Last in first out.. Policy

[aidan80 9]

I'm sure this is an old story now… job losses. Well I suppose it isn't old if it just happened or has/is about to happen to you. As many of us know the rumor mill starts grinding up in the office, on the floor, out in the field and of course there is talk of who may get the axe when it comes time to balance the budget. Incoming cash is drying up very fast and outgoing expenses are climbing, demand isn't there anymore time for heads to roll...

From a very reliable source I'm informed that the organization I work for is intending to implement a last in first out policy of course driven and directed by the ever intelligent HR department. I get the impression this policy is in and has been in full swing for some time of course very few people know about it. They may well have made their lists and set termination dates of course they haven't told the people being fired about that! They plan on skimming the workforce in a few weeks to help balance things then come next finical year they are supposed to be going to do some very major cuts 20%+ are to be let go in a matter of months. I suppose I'm first up if that policy is implemented and if it is I've got a few weeks left at most. The person telling me is risking their own job by telling me I'm more or less getting it from the horse's mouth.

Not being very experienced on the usual practices of employment in the US I'm wondering what happens now. Luckily if all runs to plan I've got a few weeks to look for and get something else. I'm already looking and applying! My question is when they implement these policies will they really fire people that are integral to the smooth running of the organization e.g. fire person X and all of a sudden you will lose databases A, B and C plus payroll goes down as does most of your IT functions. All of which can and would be assigned to other people, there are backup people that can run things but down time would be involved and certain automated point and click functions will disappear, they would revert back to pens and pencils for some functions. Parts of the organization would become less efficient and incur additional costs in materials and work hours to operate.

I'm trying to wrap my head around it all, would they really boot me if I do a lot of things they just didn't and couldn't have done before? I mean the next person #2 in line after me has a family and I've no doubt would likely go bankrupt if they lost their job they are only just slightly more expendable than me. The next person #3 is actually fairly expendable but… is good friends with all the right people and has been there forever!

I haven't been through this kind of large scale lay off before and I'd appreciate any and all advice from those with experience. I'm sure there are plenty on here that have done this and gotten the t-shirt a few times. I'm thinking it's better to jump now before being pushed!

[natty bumppo 297]

bend over ... grap your ankles and crack a smile ...

[aidan80 9]

bend over ... grap your ankles and crack a smile ...

Maybe people do that if they want to survive in jail and become someones princess but I was hoping for a more informed response

[natty bumppo 297]

bend over ... grap your ankles and crack a smile ...

Maybe people do that if they want to survive in jail and become someones princess but I was hoping for a more informed response

not been in the working world much yet? .... well ... welcome to corporate america ....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Aidan....just sent you a PM.

[aidan80 9]

bend over ... grap your ankles and crack a smile ...

Maybe people do that if they want to survive in jail and become someones princess but I was hoping for a more informed response

not been in the working world much yet? .... well ... welcome to corporate america ....

Thanks, looks like this is how things are done in this part of the world lol! At least I suppose someone was decent enough at work to let me know it was going to come. I got my resume out on all the usual places and got a few responses already so maybe it won't all be doom and gloom! Who knows maybe this is what I'll need to push me onward into something better. I suppose it could be a lot worse.

Aidan....just sent you a PM.

Thanks, i got it

[rebeccajo 14]

Aidan -

Generally, they have to have some sort of "formula" for letting folks go based on other things than their "expendability". If they don't they are setting themselves up for real discrimination lawsuits.

The ONLY way "expendability" can be used is if they've been documenting files based upon "performance". In those cases, some employers will roll the dice and FIRE people rather than lay them off. This can be useful in that they can fight unemployment claims. It can also be useful in trying to prove the person really was deadwood and "deserved" to be let go, rather than the guy who was hired after him.

If an employer is planning a massive work reduction, they will usually opt for #1. Saves a lot of potential litigation.