It is amazing how quickly a laid off person becomes nonexistent, amazing. No one will contact you to see how you are doing - this was a huge surprise. None of your so-called friends and coworkers will mention your name. What have we become? Remember, you are on your own. Don't count on Facebook or LinkedIn to bail you out. Do your own job research. It is dog eat dog right now.
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I like eating dog. Actually, I was reluctant the first time I tried but after tasting I want it all the time.
Yea, I definitely make a lot more after leaving...so don't feel tied to the velvet inferno of hell, filled with so many vile, nasty people.
Ghosted is definitely the right word to describe the experience. Definitely felt shell-shocked for about 2 months - healing began by taking the summer off. There were about 3 people that reached out to me to see how I am doing, so I guess I know who my "friends" really were @MSFT. Miss the paycheque but not the work!
While I wasn't laid-off, although I saw many dear friends laid-off in the Big Layoff of Summer 2014, I completely agree with you. I left Microsoft on my accord on good terms, and only two people still speak to me; I tried to contacting others who were my friends, but fell upon deaf ears.
This is the first place I ever worked at where you are ghosted when you leave - whether it's because you got laid-off or you found a job elsewhere. I can say that will help my true friends if they ever need a job, but if those who gave me a cold shoulder after I gave notice...if they're ever laid-off and contact me, I will have a nice shoulder for them to look at, too.
On a side note, it's not true that you will make less - many of my friends laid-off and myself (who left on my own) make more than what we did at Microsoft. I will say, however, where I left to - the health insurance benefits are great, but not as as good as Microsoft's.
And now that you have a lesser salary, don't be surprised if your significant other decides to look for greener pastures too.