Thread regarding Pearson PLC layoffs

Your Next Job's Pay and Benefits

Pearson laid me off in late 2022, but I start a new job tomorrow after getting two offers about the same time. I'll get Pearson severance a while longer, but can drop the nearly $600 a month COBRA. Same kind of work, but different industry. Same town. Privately held company with a nice campus. They seemed very very happy to find me.

Pay? 30% more.

Bonus is up to 20% of salary. Bonus has paid out a minimum of 10% of salary for longer than a decade. I remember my best bonus at Pearson was around 3% of salary before taxes.

401k is contribute/match 7% each, so a total of 14%.

4 weeks vacation to start, accrued, not PTO.

Health insurance PPO about 10% less than Pearson's. Vision is not VSP, but they pay a certain amount for frames but cover 100% of add-ons including bifocals. Dental is about the same per paycheck cost, but way better, covering yearly preventive x-rays (rather than every 2 years), and up to 80% payment on things like root canals and crowns.

I get a real desk in kind of a cubicle area and not Open. Dual 24" displays at work - I think I had two old 17" LCDs at Pearson. Like most companies they are hybrid, so I also get equipment for home, a docking station and displays. I'm not bragging. I'm just telling you what I got. I remember almost getting into an argument with our "admin" at Pearson who dragged her feet when I needed a replacement $15 headset that quit working after 3 or 4 years. I remember turning in an 8 year old laptop that had issues that my manager wasn't allowed to replace because "budgets".

I was very depressed after losing my Pearson job. People I got along with for years and thought I could use as a reference ended up ghosting me. They wouldn't even reply via LinkedIn. The severance helped but it made me mad every time that money would show up in my bank account. I suppose I should be grateful, but I'm still mad about it. Maybe that will change in a couple of weeks. Goodbye everybody, and good luck!

by
| 1951 views | | 6 replies (last April 18, 2023) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1mbuPJ9X

6 replies (most recent on top)

But...but...education is a growth business....right?

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1yfk+1mbuPJ9X

I wouldn't waste your time at Pearson, it will most likely be gone in 5 years and under a different name/brand. The astroid hit Pearson a few years ago and what you are seeing now is the after effects of that impact. Just leave, you will feel so much better for it.
We all know what happened to the dinosaurs!

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1rqy+1mbuPJ9X

Ed Tech is/was fools gold. Name me one Ed Tech company not named google that is making money?

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1aez+1mbuPJ9X

I'm glad you got such a good offer; I got a role 6 weeks after getting laid off, but with the tech sla-ghter happening at the same time, I had to make a lot of concessions in terms of benefits. Had to go hybrid, had to give up retirement matching, no bonus, small increase in base pay. But at least it's in a different industry that isn't Edtech, which is burning to the ground.

Regardless, I still feel more fortunate being somewhere else rather than working in my own grave which would have been the reality if Pearson kept me.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1leu+1mbuPJ9X

They told us not to use our vacation days but they can't guarantee that they will be transferred to the new company. They aren't saying what the pay will be and if it is lower, we will not be receiving any severance packages. For those of you that think it will be the same, wake up! Equity companies are notrious for lean operations (strip and flip). Start looking before the sale finalizes and use those vacation days!!!

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1krd+1mbuPJ9X

Good for you. My manager told me on the DL that the new Regent owners aren’t going to have a 401K. And that everyone that they keep (yeah more layoffs) is going to get a new offer letter with a different salary and titles. That’s why they haven’t said anything about the benefits under the new owners.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @pby+1mbuPJ9X

Post a reply

: