Do any managers here know if an employee who was deemed in office (in FOW phase 1 or phase 2) is laid off, are they ineligible for a severance if they haven't strictly adhered to FOW up to this point? Or does that severance ineligiblility related to FOW only kick in with the new mandate (which starts in June)?
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If Cigna can find a way to not give you severance, they will.
That said, the previous policy was vague and included short term (also undefined how long this is) manager approved exceptions.
As someone with legal experience, I highly doubt that Cigna would want to take the risk of not giving you severance and you suing them if you had followed the old policy in a manner that reasonably aligns with how it was written. If you never came in or only came in 1 day every other week, it might be a tough fight. But if you were close to 50% in office you are probably safe.
That said, the new policy is very clear and specific (thanks to our new head of HR who is a lawyer). If you want a severance upon lay off, or to just jot get fired, you’ll need to follow it to the T. If you’re (justifiably) anxious about this, might be time to leave Cigna to protect yourself.
"If an employee gets let go in a round of layoffs, they will almost certainly receive severance."
I generally agree, however, this company has now showed its hand. When you read their policy where they say if this new FOW causes you to want to separate, you fill out a form and IF you've complied fully with the EXISTING FOW scheme, you will get a severance.
So if layoffs occur in the future - after the June 3 FOW scheme is in effect, it isn't clear if the laid off employee will have to have complied with FOW then entire time OR just after June 3.
Given the sc-mbag nature of this whole thing, I think all of this is a way to never have to pay out severance again (because they know most people won't 100% comply). Thoughts?
Unless the employee does something like bring dr-gs into the office, punch a coworker, etc., Cigna won’t fire employees without first putting them on a PIP. A PIP is mostly just documentation for a firing. Not always, but usually.
If an employee gets let go in a round of layoffs, they will almost certainly receive severance.
"It depends on the date of hire and the significant change made to the employee. Employee relations can help explore what’s best for the company and employee."
I thought that was in relation to an employee who now wants to leave because of this new policy. What I'm asking is if Cigna has a round of layoffs later this year, will that laid off employee not get a severance if they haven't strictly adhered to FOW if they were in the first two FOW waves (phase 1 - Sept 2023 or phase 2 - March 2024)?
It depends on the date of hire and the significant change made to the employee. Employee relations can help explore what’s best for the company and employee.