Imagine having to look for work at the same time as the other thousands that will be sent packing by Broadcom. If you honestly believe that you'll be cut, then go find a new job right away and quit on your own terms. Severance is great, but it doesn't mean a lot when you're jobless for much longer than it can cover.
26 replies (most recent on top)
I see Forest Gum join the fray?
"Did anyone say they aren’t looking?"
No, but all they talk about is waiting in vain for their entitled severance package. This is not the words of people who are in control of their future. This is an apathetic mindset.
“No, what you're doing is assuming you'll get a windfall of cash, but that's not the way Broadcom operates, based on their history. They have proven methods to avoid paying severance to everyone. If you are not already looking for another job, then you have no Plan B and are foolish for waiting unprepared.”
LOL okay. Did anyone say they aren’t looking? Or did they say they were trying to time it to collect on some things that have already been promised, and are trying to time it well?
I agree, Broadcom has a very different culture than VMware. Don't assume that you're "entitled" to anything. Managers have to work and produce something. If you're a person that believes filling your day with meetings and reading email is a job, then you're at risk.
Those are busy-work tasks. There is no cash windfall for you at Broadcom.
Get real. Be prepared to explain the value you provide, or prepare to find another job.
"We are all trying to weigh what will work best for us. And that won’t be the same for everyone… doesn’t make one stupid whatever they choose."
No, what you're doing is assuming you'll get a windfall of cash, but that's not the way Broadcom operates, based on their history. They have proven methods to avoid paying severance to everyone. If you are not already looking for another job, then you have no Plan B and are foolish for waiting unprepared.
"If you get an offer at Broadcom, it gives you more time to find the next opportunity or to stay at BC."
If Hock applies the same approach taken with CA and Symantec employees, you could have limited time. Here's how it works: transferred employees have to re-apply for their jobs, and those at risk are then placed on a Performance Plan. Employees who are terminated for cause, e.g. did note pass the PP process, receive little or no severance.
Troll alert /warning... OP is giving really stupid advice. Why would someone quit now unless they already have a great offer in hand?
This is not the time to quit but the time to start actively job hunting.
forgoing severance + h1 bonus+ early vesting RSUs and quitting WITHOUT ANOTHER JOB in hand in the most foolish thing you can do now. OP says quit now before the job seekers pool increases. What if you don't get another job before october? You will lose out on all the severance and bonus and still have all the competition.
If you get an offer at Broadcom, it gives you more time to find the next opportunity or to stay at BC. If you get laid off, you had a month or more of headway in job hunting compared to those who start after lay off. If you find a job before October, you just have to delay the start date there for a short while to avoid all your severance benefits.
“How would you know exactly what your severance would be if you're not in HR“
You are making a lot of assumptions. “Starting a job search” is one thing. The OP said to “quit now”. Quitting now means leaving the H1 bonus on the table. And in some cases, retention offers.
All that to say, not everyone is an id--t or in HR. We are all trying to weigh what will work best for us. And that won’t be the same for everyone… doesn’t make one stupid whatever they choose.
"I'm puzzled by anyone who guesses the payout and then refuses to protect themselves (and family) by starting a job search now."
No mystery here. We're surrounded by VMW lifers who are scared to start over
"I don’t work in HR. I’m just a critical thinker who chose not to leave a sizable amount of money on the table. Many others have made the same choice."
How would you know exactly what your severance would be if you're not in HR. To the best of my knowledge, nobody at VMware has been told the specific terms of the upcoming severance package offered by BC. So, I'm puzzled by anyone who guesses the payout and then refuses to protect themselves (and family) by starting a job search now.
Okay, believe what you want, regarding "leaving money on the table."
Do realize, not everyone's situation is like yours. Some are fearful and do want a change for the better, but need a little encouragement. I assure them that there are people I know who are glad that they left when they did. Everyone has a choice, you don't have to be a victim of BC policies or any other employer.
There's a good reason why they call it "at will" employment in America.
VMW Managers are also responsible for the lies, it's not just HR.
TIL that different perspectives, or those that apply to the larger organization and not just your team, are considered "HR lies".
“Note, be aware that VMW HR continues to post lies in response to concerns on this site.
Fact: many of the people that I know who already left received a 15-20% increase in base pay. They are still employed, and they have never looked back on their decision to leave.”
I don’t work in HR. I’m just a critical thinker who chose not to leave a sizable amount of money on the table. Many others have made the same choice.
I know people who have gone to Amazon, Google and meta and got cut though they did initially get nice offers and pay increases. It’s a tough time in tech.
VMW Managers are also responsible for the lies, it's not just HR.
Our director only has 3 direct reports and one is an open position that he is recruiting to fill ASAP. Why? He is terrified that he will be one of the first cut because of his small team. He clearly doesn't care about the person hired to fill the open job. I'm appalled by his selfish behavior.
I'm ready to leave this company and it's toxic work culture. Leaders are bad people
Totally depends what job you do, if there were 100 others in the same area who did the same thing as me, I'd be more concerned than if I was the only employee in my area who did what I do. Plus, severance.
"I watched lots of people jump ship since the acquisition was announced, and several have already been laid off from their 'stable' jobs."
Note, be aware that VMW HR continues to post lies in response to concerns on this site.
Fact: many of the people that I know who already left received a 15-20% increase in base pay. They are still employed, and they have never looked back on their decision to leave.
I watched lots of people jump ship since the acquisition was announced, and several have already been laid off from their “stable” jobs.
With H1 bonus, retention bonuses (in some areas) and severance, it isn’t the great move you think it is to jump ship and leave that money on the table for some people.
"Why would we quit when there’s a severance on the table and work is slow?"
You have free will, use it. Be brave and plan your own exit, on your own terms.
VMW employees are not cattle or sheep that can be herded into pens and manipulated, unless you allow it. You are only a victim of circumstances if you sit and wait to be cut and do nothing.
At least start your job search now and take back control of your future working opportunities. Don't live in fear. You deserve a better life than cattle or sheep.
Why would we quit when there’s a severance on the table and work is slow? It’s amazing to me the number of people who want to work their a$$es off for big corporations that don’t care about them. I for one am happy to have less work and do other things. Corporate America has su-ked enough life out of people that I cannot fathom how anyone feels bad with a slow day. Find a hobby, start a side business, spend time with your family. When you’re on your deathbed are you going to be sad you didn’t work enough? Doubtful.
Broadcom works in multiple /recurring layoffs. Even if you survive the 1st, 2nd or may be 3rd one too, you can still be chosen in the 4th round. The longer anyone is waiting to get resume out the farther they are getting in line
Of course people should be looking for jobs , it’s common sense and it isn’t too late to start and take control. Many are frozen in fear with the hope of being retained , I understand that fear. There is no better feeling than taking that 1st little step. If you don’t have any real tenure or severance to fall back on, start now!
I have to agree with the guy making the comment below about lots of people with nothing to do. I was hired to work on a major project and was very busy for a year. Then they didn't know what to do with me and I spent days working on random projects people would send me. There were days where I had nothing to do. I absolutely hated it. There were some who seemed happy to do nothing. One guy... I don't even know what his job title was. But he would just go from cubicle to cubicle and talk to people about random stuff all day.
I left VMware about 5 months after the Broadcom purchase. I worked for a group that provided services and solutions. I am not an engineer, but the majority of people in this group were. From my first day, I was never busy (like really zero work). I went to other groups and volunteered my services. That's how I kept busy for almost 2 years. When there was my kind of work on my team, I had to fight engineers for it because they didn't know their own job but could figure out mine. The manager who was also an engineer never helped me. To those lazy, inept engineers, you got a due time coming. To the rest of you, I wish you good fortune. Get your resumes out. If you're offered to stay, great, just get things in order just in case...
Honestly it is too late to scramble now. The decisions were already made. Each one of us should have landed in one of the three lists that we all heard about. So please stop posting advising people to jump the ship now. If your hope is that if lot of people jump now you will be saved- you are completely wrong. Folks who panicked already left in droves last year when the acquisition was announced and market was good. Everyone here is playing the wait and watch game now.
The scramble and visibility that some people/BUs/teams/deparments/location are demonstrating is unerving. Dormant and inept for months/years are all of a sudden alive & coming to the stage.
Those creating the best performance now (weeks-4+4) will win the "talent" show.
Wishing you all the best
Severance is great, but it doesn't mean a lot when you're jobless for much longer than it can cover.
Weirdly not many seem to understand the fact that the industry currently sees massive amounts of layoffs as it is and if you wait for VMware to lay you off - you don't have to deal with companies that also going through layoffs, but also with your colleagues from vmware that will be flooding the market.
If you think it is hard now - wait until 1000s from vmware are being added to the candidate pool. ESPECIALLY of people that were lazy and content and haven't learned anything in addition to the vmware eco system. These guys will be .... surprised and shocked.