There's is a lot of anxiousness, fear, vile energy and company bashing on this forum right now, so to move in another direction, could you share with us what got you working here and what keeps you going, and still working here?
For me, it was and still is the money, and I still like what I do, but this uncertainty drives me crazy.
Everyone is replaceable anywhere. That is fact, not fiction. What will happen when deep learning takes over? It will be much worse in many ways, but much better at the same time in many other ways. Any factory job including in the US is Slave Labor, no matter how much you are making. AI will take over the slave labor all over the world soon, including the US. The prices of goods will drop and will be much more affordable. Many people have mentioned Basic Universal Income. Yes I know many people don't like the idea and they think of the concept kind of like Communism or Socialism. But the truth if you really think about it, almost anyone that is working for a company would rather do something else, work on their own thing, or have a successful business. I know that is true, because several people inside of Seagate that I have spoken to all have dreams and aspirations to something much better. And it is not only true to Seagate but almost any other company. Even if you look at some of the other successful start ups, they all started because they were not happy working for their employer.
Most peoples jobs stink and are only good for the money, not because of the job its self. I am currently working at Seagate, and don't like my job. Many others have stated similar views.
People will always be salve to the decision made by upper management, middle management, or the collective of the company the work at. And most companies only care about making quick money of of products that are not forward looking things. This is most certainly true within Seagate when they mentioned "Cash Cow". But it is also true at most other companies.
Universal basic income would eliminate this completely and would usher in a new era of working on things that people really enjoy to do. By collapsing Well Fair, WIC, Social Security, Medicate, etc into one program called basic universal income would be the solution. As well it would be available to all citizens.
Another bonus would be that everything that is earned on top is kept.
New income = Old income + basic universal income.
This would solve all problems. As well non Citizens would not have access, which would eliminate peoples fears of illegal immigrants taking their jobs.
Work life balance and flexibility. Ability to do my job from anywhere. If I had to be in the office M-F at a set time every day for the rest of my career I would leave regardless of pay and job uncertainty.
I was part of a previous layoff at Seagate. You are right, the uncertainty of if/when your turn comes has never been any fun while I was working there. After feeling that it was personal (it is and it isn't), I just picked myself back up and looked forward and not behind. Honestly, after looking and finding another job, my skill set grew and I have no desire to work at Seagate again, even though I liked working there, and I liked the people there too. The pay is the same at other places and there is light at the end of the tunnel.