RE: Layoff logistics and etiquette

[Diane Evans <DianeE -at- LOCKSTREAM -dot- com>]

My worst dot-com layoff:  I was hired to be the lone technical writer.
Because our company president lived next door to a recruiter, she would get
anyone she wanted on a moment's notice.

Six weeks later, a new CEO was hired, who had never before worked for a
software company. He took one look at the payroll, and said, "We can't
afford all of these contractors!"  We were all given a week to leave.  I
asked who was going to do the writing, and he said that someone inhouse
would do it.  I asked the new HR person where they would find people to
replace us (they lost most of their testing team) and he said that they
would put an ad in the newspaper.  


My favorite layoff:  Many moons ago, I was a power sewing machine operator,
making waterski (flotation) vests.  The guy we worked for was notorious for
spending money on anything except payroll.  (For example, he would fly
across the country to find out why his fabric wasn't being delivered yet.)  

I devised a new method to complete the vests.  I raised my production
numbers from 50 a day to 600 a day!  I was not offered a raise, and was told
that if I stuck it out for another six weeks, they might find a way to give
me a 25 cent raise.  I stormed out without training anyone to take my job
over.

Two months later, my former coworkers (still my friends) said the boss came
in with a bag of money, figured everyone's pay, subtracted taxes, then
multiplied by 80% and offered cash to everyone there.  (The supervisor on
vacation was not offered anything).  A riot broke out. He had to call the
police, and then couldn't figure out why everyone quit! 

Diane Evans 
Information Developer
Lockstream, Inc.
425-709-6840 x 230

Ask for the moon, and settle for its reflection in the pond in your back
yard.



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