Restructure vs. Performance

Alot has been said about restructuring vs..performance base layoffs.
This is the one area where corporations consistently lie to everybody.
To clarify what I mean:
Restructuring: Your role is no longer needed and we didn't find a home for you. You are a great performer (or at least acceptable) and this loss of job is at no fault of your own.
Performance-based layoff: you're not all that great, but we have been too lazy to manage you out. Managing performance is a demoralizing pain in the rear, so we're not doing that anymore. Instead, we're doing a RIF every 6 to 12 months because that's easier on anyone involved.

There are some valid restructuring. Like eliminating the entire DEI squad in the broadcom acquisition. Or elinating redundant roles in HR, legal, accounting, etc.

But many of the so-called restructuring are really performance-based layoffs.

How do you know which is which? If they eliminate your job and those of all of your peers, it's likely a restructuring.
If they eliminate your job, but other similar jobs (or some of your peers) are still around, it's performance-based. And that's where leaders lie to you to make you feel good.
Enjoy the severance, but do spend some time on introspection so that you can grow from the experience instead of taking the easy "it was a restructuring and not my fault" way out.

Comment! It's anonymous!

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You don’t seem to have much industry experience. Most severance packages begin as optional during the first go round and the low hanging fruit is selected during the next round. During a restructuring the employee, good or low performer, may not have any option but to nominate themselves I.e the first offering is typically better than the next one.

There was nothing voluntary about these Omnissa layoffs for the rank and file.

“ OP here. You're missing my point. You're not just a number. And if you were, not all numbers are equal. If I need to reduce headcount, I will do that by starting with my lowest performers. Anything else would be stupid.
And a lot of times in my 30 year career as a leader I have seen companies "offer" restructuring (i.e. severance budgets) so that managers can get their low performers out.

An my point is... if you tell yourself that you're just a number and that nothing is your fault, you're depriving yourself of the opportunity to figure out how to grow from this experience.”

You don’t seem to have much industry experience. Most severance packages begin as optional during the first go round and the low hanging fruit is selected during the next round. During a restructuring the employee, good or low performer, may not have any option but to nominate themselves I.e the first offering is typically better than the next one.

Good!

You're just a number. Nobody gives a sh-t about performance. It's all about revenue and margins.

OP here. You're missing my point. You're not just a number. And if you were, not all numbers are equal. If I need to reduce headcount, I will do that by starting with my lowest performers. Anything else would be stupid.
And a lot of times in my 30 year career as a leader I have seen companies "offer" restructuring (i.e. severance budgets) so that managers can get their low performers out.

An my point is... if you tell yourself that you're just a number and that nothing is your fault, you're depriving yourself of the opportunity to figure out how to grow from this experience.

You're just a number. Nobody gives a sh-t about performance. It's all about revenue and margins.

You ALWAYS label it restructuring now. Every quarter or half, let some percentage go, and use that as the quiet opportunity to shed the latest poor performers too.

If you state that a firing is performance based without a lot of serious evidence, you expose the company to legal claims around discrimination, retribution, etc.

"This is just a restructuring... it isn't personal... trust me."

This is the way!

It is coming soon to 7k by Oct 23rd. Enjoy RSUs and don’t work.

Numb nutz how many times I have to tell you it is 6999. Quit counting yourself in.

7k my a-s, Broadcom is hiring, VMware is hiring, we are growing :)!

OP..those days are gone in industry. Anyone can be replaced easily. Don’t think too much on why they will fire you. Even Hockey Tan can be replaced. It is coming soon to 7k by Oct 23rd. Enjoy RSUs and don’t work.

Thread regarding VMware layoffs

Restructure vs. Performance

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