When almost everyone gets laid off but you

crescentfresh · 05-03-2003, 04:39 PM

*Story Set-Up: I'm a tech for a 3rd party technical support company, part of a much larger company.

So, we had a good 50-60 people or so a month ago. A lot of people got laid of, but a week ago my supervisor was told our department wouldn't be touched again.

We do tech support for 2 companies. Our user count is about 6,000+.

Our CEO decided it would be cool to lay off everyone but 10 people. For no apparent reason. He cut people that were good, and it was random and made no sense. my supervisor asked if it was for financial reasons and he said they were fine financially and that had nothing to do with it. I guess he thinks that the techs "Don't work very hard" and that he was going to make "the good ones work harder." You can image how horrible it is going to be for the techs left, with 4 people maximum on shift during peak hours. Sometimes there will be no one there. Sometimes there will be 1 person there. yikes.

I was on the original cut list, but luckily we're also doing computer tutoring video CD's and I was put on the project for that and saved.

But I had to see my friends walked out and fired. I was really upset, crying and shit (in a room full of men) because I felt like I shouldn't have been saved. There were people let go that were much, much more talented than I am.

I just feel horrible about it. Can someone tell me I'm not absolutely crazy for being sad that I didn't lose my job?!?!

sickbadthing · 05-03-2003, 04:46 PM

You're not crazy for feeling sad.

It is the corporate culture however.

Fighting the power makes you unemployed.

crescentfresh · 05-03-2003, 04:54 PM

true.

a lot of the people that were laid off previously were people who always had something to say about how things should be, etc. But this time, it was people who just shut up and did their jobs, most of them even went far beyond what they were expected to do.

ugh. it's still really scary. I'm already looking for something else just in case the CEO wants to PMS again and fire all of us.

obscured01 · 05-03-2003, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crescentfresh
You can image how horrible it is going to be for the techs left, with 4 people maximum on shift during peak hours. Sometimes there will be no one there. Sometimes there will be 1 person there. yikes.

I do tech support for a local internet company that owns 3 other online companies in this city, plus one out of state... we have about 10k+ on our main comp, and about 4k+ on the other 4 companies... and that amount of people on shift is what we normally run off. It's insane, we're always uber busy and stressed out and blah. So I totally sympathize. And I'm sorry about all your friends being laid off and being left... it'll all work out though. But no you're not crazy at all - that's totally understandable.

crescentfresh · 05-03-2003, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by obscured01

I do tech support for a local internet company that owns 3 other online companies in this city, plus one out of state... we have about 10k+ on our main comp, and about 4k+ on the other 4 companies... and that amount of people on shift is what we normally run off. It's insane, we're always uber busy and stressed out and blah. So I totally sympathize. And I'm sorry about all your friends being laid off and being left... it'll all work out though. But no you're not crazy at all - that's totally understandable.

Holy moley. Yeah, it's going to be hard for them. We're trying to figure out how the CD team is going to help them out. They didn't even put the techs left in the new building with the rest of the "company" yet, and the people left are in our old building with NO PHONES and we're doing "email support" until monday, which obviously does nothing for the people who have problems booting or getting on the internet, which is a large amount of the problems we get with people.

I HOPE THIS MOTHER FALLS BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING DOWN WITH IT! Seriously, our CEO is 28 years old and acts like a 17 year old. he's a spoiled fucking brat who got his fortune started by his rich daddy and me makes me want to vomit. I hope he gets payback.

mpp · 05-03-2003, 05:13 PM

the people who were fired "at random" might have a valid cause of action against the CEO or the company

of course, it depends on whatever their contracts said

might want to tell your buds to see a lawyer

mpp · 05-03-2003, 05:16 PM

there was a case in new york, i think, a few years back that said that a restaurant manager couldn't fire waitresses alphabetically (essentially, the manager needed to fire three employees and he couldn't decide which ones so he fired the A's and the B's)

the court found that to be per se unconscionable and awarded the plaintiff substantial money damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress

your CEO sounds like a fucking bitch

crescentfresh · 05-03-2003, 05:18 PM

yeah, he's an asswad.

Actually, there is nothing by law that they can do. When we were hired, we signed that we were employed "at will," which means we can be fired at any time with or without reason.

mpp · 05-03-2003, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crescentfresh
yeah, he's an asswad.

Actually, there is nothing by law that they can do. When we were hired, we signed that we were employed "at will," which means we can be fired at any time with or without reason.

*gasps*

oh

whoa...that sucks, but hey that's business
if that's OK'ed by statute, then i suppose that'll do, but just b/c you signed a contract does NOT mean that the company has total control

who told you there was no remedy available? the company? or are you just inferring that from the contract you signed?

crescentfresh · 05-03-2003, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mpp

*gasps*

oh

whoa...that sucks, but hey that's business
if that's OK'ed by statute, then i suppose that'll do, but just b/c you signed a contract does NOT mean that the company has total control

who told you there was no remedy available? the company? or are you just inferring that from the contract you signed?

I'm inferring that from the contract I signed and what I have heard from my supervisor. People have tried suing after they've been fired but it has never even gone to court. I'm assuming it is a pretty solid thing, in that case.

mpp · 05-03-2003, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crescentfresh

I'm assuming it is a pretty solid thing, in that case.

i would too

DeviousJ · 05-03-2003, 06:09 PM

I know it's not exactly practical, but if would be really cool if you all quit in protest. Or just go on strike. But basically fuck him over - it's the only way he'll learn

crescentfresh · 05-03-2003, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeviousJ
I know it's not exactly practical, but if would be really cool if you all quit in protest. Or just go on strike. But basically fuck him over - it's the only way he'll learn

Well all of us thought about it. but we also thought about how this might change by Monday for one last-hope reason: The President of the company is in Spain and was never notified or consulted about it, and he's going to shit a brick when he comes back and hopefully shaft the CEO in the ass.

But if it gets much worse, my supervisor even said there will be no reason for him to stick around. I agree.

05-03-2003, 04:39 PM	#1
crescentfresh Minion of Satan Location: Diego Posts: 6,657	When almost everyone gets laid off but you *Story Set-Up: I'm a tech for a 3rd party technical support company, part of a much larger company. So, we had a good 50-60 people or so a month ago. A lot of people got laid of, but a week ago my supervisor was told our department wouldn't be touched again. We do tech support for 2 companies. Our user count is about 6,000+. Our CEO decided it would be cool to lay off everyone but 10 people. For no apparent reason. He cut people that were good, and it was random and made no sense. my supervisor asked if it was for financial reasons and he said they were fine financially and that had nothing to do with it. I guess he thinks that the techs "Don't work very hard" and that he was going to make "the good ones work harder." You can image how horrible it is going to be for the techs left, with 4 people maximum on shift during peak hours. Sometimes there will be no one there. Sometimes there will be 1 person there. yikes. I was on the original cut list, but luckily we're also doing computer tutoring video CD's and I was put on the project for that and saved. But I had to see my friends walked out and fired. I was really upset, crying and shit (in a room full of men) because I felt like I shouldn't have been saved. There were people let go that were much, much more talented than I am. I just feel horrible about it. Can someone tell me I'm not absolutely crazy for being sad that I didn't lose my job?!?!

05-03-2003, 04:46 PM	#2
sickbadthing Out fart the hottie! Location: I have super gonorrhoea Posts: 24,316	You're not crazy for feeling sad. It is the corporate culture however. Fighting the power makes you unemployed.

05-03-2003, 04:54 PM	#3
crescentfresh Minion of Satan Location: Diego Posts: 6,657	true. a lot of the people that were laid off previously were people who always had something to say about how things should be, etc. But this time, it was people who just shut up and did their jobs, most of them even went far beyond what they were expected to do. ugh. it's still really scary. I'm already looking for something else just in case the CEO wants to PMS again and fire all of us.

05-03-2003, 05:13 PM	#6
mpp Minion of Satan Posts: 7,577	the people who were fired "at random" might have a valid cause of action against the CEO or the company of course, it depends on whatever their contracts said might want to tell your buds to see a lawyer

05-03-2003, 05:16 PM	#7
mpp Minion of Satan Posts: 7,577	there was a case in new york, i think, a few years back that said that a restaurant manager couldn't fire waitresses alphabetically (essentially, the manager needed to fire three employees and he couldn't decide which ones so he fired the A's and the B's) the court found that to be per se unconscionable and awarded the plaintiff substantial money damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress your CEO sounds like a fucking bitch

05-03-2003, 05:18 PM	#8
crescentfresh Minion of Satan Location: Diego Posts: 6,657	yeah, he's an asswad. Actually, there is nothing by law that they can do. When we were hired, we signed that we were employed "at will," which means we can be fired at any time with or without reason.

05-03-2003, 06:09 PM	#12
DeviousJ CORNFROST Location: GUREITO DESU YO Posts: 24,891	I know it's not exactly practical, but if would be really cool if you all quit in protest. Or just go on strike. But basically fuck him over - it's the only way he'll learn