Knowing that I'll be worrying and stressing over being employed every day for at least a year is not doing my mental health any favors. I don't know how the rest of you are handling this, but I'm not doing so well. Everywhere I look, it basically says that no matter how good you are, there's a decent chance of you being gone from Broadcom within 12 months. How do you deal with that?
13 replies (most recent on top)
“ No, Broadcom is actually worse than many places. Quite a bit so.”
Really? Worse How? Define ‘quite a bit so’.
So far they have adhered to the employment laws of 60+ countries with regards to redundancy and consultancy requirements. While they may have been a bit too ‘efficient’ for the delicate sensibilities of some, everyone has been treated fairly, and redundancy packages have been fair also. Having been through redundancy several times, and seen it done well and poorly, they are far from the worst by a very long way.
A lot of people ba----g on about VMware culture seem to forget the annual culling that the company conducted, I know plenty of people that were RIF’d as part of this VMW tradition, and they were treated no better than how Broadcom are treating people now.
Personally I’ve heard a lot of made up hysteria from people, especially around the redundancy process, a lot of which has been completely untrue and is completely unhelpful for people like the OP.
No one likes to hear the T word, but therapy is a great resource. And free for many (for a limited number of visits).
I go weekly and it has greatly helped me through this process. Especially the anxiety, watching half my team laid off, and how to swim out of the massive amount of work now thrown at me. Every person has different coping mechanisms and a therapist will find the one that works for you.
There is some good advice here. I would add that you should consider therapy. Honestly, it can help. It can help you learn to cope with the stress. Otherwise, go find another job because the mental stress just isn't worth it. Best of luck to you.
In the end its just a job. No really. Assuming you are financially savvy and have some savings whats the worst that will happen? You get laid off, collect unemployment and spend a few months finding a new job. The tech industry is unfortunately one of the least stable industries. It pays well but its also turbulent. I have been at no less than 9 different companies. I left the industry for another one that is more stable. But even so, I know that at any given time I could lose my job. I've been laid off several times either due to downsizing, an acquisition similar to this one, or from failed startups. As soon as this acquisition was announced I knew from instinct it would be bad. And that is why I and others left.
Look at it this way: You made it. You weren't fired. All new jobs and changes are scary. Give it some time and see if you get used to it. And all along you can get paid while looking for a new job if this one doesn't fit. No job is worth mental anguish.
Somewhat what @ntw+1q26sVKv said....
Each division will do some degree of right sizing post acquisition (in addition to those that are already on a predetermined exit date). Really depends upon that BU's business case and ability to execute.
Having said this, once some degree of stasis is is achieved in the BU, your risk of being fired is dependent upon your performance and attitude, or if you run your hand up a co-workers leg....
If your division isn't one of the ones on the chopping block, consider the above and make your best decision. I know it's hard but stay focused, do your work, but certainly network to uncover any potential opportunities...
Broadcom are no better or worse than anyone else,
No, Broadcom is actually worse than many places. Quite a bit so.
Everywhere I look, it basically says that no matter how good you are,
That basically says you are looking in all the wrong places. Get off Blind and Layoff, they are hurting your mental health.
I have acquaintances and a family member at Broadcom. All there for almost a decade. Look at LinkedIn. Many people there for years upon years.
People have been spreading FUD about how horrible it is. It is not. It is just different values and culture. You are not at risk of being fired any given day.
Everywhere I look, it basically says that no matter how good you are, there's
a decent chance of you being gone from Broadcom within 12 months. How do you
deal with that?
I don't mean this in a snarky way, but please contact Alphabet's union and tell them that you want to organize vmware. It would give you focus, and possibly put you into a different category (i.e., you are a labor organizer, so maybe BC would not automatically fire you, for fear of the NLRB and other agencies).
It would be great to get the workers some voice and power in all this.
Maybe the tech industry isn’t for you if that’s how you feel?
You work in this industry long enough layoffs are almost inevitable, consider it an occupational hazard. We’ve been blessed and very lucky to have had more than a few years of stability but now it’s returning to ‘normal’.
It’s the nature of the business, you’ve got to reinvent yourself and get new skills with each new ‘wave’ otherwise you become irrelevant. Best way to think of it is that it’s a contract gig and you’re working a 3 month rolling contract.
Look at all the layoffs at Microsoft, Google, AWS etc, doesn’t matter where you’re at it’s not unique to you. I know quite a few people who left when the acquisition was announced who already have been laid off by those companies.
Broadcom are no better or worse than anyone else, you just happen to be in the messy phase of an acquisition, treat your employment now as a transactional relationship not a vocational one and you may find it easier.
Reality is you and you alone is responsible for your career and future. Throw your resume out there, it nothing sticks upskill, if you can financially do it just leave or get a note from doc and get better.
We already got laid off. So we are trying to figure out how to deal with that.
Your concerns are due to dependence on BC. Depending on BC is risky.
The solution: diversify. Run job search in parallel to your day job. Expand your contact list and update your skills. Bolster your personal finances as much as you can. If layoff strikes, you will be prepared in advance and not feel at their mercy.
Also, value them as they value you. They are to be used for your play book. If they are no longer needed, dump them, upgrade, move on.
Start searching for a job elsewhere, BC not worth it