Thread regarding General Motors layoffs

I have extensive consulting experience and worked with pretty much all big US companies, 30 years of total experience (last couple of years GM). Benefits are OK, but level incompetency of my management (in IT) is just ridiculous. Some of the managers NEVER read technical literature and not aware of latest and greatest. Not only that but the managers do not trust engineers and vice versa. I have seen worse, but I must say that GM IT in top 5.

Thank the UAW for all those paid holidays.

Yeah...try finding a place that gives you as much 401k matching as GM does...$45 a month for family plan insurance...20 vacation days + federal holidays + shutdown time...maternity and paternity leave..unlimited sick time (I've had coworkers hospitalized, any other company you're going on FMLA with no pay).

European countries have generous minimum vacation amounts set by law.

And they have single payer health care.

The US is the only industrialized country that doesn't.

To nqb- Where are these places outside of America ? Yes it is sad . Who has the best vacation and benefits package ?

It’s a sad picture of American culture to think vacation and benefits are some rarity. Sorry, the rest of the developed world sustains itself while allowing the employee to have a life outside of work.

I think they need to get rid of the IT project managers. A lot of them aren't really needed and aren't technical enough to understand requirements given from the business.

Hou- Agreed , the shut down and vacation time that was a major bonus to me and family. I worked hard at GM and looked forward always to the time off for travel.

I loved working at global propulsion Systems Pontiac , Great campus and people. Highly skilled technicians and excellent engineering design folks. I actually loved it there quiet a bit , of course there are issues here and there but that is everywhere. I miss going there everyday , maybe they will change their minds and keep B building open , A is finance mostly I think and is one of the original Pontiac buildings. If anyone knows for sure what is happening. My thoughts are with all of you tomorrow .

I got interviews with other companies. So far, I have with other companies in compare to GM:

• Less salary (they start less than what GM started for me and with 5 years of service, it is a lot less)

• Less vacation (12 days 1st year and it will not be enough for my travel time)

• A lot less of sick time (like 8 days a year but it would be enough for me)

• No shutdown time (such a luxury that GM has)

So if I don't get laid off, I will stay but I will change my career path to be more technical and be prepared for the next route. You would never know.

Good luck to all of you and myself. No matter what, we will be Okay.

NCH. Been here for 3 years as a dev in Atl. Tried my best to drive projects into production but was held back by the "senior" developers who were very static. Suffice to say, I was amazed at how some of the more experienced level 7s who couldn't even do the basics, but were on six figures. I hope I get laid off, so I can come back here to retire and pick up a handsome paycheck like the rest of the people here. This isn't a place to make change or innovate, this is a place to retire and raise a family.

GM is a great company to work for. There are many things that s--- here but when everything is aggregated, it's a kick a-- company to work for. I'd never leave if I did not have to.

We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Other company out there have 6 weeks vacation and it does NOT expires end of the year

I worked mostly contract in Silicon Valley until I moved to Austin back in 2000. While far from perfect, GM has been a good experience overall. I'm too old and jaded to buy into the "GM Family for Life" silliness, but I got a decent paycheck, decent benefits, great vacation/sick policy, worked with some amazing people, and had no one in my time here I wanted to help under a moving bus.

Well, okay, there were a couple, but not many.

I have to say that some of the Detroit management really didn't understand anything about non-Detroit people.

I'm hoping to get laid off with severance 36 hours from now. However, if I get the chance to come back in a year or so and where I'm working isn't great, I'd have some conditions, but I probably would.

If you're expecting life satisfaction from being a cog in a corporate machine, you're going to be disappointed. If you use the advantages you get from being a cog and don't mind your job too much it's not bad at all.

Of course, some people are going to be happy no matter what and some never will be.So do what you can to be in the first group.

If laid off one thing i'd miss is the vacation time for sure