Thread regarding CA Technologies (CA Inc.) layoffs

The pitfalls of searching for a job too soon!

Lots of people on here saying don't sit around and wait to be laid off, start looking now. Others have already found jobs, and still others haven't even sent out a resume or gotten an interview. So what's the best way to handle it if you don't know if you'll be retained by Broadcom?

Here's the predicament my partner is in.

She was given a verbal commitment to be retained by Broadcom through at least 6/2018, along with a hefty retention bonus, After definite termination at that time she will still receive stocks, severance and even unemployment (if she doesn't have a job). There is also a possibility she could stay on as an independent consultant with Broadcom after next June. That much being said, she acknowledges that whether or not she will be retained by Broadcom is still a c-apshoot, you just don't know until you get the email on November 7, although she said she "might" find out next week through a department head.

However, she has been interviewing and expects a job offer next week at a consulting firm. Let's assume she gets it. Her expected salary and benefits are roughly equivalent to what she is making now.

If she quits Broadcom before she is even notified of her fate, she loses severance, stock, and of course the retention bonus, all of which add up to well over $100k.

In exchange she has a new job.

Whereas if she was going to be laid off by Broadcom on November 7, she'd have the new job, severance, and stock!

It's a quagmire.

What would you do?

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| 2501 views | | 18 replies (last October 28, 2018) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+VPk2v81

18 replies (most recent on top)

Plenty of jobs out there for developers who know latest and greatest. For everyone else not so much

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Post ID: @2msg+VPk2v81

I've to two offers in the works. Told them the truth- I've been told I'm being let go, there is a six-figure severance/RSU package I'll get. If something really weird happens, I'm retained, then I stay with CA. I was honest with them. All I can say, as far as getting jobs, if you haven't kept your skills up, that's sad. In the major tech hubs, you could have multiple offers if you understand Agile, CI/CD, Devops, Cloud-based application development..

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Post ID: @2vte+VPk2v81

@VPk2v81-1pne maybe so but ... I am in support and been here a long time. Between RSUs and severance if I get laid off they are going to pay me almost 100k. No way is any employer going to give a support engineer a 100k signing bonus... not even close

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Post ID: @1fxl+VPk2v81

@VPk2v81-1hoo probably a tech writer

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Post ID: @1jrh+VPk2v81

@VPk2v81-zdt That is not entirely true. Depends on the job title and the location. My wife got on 10 years ago as a developer. Not huge, but still around five grand. That wasn't a particularly hot market. Blockchain, cloud, and data science are big right now and definitely have some negotiation power on the employee side.

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Post ID: @1pne+VPk2v81

@VPk2v81-1bic what's your job?

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Post ID: @1hoo+VPk2v81

I started searching late July and after applying over 50 jobs still only talked to 3 recruiters and one real interview that didn't work out. It's almost November! Tougher out there than I thought (not a developer they can find a job easily). I am so scared doing everything I can to update resume and learn new things

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Post ID: @1bic+VPk2v81

According to GDL you can't collect WARN severance while working another job.

You'll have to wait another 60 days (90 for NY) before you're free to work.

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Post ID: @cme+VPk2v81

Signing bonus is unlikely for those of us not at the executive level.

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Post ID: @zdt+VPk2v81

Ask your new employer to cover your retention stuff as a signon bonus?

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Post ID: @gkg+VPk2v81

"6/2018" should be changed to "6/2019"

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Post ID: @xoh+VPk2v81

"6/2018" should be changed to "9/2018,"

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Post ID: @nly+VPk2v81

Great and useful thread.

Thank you OP and that responded.

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Post ID: @eto+VPk2v81

I am in the same predicament - I’ve thinking about a five year view. The RSU’s and retention are tempting, but I’m afraid it’s a deal with the devil. It’s going to be a miserable culture - transition people can’t really give a sh--, Broadcom will expect to change the world with no resources, and Broadcom can also end the transition early (which I expect they will for most)

Another variable is what will the economy look like next summer - it could be really good or things might turn. Economy has been good for a very long time now.

Last point of advice it to hold two jobs and wait for Broadcom to figure it out. Or take he job and beg Broadcom to let you out of the transition in November 8th. Do your job but make life really miserable for everyone at Broadcom

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Post ID: @yno+VPk2v81

I'm interviewing now and have been clear up front that my availability is a little bit in the air. It's a tricky situation. If I get laid off day 1 i'll be available sooner. If I get on transition then i'm hoping a new employer can be flexible on start dates.

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Post ID: @fny+VPk2v81

Everybody’s situation is different. If a spouse is the breadwinner and carries health insurance you have more flexibility. If you’re the breadwinner and carrying benefits it becomes more dicey.

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Post ID: @epc+VPk2v81

I luckily have an offer and the employer is willing to hold out for me until the end of November as I explained the situation everyone at CA is in. But I would recommend getting your name on the street as soon as possible because my management has all but said my team is done for. So if it all goes south next week then I will take my severance, enjoy Thanksgiving and go back to work! Win Win!

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Post ID: @wjf+VPk2v81

Stinks but it's a good problem to have considering the position others are in. I am in the same situation.

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Post ID: @sfk+VPk2v81

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