Just wondering if there is any chance voluntary layoffs will be on the table? I'd jump at the opportunity, as I've been considering leaving on my own for a while now.
Considering that the biggest issue during these layoffs is how much somebody is paid, and not how much they contribute (meaning they do not care who they lose), I don't see why they would not go this route first.
Did I miss the boat for this already? Is this still possible if they have a draft of names already? Whom should we talk to for volunteer --- line manager (director of sister team) or director of own team?
Some context, I requested a voluntary layoff at my last big company in 2007. I was in my mid-20s.
I talked to my director, and told him I was bored. He told me the company was going nowhere, and he was just hanging on to retire in 5 years. He recommended I take the package as I was young, and could find a better job quickly. Overall, he had to lay off 6 people in his group of 30. He'd been a manager and director for layoffs at AT&T several times, and told me that firing his friends and co-workers was the worst part of his job, me quitting made his job 1/6 easier.
Overall, I had a new job in 3 months, making 30% more. Telling him I was going to quit was the best thing I could have done.
To to OP, if you're good, talk to your VP or director. They're smart and honest people, and can give you fair guidance.
I wouldn't say that I was planning to leave anyway. Then they can wait for you to leave without paying any severence.
Director can influence the list.
If you go directly to a SVP you probably have as much chance to be PIP'd as laid off.
this is a good thread..
but last time around Directors did not have power. IT was senior directors and above.
VP controls this list anyways.
I know of a few guys who volunteered and gotten their packages and went on to find other jobs ..or had other offers already in hand.
good luck
-ron is correct - HR is simply NOT on your side. They are pretty much there to minimize liability and effect whatever cover-up of misconduct issues they feel can be gotten away with.
Regarding volunteering, right now might actually be a good time. If your VP (or perhaps director, but probably VP) is having real troubles working out the last one or two heads for the chopping block, letting them know that you would not be unhappy to be put on the list might get them out of a jam. It's worth asking.
Go to your director and ask him to have you put on the list.
What's he going to do? Say no?
Me again. I forgot one thing- Don’t go to HR to volunteer. They’re useless and exist only to assist in hiring/firing, and defending THE COMPANY against disgruntled employees who file harassment or other charges against the company. They are NOT on your side. If you ever have a legitimate complaint, go to A LAWYER instead of HR.
As -zag points out below, lay-offs are a useful way to rid the company of the lowest performers, so management prefers to make the decisions. Whether or not you’ll be able to volunteer depends on at least a couple of factors.
If you’re area of expertise and assignment(s) are in productive, profit producing mainstream projects and you’re a key player/high performer (based on merit reviews, not your own, possibly distorted view of yourself) then you’re less likely to have management accept you as a volunteer. If you have a good personal relationship with your supervisor, including up to director level where the real decision power starts, then you’re more likely to be accepted.
Now I’ll mention a very important factor to consider when deciding whether or not to volunteer- If you’re not accepted, you may be damaging your future career advancement possibilities and review ratings. You might be considered a “short-timer” who’s loyalty is in question and have management favor others over you for both promo and the limited number of very high review ratings that can be given out.
Two last points-
If you’re considering this, time is extremely short. You may have missed the opportunity already. Management is well underway on creating the lists.
It generally isn’t the managers who are creating the lists. Though some of them may have influence, it’s really at the director level and above where the decisions are made, so don’t just volunteer to your manager (unless he/she is director or higher). In fact, you may want to speak with your director about this and NOT say anything to anyone else, including your manager. In the event that you’re not accepted, you could hope that your manager never knows you volunteered (doubtful) in an attempt to do minimal career damage.
I would say you basically have to be ready to walk if you’re considering volunteering. Maybe tell management that regardless of the answer, you will be leaving the company.
Layoffs are considered an opportunity to cast off the lowest performers without having to run the whole rigamaroll of the PIP process. That said, if the company needs to show a RAPID reduction of staff, seeking volunteers would be a way to more easily get there. We do care who we lose, but for this go around we might be more concerned about rapidity.
And yeah - I would jump at the opportunity to leave with severance pay.