A lot of my friends got fired and I feel guilty that I didnt - thread - The Bear and Badger

google

So I've been talking for a while about how my company was gettingÂ acquiredÂ and merged into a larger organisation. Well today, that happened. Here is theÂ Techcrunch articleÂ about it.

Anyway, the expectation from all of management was that, "While we cantÂ guaranteeÂ that everyone will have jobs, we're positive there will be no changes toÂ anyone'sÂ role or job moving forward".

So I walk in today with the expectation that I will be working for a new company, but with the same job title, role, salary, etc.Â

I spend an hour or two getting coffee, shooting the shit, etc without a care in the world.

Then I start to see glum faces being accompanied to various offices. Then hugs, tears, and scornful looks. I start to panic as I'm now exceedingly worried that as one of the relatively new people (I've been here less than a year) I will be next on the list. I cant find my boss, I cant find any senior management, so I'm just hopping from one foot to the other trying to figure out what the fuck is going on.

My boss finally returns, comes to my office and just kind of shouts out, "Your safe, we'll talk in a bit". I suddenly had a wave of emotions run through me. I was thinking about how I wasÂ goingÂ to last without a job with a new baby, mortgage payments, etc. But then that uncertainty went away and I wasÂ guaranteedÂ a job, a pretty massive bonus and an all expenses paid trip for me and my family to Boston for 3 weeks while I get up to speed. Not only this, but because of merger, I've actually increased in seniority - which is fucking mental. So I'm really happy about all that.

But I just saw two of my closes friends escorted out ofÂ theÂ building. Sarah was crying. I couldnt do anything but give her a hug. I know she's at home now, in tears, thinking about why she was let go and how Dean got to stay. Their personal effects still in the office. Yet here I am pleased that I'm not one of them.

I'm not sure how to deal with this.

They've gutted the company. Half the sales team is gone. The entire professional services team is going to finishÂ transitioningÂ new customers until Feb, at which point they're gone. All of the admin staff are gone. All the IT guys. The only people that are relatively clean are the dev's and support.

Eugh.

I feel a bit sick - but ultimately relieved.

Not sure what to do with myself but I wanted to express myself in some way. Maybe I should have thrown this in the 'what you do' thread, but I didnt want to clog up that thread with my feelings about this.

Has anyone else been through this with a company? How do you deal with it? what's the protocol? Should I be worried for 3 months time?

[Deleted User]

Woah, that's some big changes.

First of all I would say everything you are feeling is totally normal, guilt, relief even a bit of joy and some sadness, all totally normal.
Secondly, try not to dwell on why you stayed and they went, it is management's decision and their weight to bear, all you did was be good at your job.

I wouldn't worry too much, if they were going to get shot of you they would have done it now or at least put you on some kind of notice, i very much doubt they would be sending you to Boston too. I don't know the laws over there but if it is like here there are strict procedures they have to go through, they are time consuming and really not something companies would want to do twice in one year.

My company went through redundancies almost exactly this time last year, sadly some people I genuinely cared about got let go, however 12 months on, they are doing great, maybe even better than before.

Sasukekun

We've had about 3 waves of redundancies since I started at my place. I've survived each one despite being the most recently employed by the company, essentially I made myself of immense use to the company by being cross trained and as a result, multi-skilled.
I also automated and built the macros around which our reconciliations spreadsheets run, and seeing as no-one knows how to fix them if they go wrong, they can't very well let me go without having to do everything manually again.

While people are upset, redundancies are a way of life in big jobs, the threat of them is always there and they're even more likely in takeover scenarios. Feeling relieved and happy is perfectly natural and you're allowed to feel that way. Grieve for your former colleagues by all means, but you're there because you earned it, and feeling sorry for them, while compassionate, does them no favours what-so-ever.

[Deleted User]

A good piece of advice I heard but don't follow because I am a moron : Always have at least 2 months wages saved just in case.

google

Yeah, the savings plan is in place. The goal is to have $10k in available cash in a savings account, so in the event of anything like this I'm able to not panic.

I just got off the phone with one of the girls. She's back at her apartment with a couple of the other girls who got laid off drinking vodka and crying.

I feel like shit now.

But as you all say, nothing to do but move on I guess.

I feel like someone's died.

Sasukekun

I have redundancy insurance. Pays out Â£900 a month if I get made redundant. I really need to get that upped as I earn double that.

google

That's a thing?

Does it kick in if you get fired?

igorgetmeabrain

Good luck finding any insurance policy that pays out if you get fired.

Sasukekun

google wrote:

That's a thing? Does it kick in if you get fired?

Don't think it's for being fired no, there might be some sort of coverage.
But you don't get it if you sign up when you're at risk (takeovers, job under review etc.), it's a handy thing to have if you can find a decent company.

Elmlea

For a positive side, surely those made redundant will get some sort of payout, so even if they're not as pragmatic as you when it comes to saving they'll have something to tide them over?

Don't feel guilty; feel sad for them same reason you would for any reason, but you can't get into guilt. Â They went because they weren't as good or as valuable as you, you can save guilty feelings if it was a random decimation and you were saved by virtue of luck, but that's not the case.

regmcfly

Bonus and a holiday in Boston swish dean feel dat guilt

Elmlea

We never get bonuses, it seems unfair.

google

Elmlea wrote:

For a positive side, surely those made redundant will get some sort of payout, so even if they're not as pragmatic as you when it comes to saving they'll have something to tide them over?

Yeah, they have a decent package, as well as a 'consultant' who will be working with them to help them find new jobs.

So it's the best possible case for their situation.

[Deleted User]

Elmlea wrote:

We never get bonuses, it seems unfair.

Don't go down that route, Lawro will blow his mind!

If it helps they tell me I am going to get a bonus every year then it gets delayed and reduced and delayed again.

regmcfly

Elmlea wrote:

We never get bonuses, it seems unfair.

3 year pay freeze, completely out of inflation. Fuck a bonus, I'd just like my salary to be right.

Paul the sparky

Have you got a daily quota to meet Elm?

Elmlea

regmcfly wrote:

Elmlea wrote:

We never get bonuses, it seems unfair.

3 year pay freeze, completely out of inflation. Fuck a bonus, I'd just like my salary to be right.

Yup, 3 year pay freeze, plus the next 2 years capped at 1%, plus 5% year on year increase in all our charges, and a drop in allowances ranging between 5% and 100% depending on how unlucky you are. Â They've also just removed a huge chunk of my pension without us being able to do anything about it.

google

Elmlea wrote:

regmcfly wrote:

Elmlea wrote:

We never get bonuses, it seems unfair.

3 year pay freeze, completely out of inflation. Fuck a bonus, I'd just like my salary to be right.

Yup, 3 year pay freeze, plus the next 2 years capped at 1%, plus 5% year on year increase in all our charges, and a drop in allowances ranging between 5% and 100% depending on how unlucky you are. Â They've also just removed a huge chunk of my pension without us being able to do anything about it.

YEAH BUT YOU DIDNT SEE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CRUSH GET FIRED TODAY!!!!!!!

[Deleted User]

I haven't had a payrise inline with inflation ever. Only ever had performance related pay rises and even they have been limited due to the market.

But I love what I do and won't ever seriously complain about my choice of career as long as I am happy.

Diluted Dante

When Game went into admin in April, I had much the same thing. It happened partway through what otherwise was thought to be a perfectly normal day. Everyone knew the company was in trouble obviously, but there was so much talk of multiple companies being interested in buying Game, plus that investment firm that sunk huge sums into shares I don't think anyone was expecting half the stores to be gone. Especially places like Blackburn. When that went we realised no one was safe, despite our rationalising about us being the safest store on the region.

I decided to hang about after my shift and wait for the news there rather than sit at home hitting F5 on MCV, and we all jumped whenever the phone rang. When Gamestation rang us to tell us they were closing, we knew we were safe as they had to put up a sign redirecting customers to us. Still though, it was another 2 hours before anyone told us we were actually safe. Going round to GS after seeing how gutted everyone was was horrible, because we knew it could have been us.

tldr; Similar happened to me, we all felt the same, it's shit but normal.

regmcfly

Elmlea wrote:

regmcfly wrote:

Elmlea wrote:

We never get bonuses, it seems unfair.

3 year pay freeze, completely out of inflation. Fuck a bonus, I'd just like my salary to be right.

Yup, 3 year pay freeze, plus the next 2 years capped at 1%, plus 5% year on year increase in all our charges, and a drop in allowances ranging between 5% and 100% depending on how unlucky you are. Â They've also just removed a huge chunk of my pension without us being able to do anything about it.

You and I have exactly the same stuff re wages and pension. I don't get any allowances tho. Still, solidarity

Elmlea

regmcfly wrote:

You and I have exactly the same stuff re wages and pension. I don't get any allowances tho. Still, solidarity

Don't worry, the only allowances I get are things like one for living overseas (cut by 50%) and driving to work when accommodated at a place not of my choosing (cut by 33%, doesn't cover the journey cost, and weighted so we're not recompensed for the "average commute" in the UK). Â If I go away with work, I get a daily allowance for food (fully individually receipted only, claimed in arrears, cut by 15%, not enough to buy 3 meals), but we're not really looked after in that sense anymore. Â Once allowance that's gone up is the one that allows me to fly home once a year from an overseas posting; so it now covers 75% of the cost rather than 65%.

They've already grabbed a chunk of my pension, they're changing the terms of it again shortly, and they keep saying it's non-contributory despite the fact that the Armed Forces Pay Review Body recommends a 14% abatement to our pay to cover our pension costs.

When I eventually move to another job, I want one where the company look after their people. Â Googs gets taken to Whistler, the last place I was sent by work was the middle of nowhere in New Mexico, and I had to drive myself there in 13 hours with no hotel....!

regmcfly

I'm being put up in STIRLING in January for an advanced higher event

Sasukekun

Man, reg has it tough.

regmcfly

Sasukekun wrote:

Man, reg has it tough.

For our Venezuela expedition training, we are off to DUNDEE.

I suppose it will simulate the jungle aptly.

Sasukekun

regmcfly wrote:

Sasukekun wrote:

Man, reg has it tough.

For our Venezuela expedition training, we are off to DUNDEE. I suppose it will simulate the jungle aptly.

Gorillas accounted for then.

Hodge360

I'd love to see that happen in my job but I'm pretty certain that,as with everything, they'd fuck it up and pick the wrong people. Would never happen anyway with the bloody union in the way. Surprised though that people were escorted off the premises with personal belongings left behind. I honestly thought my place of work was one of the few places that done or had reason to do that.

djchump

@goog: get your CV in order, just in case.
You survived the first round, but it doesn't sound like your company got bought for the staff.

Rev

regmcfly wrote:

I'm being put up in STIRLING in January for an advanced higher event

We should meet for a cuppa. I work there.

wonderbanana

Diluted Dante wrote:

When Game went into admin in April, I had much the same thing. It happened partway through what otherwise was thought to be a perfectly normal day. Everyone knew the company was in trouble obviously, but there was so much talk of multiple companies being interested in buying Game, plus that investment firm that sunk huge sums into shares I don't think anyone was expecting half the stores to be gone. Especially places like Blackburn. When that went we realised no one was safe, despite our rationalising about us being the safest store on the region.

I decided to hang about after my shift and wait for the news there rather than sit at home hitting F5 on MCV, and we all jumped whenever the phone rang. When Gamestation rang us to tell us they were closing, we knew we were safe as they had to put up a sign redirecting customers to us. Still though, it was another 2 hours before anyone told us we were actually safe. Going round to GS after seeing how gutted everyone was was horrible, because we knew it could have been us.

tldr; Similar happened to me, we all felt the same, it's shit but normal.

Sounds awful. Our town had two stores and I (for some reason) just assumed they would keep the GAME one but to my surprise it was the Gamestation that survived.

Chin up Googs btw. Nothing was your doing and whilst it's sad to see good colleagues and friends upset, ultimately your family is first especially when you have little ones.

M0stly harm13ss

djchump wrote:

@goog: get your CV in order, just in case. You survived the first round, but it doesn't sound like your company got bought for the staff.

Mmm, I agree with this unfortunately. With a cursory glance over the articles and from what you have said it looks like your company has been bought up for it's customer base. Support and dev staying supports my opinion (clients can't after all be hung out to dry and as the customer base is rationalised, there will be a need for a larger support team..developers are always required for future projects and to bring in a little new thinking), the rest of the staff can be let go without much client impact.

Good luck.

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