What are some things that start happening once you’re notified you have to rif someone from your team ?
Do you silently start reassigning their work load ? Remove them meetings ? What are some things we may not know ?
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I saw a trend of favoritism and you start to lose projects.
How disheartening to know one can be heavily involved in working on projects and then just get the random call that it is over. Thought they’d at least just get rid of the dead weight associates
I was RIFd in 2021, February. Small office, and the VP was down the hall and we talked regularly. So when he put a 1:1 with no context on my calendar on Monday, for a Thursday that week, I kind of knew. There were no indications of issues, and the year prior was one of the best -- but that's not how RIFs work. When they want numbers to level, they tell teams to give up a name or two, and my removal (or at least they thought) would cause the least friction in my team. Everyone is expendable, but apparently I was the most. They called it a job elimination and six months later had to re-hire because there was no one to do the unique work I was doing. Other leaders told me from around the org that my particular RIF was not thought out or planned. The VP said it was not personal (yes it is) and that there is life after Anthem - which there definitely is.
Another meeting popped up that Thursday morning from the then CMO who re-org'd CSBD without warning. As that was happening, many others were being RIFd. It was a cleverly calculated and coordinated attack leaving people aghast at their apparent new roles they knew nothing about or the fact that they had no role.
I'm glad to have me the people I did while I was there, most of whom, if not all have moved on or RIFd, including VPs. When you look back, you realized none of it matters. So for those of you still there and freaking out, put your mind forward. Try to envision yourself five years ahead looking back at this time - you'll see it doesn't mean anything. Gail and her team will move on with millions of dollars, while others have had the rugged pulled out from under, used what savings they may have had to get by, and started over. New leadership will be in within the next couple of years, and the cycle will continue.
Correction to my previous post...I am thankful I did NOT know in advance! I left out the important "NOT"!
When I was RIF'd, there was absolutely no indication of it coming. I carried a heavy workload and managed an entire team. You and your team, unfortunately, will have to take the hit and do a last minute scramble to re-align the work. I can honestly say that I am thankful that I did know in advance, that any RIF's were hitting my department. As a manager, I would not want my team having to worry daily whether it was them or not either. I feel for you having to be the one to have to deliver the news, even though you were not the one who made the decision to put a reduction in force in play. RIFs hurt everyone (except the share holders).
My manager kept me in all the meetings and communications. Ask to provide necessary KTs to other associates. Utilize all remaining PTO hours and I am allowed to take any additional time off for any interviews. I had a smooth transition. I think it’s because I had a good relationship with my manager.
Others may had different experiences.