared to what I went through with the other.

@hp all tech companies are either trying to emulate the Magnificent Seven https://www.britannica.com/money/investing-in-hot-stocks or they work like a hedge fund to squeeze out every dollars with the least amount of investment. We tried to do the latter and now the fund dried up. IBM and HP make their money consultating... I see no way we can do that. My guess is all parts of OpenText will be sold off and the name will go to graveyards in Silicone Valley and the University of Waterloo.

@fm , until the successions of CEOs messed it all up.

I came from HP.. what a great company..

The last day of fun at Opentext was in Nashville at OpenWorld when everyone was in denial. Not reality has set in an there is nothing to hope for.

@d6
As someone who was laid off from OT, I was fortunate..they had to pay me for a lot of years (accumulated from a company OT acquired) and in my state of residence..they had to pay out all unearned vacation. 14 additional weeks.
VS. A colleague laid off at the same time, Director level had been there 2 years. They gave her 2 weeks severance..and zero RSU's had vested.
The OP (only there a few months) said they have 2 years savings..OT will maybe give them 2 weeks. I say the OP should save their sanity and just leave. Life is too short.

While the instinct to flee a toxic environment is natural, simply "leaving" (resigning voluntarily) is exactly what the "Business Optimization" plan hopes you will do. It saves the company millions in severance payouts. Given the current "bad" but stabilizing job market in early 2026, the strategic move is not to quit, but to "force their hand."
Here is a decision framework to help you decide whether to jump ship now or wait to be pushed (with a parachute).

1. The Financial Reality: Quitting vs. "Getting Package"
   OpenText is actively trying to reduce headcount to hit its $550M savings target.
   • If we Quit: We get $0. We lose eligibility for unemployment insurance (in most jurisdictions), and we lose any potential severance package.
   • If We Are Laid Off: OpenText typically pays severance based on tenure (often 2–4 weeks per year of service, though this varies by region). For long-time employees, this can equal 6–12 months of salary.
   • The Strategy: If we can mentally withstand the environment, staying to get laid off is effectively "paid job hunting."
2. The "Constructive Dismissal" Trap (Return-to-Office)
   The March 2, 2026 mandate (4 days/week) is designed to make people quit.
   • The Trap: If we just stop showing up or resign in protest, they win.
   • The Lever (Caregiving/Medical): If we have caregiving responsibilities or medical needs that make RTO impossible, do not quit. Instead, file a formal request for accommodation.
   • If they grant it: We get to stay remote while we look for a new job.
   • If they deny it: We may have legal grounds for "constructive dismissal" (forcing you out), which can sometimes be leveraged into a negotiated exit package rather than a simple resignation.
3. Job Market Reality Check (Q1 2026)
   The market is actually bifurcated.
   • Who is Hired Instantly: Cloud Architects, AI/Data Engineers, Cybersecurity experts (the "Growth" areas).
   • Who is Struggling: Generalist Sales, "Legacy" Support, and Middle Management.
   • The Risk: If our skillset is tied to "Legacy OpenText" (e.g., Content Server, Documentum, older methodologies), the external market is cold. We should not leave until we have a signed offer.
4. Survival Strategy: "Act Your Wage"
   If we decide to stay until we find a new job or get a package, change our mindset to protect your mental health:
   • Stop "Saving" Projects: In a "Business Optimization" phase, heroism is not rewarded. Do exactly what is in our job description and nothing more.
   • Document Everything: Every time a resource is removed, an unrealistic deadline is set, or a policy changes, email the manager confirming it. "Just confirming that per the new policy, we are deprioritizing X..." This creates a paper trail if they try to fire us for "performance."
   • Use our Benefits: If we are burned out, check our short-term disability or leave options before we resign.
   Summary: The "Go" Signal
   We should only voluntarily resign today if:
5. Mental Health: The stress is causing actual medical harm.
6. New Offer: We have a signed offer letter in hand (never quit on a verbal promise).
7. High Risk: We are in a "Sales" role where they might fire our for "Performance" (PIP) to avoid paying severance. If we are on a PIP, the severance calculation changes, and jumping might be better.
   The Bottom Line:
   We are in a game of "Chicken." They want us to quit so they don't have to pay us. If we can stomach it, make them pay us to leave.

I’ve never been one to consider going to therapy but OT has pushed me to that point

Be happy you can leave. Job market is so horrible most of us are just stuck here and have to put up with all this sh-t

Happy for you, don’t look back

@OP
Save your sanity my friend.. leave.
Life is much better outside the clutches of these Corporate mo--ns.

@bt
So very accurate!
OT is literally the barometer I use to measure, what I call the 'F'd Up' factor...
It literally is the most insane, abusive (and for Leadership) arrogant place I have ever worked. It was the arrogance that drove me crazy...as these folks thought they were 'all that' ..when most of the industry either never heard of OT or are laughing at them.
Been gone a few years, the PTSD is almost gone and I am much happier now!

@bt our customers are saying the same thing!

Look at the bright side.

You will most likely never encounter an employer as dysfunctional and disgusting as OTEX.

You will always be able to look back and say: "This employer is not ideal, but at is not nearly as bad as OTEX".

@OP Just play the system by agreeing to everything Management requests and find something else.

Last in, first out probably means you have a limited shelf life anyway.

An influential leader once told me, there is no barbed wire at the bottom of the gate. If you don't like it, resign move on, and stop whinging.