I would happily trade places with somebody who was laid off. I would volunteer for the next round if they allowed it. I'd be overjoyed to learn I was getting paid to leave this place. I'm not trying to minimize what some people are going through, but I honestly do believe they're the lucky ones.
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You are a fool if you’d rather lose your job! The economy in IT is poor. If you lose your job, and especially if your skills are either not up to date or not marketable, you could easily be out of work for 1 or more years. I know people who are in that exact position. You could lose your home and other possessions. And the longer you’re out of work, the less desirable you’ll be to employers.
SO - Stop your sobbing, stop your whining, stay with your current job while also hunting for something new.
I agree with the comments here. Being unemployed is an emotional rollercoaster. I remember reading a psychology article (and I forgot who wrote it) talking about how some people take leaving a company as bad as a death in the family. I'm not suggesting that you should stay with HP. Just make sure you have something lined up after HP. I do agree that you should get out of HP but just thankful that you're there rather than no where.
I would suggest that you sharpen your resume and start applying now rather than waiting for HP to give you the opportunity to leave.
HP is devolving into a business performance company where good ideas are the only driving factor. They're stepping away from being a technology company and riding on only the trending marketing buzzwords.
I got let go from HP last year around this time and when I was there, one of my colleagues put it perfectly: "HP is at the burden of their suppliers." Working as a supplier now for HP, I can totally see what he was talking about. HP orders their suppliers around but it is a one way relationship. HP wants cheap and frankly doesn't really care about premium features.
Being unemployed for a year, is in of itself, mental and emotional suffering.
Pick your toxin - Out of work and worrying about paying your bills or putting up with a toxic work environment. Keep in mind that every company has internal politics and back-stabbing.
"Being unemployed is not lucky. I know of 2 people that were let go last summer that have still not found work. One worked at HP for over 10 years."
Financially you are correct, but the OP's point is being free of the mental and emotional suffering of working in a toxic place like HP.
Being unemployed is not lucky. I know of 2 people that were let go last summer that have still not found work. One worked at HP for over 10 years.