The prickly, sickening sensation that claws at your cheekbones.

[elfs]

First, the important news: I still have a job.

Now, the counterpunch: My office got RIF'ed today. Thirteen people got laid off. From my division of six, we lost two-- and those two were supporting me in developing ground-to-profile APIs so I could concentrate on turning the profiles into visuals in the UI.

When the announcement came through, I felt all the blood drain from my face, and then my manager told me that I was a survivor. That the decision had come from "up high" and was meant to make us viable for the next twelve months. That it was about economic projections and institutional knowledge and who was even vaguely redundant. That there was nothing personal about it. That the ones who were left were "just going to have to take up the slack."

I'm a little groggy today; only got about six hours of sleep last night because I had to drive the babysitter home and then get up for work. Not sure how I'd have reacted if I'd been better rested. Probably just the same... a little shocked, a little annoyed, very relieved to still have work after all.

Comments

[mouser.livejournal.com]

"...was meant to make us viable for the next twelve months."
"just going to have to take up the slack."


Start looking for the next job. Now. Expect another RIF in three and six months.

[jenk]

"just going to have to take up the slack" == gee, we remembered that we don't have to pay salaried workers overtime!

What mouser said: even if there isn't another RIF (which there probably will be) you probably don't want to be there.

Ouch.

[pixel39.livejournal.com]

Every place I've worked has had at least one RIF (and Cornell was very fond of hiring freezes), and none of them were good, even the one that was an excuse to get rid of the troublemakers. I would polish up my resume and start looking for a new job--there will most likely be another RIF in 3-6 months.

[elfric.livejournal.com]

Another RIF in 3 to 6 months or the company going under. Either way, start looking now -- it's not going to be pretty.

[elfric.livejournal.com]

What about kendaer?

Kendaer is....

[kendaer.livejournal.com]

Just fine and still completely and totally employed.

All is good.

Also, after the recent all-hands company meeting, I personally feel better about why this was done and that it *isn't* a prelude to another RIF in 3-6 months.

Re: Kendaer is....

[jenk]

I'm glad you're good. I hope that you won't end up overworked & overstressed. ;)

Re: Kendaer is....

[jenkitty.livejournal.com]

*hugs to elfs and kendaer*
Glad to hear y'all are both still gainfully employed. But yeah, what a mess.

Re: Kendaer is....

[elfs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll ditto what Kendaer said. It's hard to explain why I feel positive without violating lots and lots of NDA material, but suffice it to say that I think the product itself is conceptually way valid, that the team is very conservative compared to the late '90s in terms of getting to profit, and our acting CEO does not have the kind of reality distortion field that the Steve Jobs or the president of F5 had. He's nervous and he blinks a lot and he makes you feel like he's actually working just as hard as everyone else.

I know, it sucks hard for those who have just recently been laid off, but for the rest of us, I think things will be okay. That doesn't mean I'm not going to refresh my resume'; I do that every six months in good or bad times anyway.

[mouser.livejournal.com]

Not "3 TO 6 months" I predict "3 AND 6 months"!

Re: Kendaer is....

[kendaer.livejournal.com]

Actually, as I said above and as Elf said, it's really not all that much of a mess. *except* for the people who were let go.

And as Elf said, all I can do without violating NDA's from here till next week, is say that after the meeting today I am much less concerned and I wasn't all that concerned except from a practical standpoint before that.

Re: Kendaer is....

[kendaer.livejournal.com]

He.. i don't plan on overworking or overstressing.. I have a family and a life and I know it and my bosses know it (and have known it) and this isn't a problem with them (as should be evidenced by my continued employment :)

Re: Kendaer is....

[jenk]

Glad to hear things look good. I understand NDAs. ;) Thinking good thoughts for you both.

:)

[(Anonymous)]

our prayers are with you and with your skill you should be able to find a job asap anyways if you had lost it. personaly i wish i knew what you know about programming and such.
---
WarStoke

[j5nn5r.livejournal.com]

hang in there -- start looking.