Been reading and hearing whispers about a massive round of layoffs coming to Symantec in December. I've tried to find some confirmation for it, but I haven't been successful. Any chance somebody here knows more about it? Whether it's true or just fear talking? Any info would be nice.
7 replies (most recent on top)
http://www.edd.ca.gov/jobs_and_training/warn/WARN_Report_for_7-1-2017_to_12-10-2017.pdf
31 and 2
A total of seven Symantec sites around the globe were shut down on Thursday 11/30 including Mexico City (approximately 48 people).
They finally had to file their WARN after trying to skirt it.
Some people received paperwork today from other departments that are being released January 17th. This company is really screwing up this layoff process. The release agreement is fraught with error and doesn't meet ADEA requirements - and the company expects a release of liability in turn for severance - without realizing that severance is an entitlement when it's an established company policy. No enhancements to the package for that fact.
I'm not sure who is advising them on this release and layoff process, and wonder if they even sought outside analysts/counsel for Disparate Impact advice, but it all looks like the work of poorly informed and underskilled HR people.
Anonymous said "Other than quitting, are there any recourse for workers in this position?"
Some employees have been given last day dates. As to recourse, there are a few rumblings going that the company should enhance severance packages for some employees (those with less than 3 years service) to a minimum 8 week benefit because of the time of year, the high tax deduction amount, and lack of comparable local opportunity. 0-6 weeks severance during holidays (Hi Christmas!) after the high federal hit and Oregon's additional income tax grab won't carry anyone longer than a month.
Even though an announcement was made verbally, nobody has received anything in writing. Nothing. Zip.That is significant because law requires 60 days in WRITING to the employee when it's this magnitude of a RIF. So technically speaking it's a WARN violation. That said, since the layoffs are in most cases close to 60 days or longer out from the verbal notice, the WARN filing is moot since employees are being retained for that time period and paid during it. If you were laid off before the 60 day window WITHOUT being paid for that time (not including severance, it doesn't apply when it's an established company policy), then you would have a valid legal complaint.
Hopefully Symantec/Lifelock handles this RIF squarely with integrity, and everyone goes away saying nice things about each other. No reason to think they won't.
If your severance agreement reflects 8 weeks of pay and total COBRA amount plus employee contribution amount, and you have been employed for less than 3 years, then that is a fair agreement IMO. If not, then you might think hard before signing any release agreements that remove your right to bring a future suit.
On 5 Oct 2017, there was an all hands meeting at the Springfield, OR campus of Symantec and we were informed that the site would be drawn down to 150 "seats" by March 2018. At that time there were about 850 employees at Springfield.
A month later now and there has been nothing official about the time line for layoffs. Queries to HR have been either ignored or returned saying that we will hear something "soon".
Given that this layoff round impacts about 600 people, it should fall under the WARN Act - yet there has been no WARN notifications to state or locality.
Judging from the lack of continuity plans for critical positions that are being cut and the apparent lack of prior information of this on the part of legal and HR, it appears this layoff decision was made in a vacuum.
The frustration level is very high. The morale - non existent. The severance package (based on past packages) is the golden handcuffs keeping a mass walk out from happening and makes job hunting/negotiating quite problematic since we still don't know our final dates.
Other than quitting, are there any recourse for workers in this position?
Outside of the Springfield, OR site? I heard Mt. View was cutting several hundred jobs in December, but without a WARN filing that doesn't math out. Although Symantec did space layoffs in Oregon over a 6 month window to avoid having to file a WARN.
They have recently beefed up their overseas teams with new hires..........and enhanced Utah and Arizona departments......
I heard early next year...