I was in shock as I really did not expect this to happened. I have been with HP for over twenty years, I was chargeable all the time, I was a SME on multiple tracks and my skills are in need at HP or outside. The client feedback was outstanding throughout the years, and I just do not know what kind of logic was applied here (aside from my compensation that might have been a bit higher if compared with engineers who recently joined). Not sure what to do now, will have to think through options, but I really did not expect this layoff to happen.
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Same thing happened to my husband after 27 years. HP denies it but they are getting rid of older, more experienced workers because they have higher salaries. HP is circling the drain and I believe will be bankrupt unless a massive change in management happens--starting with Meg Whitman. It's tough getting laid off (and it was a shock to my husband too), but it will end up being the best thing that ever happened to you. A competitor to HP Services, CSC, has been trying to get my husband to come on board. They too tried to get rid of their older and more experienced employees in favor of entry level. What they found--and they admitted this to my husband--is that the "fresh from college" workers may have had degrees but they had zero experience. They are hiring a lot of the HP employees who were laid off so you might try there. At least CSC was smart enough to realize they made a mistake and are trying to change.
I was let go after 27 years between EDS & HP. Sounds like my story. It's been hard to take. But at least I found another good job in just over a month from my last day. Good luck to you all!
I was let go after 28.5 years of service.
Yeah, same story here. I've got 18 years and my manager notified me a few days ago that I have 2 weeks left. I was told I'm being replaced by someone in Costa Rica (I'm sure they're receiving much less than I was paid, but had they even given me the option of a pay cut (which they've done without asking over the past 10 years anyhow) or leave, I'd have taken a pay cut. Oh well. They get what they pay for. At least I'm no longer having to worry about being WFR'd which has been looming over most HP employee heads since Carly came along. We moved to Boise back when she was chief henchman in charge, so to be honest, I survived 13 years before the inevitable happened.
It's your age. Nothing else. Same thing happened to me. Meg's "labor pyramid" contends the older folks are too expensive and apparently can't learn anything new. Is it blatant age discrimination? Sure. But unless you are independently wealthy, going down that road holds too much risk for you - with too little potential reward. It is sad. A lot of loyal experience is being pushed out of the company for short-term quarterly results. I guess as long as senior management gets it incentive money, the rest of us are expendable.
Wow, this is so sad!!! What area were you in? What location? Was it your entire group? Sounds like you have a marketable skillset. Good luck to you!