Ask HN: Have you been laid off? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#141

Post by NegativeLatency » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:24 PM UTC

porkloin wrote: post #127

Just found yesterday out that I'm being laid off at the end of the month. Sadly, I wholeheartedly believe that the owners are using the coronavirus as an excuse to close their already-failing company. The company has been in slow-motion dissolution for the better part of a year, and now they're blaming the entire thing on the virus outbreak so that they have a narrative to tell that covers up some of the mismanagemen…

> pay out our PTO plans

https://www.paycor.com/resource-center/pto-payout-laws-by-st...

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#142

Post by porkloin » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:24 PM UTC

whalesalad wrote: post #133

porkloin wrote: post #127

Just found yesterday out that I'm being laid off at the end of the month. Sadly, I wholeheartedly believe that the owners are using the coronavirus as an excuse to close their already-failing company. The company has been in slow-motion dissolution for the better part of a year, and now they're blaming the entire thing on the virus outbreak so that they have a narrative to tell that covers up some of the mismanagemen…

> Sadly, I wholeheartedly believe that the owners are using the coronavirus as an excuse to close their already-failing company. If you feel the company has been failing, then I doubt this is an excuse. It's just the straw that is breaking the proverbial camel's back.

Totally valid point. I think they were simply surviving by merit of the fact that the market was good, and really any major speedbump would have caused the company to fail. It's an excuse in the sense that they're not addressing that the reason coronavirus has destroyed the business is because it was built on a poor foundation.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#143

Post by dangoor » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:26 PM UTC

cpr wrote: post #121

dangoor wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, unfortunate for us that you're stuck in Sweden, but I hope you're able to find a good next project!

Curious why you can't hire world-wide for remote workers.

A couple of things: one is that there is additional legal/compliance stuff to deal with for each additional country (EU might count as one, when it comes to that), but the bigger reason is that we wanted more overlap in working times. It's also less expensive when we do get together in person at headquarters in California (which has typically been 3-4 times a year).

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#144

Post by epa » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:27 PM UTC

zests wrote: post #99

I’m about to leave my extremely safe job for a tiny startup. I have to put in notice by the end of the week. The startup seems to still want to hire me and is showing no signs of pulling the offer. I think they planned on getting more funding at the end of the year. I’m at a loss for what to do. I’m excited about the opportunity but am not sure that now is the right time to leave. I plan on calling and asking for mor…

4 red flag assumptions: - "you think" - "they planned" - "getting more funding" - "end of the year"

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#145

Post by aliswe » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:27 PM UTC

Kwantuum wrote: post #62

Cyberdog wrote: post #34

I'm a contract full-stack web developer. I've been "laid off" in that my last remaining client, who was already behind on her bills, told me to stop all work and she has no idea if/when she'll be able to pay her outstanding bills. I have no idea where next month's rent is going to come from. If anybody needs some contract web dev done, check out my info at https://albright.pro/ and reach out ASAP. I will cut you one…

Sorry to say, your online presence is dreadfully low for a web developer.

As a freelancer I've had zero online presence, not even LinkedIn. I have almost only ever got assignments through connections and reaching out to businesses myself.

Garret, just emailed you.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#146

Post by wise0wl » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:27 PM UTC

navaati wrote: post #27

I’ve been let go on Thursday, of a DevOps job that had started on Wednesday. I’m a contractor so I can’t really complain, that’s how the game is played. The job was in the car rental industry, they are suffering heavily so of course the contractors are the first to go. It was my first job after coming back to my home country, and that move have let me pretty dry money wise. Eh… At least they’ll employ me ’till the en…

We are hiring, not sure where you are but we offer relocation. For now we are working from home, so for now that probably wouldn't be an issue.

https://careers.blizzard.com/en-us/openings/onAAbfws

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#147

Post by navaati » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:28 PM UTC

wise0wl wrote: post #146

navaati wrote: post #27

I’ve been let go on Thursday, of a DevOps job that had started on Wednesday. I’m a contractor so I can’t really complain, that’s how the game is played. The job was in the car rental industry, they are suffering heavily so of course the contractors are the first to go. It was my first job after coming back to my home country, and that move have let me pretty dry money wise. Eh… At least they’ll employ me ’till the en…

We are hiring, not sure where you are but we offer relocation. For now we are working from home, so for now that probably wouldn't be an issue. https://careers.blizzard.com/en-us/openings/onAAbfws

Oh, yeah, should have specified that, that’s France for me :).

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#148

Post by phnofive » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:29 PM UTC

eropple wrote: post #125

Rebles wrote: post #44

At the beginning of the year, I decided it was time to find a new job after 10 years with my employer. I spent February doing interview prep and conducting interviews. Back then, the COVID-19 was mostly limited to China, markets and governments weren't terribly concerned about COVID-19. I accept a job offer, put in my two weeks notice, and my last day at was last Friday. Hardly anyone was seriously concerned about CO…

> But in February, there wasn't any sign of an economic downturn. Everyone was enjoying the bull market. First: I’m super sorry about what you’re going through and I hope things work out with your new employer. Second: I worry that “nobody could have known” will be the narrative. A very large portion of my circles was aware that COVID was about to explode and that the prevention measures would either drastically slow…

Depending on the country and an observer’s cynicism, I think the majority of nations understood early on that it was already far too late to significantly dampen the impact of such a deadly and infectious virus.

The United States government was thoroughly informed of this risk via Operation Dark Winter but never geared up for it - perhaps this is best managed by states once the infection crosses the border, but preparations on those levels weren’t completed either.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#149

Post by throwaway150919 » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:30 PM UTC

Does anyone have advice on what to do if you think your company will lay you off? For example, would it be best to get laid off, then immediately seek unemployment? Or, best to negotiate NOW for a severance package that includes healthcare in hopes of your boss thinking that is a better option for them? Or, resign for some reason?

Re: Ask HN: Have you been laid off?

#150

Post by reidjs » Wed, Mar 18, 2020, 9:30 PM UTC

eropple wrote: post #125

Rebles wrote: post #44

At the beginning of the year, I decided it was time to find a new job after 10 years with my employer. I spent February doing interview prep and conducting interviews. Back then, the COVID-19 was mostly limited to China, markets and governments weren't terribly concerned about COVID-19. I accept a job offer, put in my two weeks notice, and my last day at was last Friday. Hardly anyone was seriously concerned about CO…

> But in February, there wasn't any sign of an economic downturn. Everyone was enjoying the bull market. First: I’m super sorry about what you’re going through and I hope things work out with your new employer. Second: I worry that “nobody could have known” will be the narrative. A very large portion of my circles was aware that COVID was about to explode and that the prevention measures would either drastically slow…

It’s not possible to predict the future, so I disagree with your stance that it was obvious a virus could cause an economic downturn like this. It comes across as victim blaming to me.