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HP to cut 25-30k jobs

bbc.com

51–60 of 319 posts

Re: HP to cut 25-30k jobs

#51
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They cannot afford to lose healthcare coverage. And with Obamacare, they don't have to. They should be able to purchase decent coverage on the exchange, right? That's what we did when I quit my job.

The amazing coverage they have is barely cutting it. He pays pennies on the dollar for the coverage they get. I can't imagine it would be like this at all on the exchange.

You're right - private health insurance will be far more expensive than what he's paying now.

I don't think there's any way around that.

If he can afford to pay the vig, then COBRA makes the most sense for the short term.

Re: HP to cut 25-30k jobs

#52
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They cannot afford to lose healthcare coverage. And with Obamacare, they don't have to. They should be able to purchase decent coverage on the exchange, right? That's what we did when I quit my job.

The amazing coverage they have is barely cutting it. He pays pennies on the dollar for the coverage they get. I can't imagine it would be like this at all on the exchange.

If his employment does end, he can do COBRA for 18 months (although he'll lose the employer contribution of course).

Afterwards, ACA guarantees that a plan will be available. Depending on the state, you may be able to even get a quick quote online to get an idea of what the cost would be today.

Re: HP to cut 25-30k jobs

#53
post #7

> The tech company has struggled over the last decade to keep up with changing demands as customers move away from desktop computers. Maybe, but laptop or desktop, HP has been always synonymous with crappy quality and design - among the worst I have ever seen. I just can't wait for them to stop making PCs so that we can get at least half-decent laptops from other manufacturers.

This is just one data point, but I bought an HP Stream 11 this year and run the latest Ubuntu on it. For a $199 computer the build is good and it makes for a good light weight spare laptop. I used it for some Haskell hacking tonight, and it is also OK for Java and Ruby dev using IntelliJ or Atom.

Re: HP to cut 25-30k jobs

#54
post #4

HP's new business model for the last 2 years : * cut costs (mostly by disabling essential business functions) * buy back stock using proceeds The result: https://www.google.com/finance?chdnp=1&chdd=1&chds=1&chdv=1&... The person in Charge : Meg Whitman. In 2008, she was cited by The New York Times as among the women most likely to become the first female President of the United States. Because what "worked" for HP, w…

> for the last 2 years

Still solid gains over the last 2 years, but the chart forms a classic "head and shoulders" bearish pattern centered at the beginning of this year. I'd say there's a 50% chance that it will continue to fall.

Re: HP to cut 25-30k jobs

#55
post #48
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The amazing coverage they have is barely cutting it. He pays pennies on the dollar for the coverage they get. I can't imagine it would be like this at all on the exchange.

Years ago I did a website for a person who sold health insurance for businesses. It turns out that a business is defined as 2 people and can come in most any form. With business healthcare they accept anyone even if you have pre-existing conditions. It gets around trying to buy health insurance directly. Cost is pretty reasonable.

Great advice - also, there are a few states that allow a one person business to qualify for group coverage.

I forget all of them, but I think the following states still allow "groups of one" with respect to a business acquiring health insurance:

Connecticut, Delaware, Mississippi, North Carolina

My apologies if I'm wrong on any of these, it's just off the top of my head since the last time I looked into it.

Re: HP to cut 25-30k jobs

#56
post #7

> The tech company has struggled over the last decade to keep up with changing demands as customers move away from desktop computers. Maybe, but laptop or desktop, HP has been always synonymous with crappy quality and design - among the worst I have ever seen. I just can't wait for them to stop making PCs so that we can get at least half-decent laptops from other manufacturers.

This is just one data point, but I bought an HP Stream 11 this year and run the latest Ubuntu on it. For a $199 computer the build is good and it makes for a good light weight spare laptop. I used it for some Haskell hacking tonight, and it is also OK for Java and Ruby dev using IntelliJ or Atom.

Well they make relatively decent "consumer" laptops, but their "corporate" ones are utter crap, made with cheap parts everywhere and breaking all the time.

Re: HP to cut 25-30k jobs

#57

The sad part is that it's Carly Fiorina's fault for turning HP into the mess it was. And now she touts that as the reason why she should be president. It's a sick joke that she thinks gutting one of Silicon Valley's preeminent companies makes her worthy of being president. HP was the first company to pioneer Silicon Valley culture, ie. The HP Way. It was only after Fiorina's tenure that HP turned into a shadow of its…

There was an article in the Houston paper a few weeks ago whose main theme was trying to explain to confused readers how Fiorina could possibly be running for president using her record as HP CEO as an actual positive. In Houston, formerly Compaq headquarters until HP bought and immediately dismantled it, she's not getting a lot of primary votes...

Re: HP to cut 25-30k jobs

#58
post #7

> The tech company has struggled over the last decade to keep up with changing demands as customers move away from desktop computers. Maybe, but laptop or desktop, HP has been always synonymous with crappy quality and design - among the worst I have ever seen. I just can't wait for them to stop making PCs so that we can get at least half-decent laptops from other manufacturers.

I have an HP11C calculator I bought in 1989 I still use. It cost almost $100 back then. The first HP printer I bought was a DeskJet 550c. Made a beautiful whooshing and humming noises. Kept it for more than 10 years. When they discovered a tendency for premature wear on the pickup rollers, HP sent me a maintenance kit: one day it just showed up with instructions. I had a zd7000 laptop in the early oughts. It was pret…

I have an HP11C too, and a LaserJet 5L printer. Both are over 15 years old, in regular use, and work fine. The printer has had two roller replacements, though.

That's HP's problem. Great gear, got the job done, didn't have an addictive replacement revenue model like Apple. People ran HP minicomputers for decades because they Just Worked.

Re: HP to cut 25-30k jobs

#59

The sad part is that it's Carly Fiorina's fault for turning HP into the mess it was. And now she touts that as the reason why she should be president. It's a sick joke that she thinks gutting one of Silicon Valley's preeminent companies makes her worthy of being president. HP was the first company to pioneer Silicon Valley culture, ie. The HP Way. It was only after Fiorina's tenure that HP turned into a shadow of its…

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carly_Fiorina#Resignation, Fiorina made over $100M in her time at HP. So she makes out like a bandit and leaves the company in a ditch, rattled, and struggling to regain composure. Do these people have any conscience?

Re: HP to cut 25-30k jobs

#60

The sad part is that it's Carly Fiorina's fault for turning HP into the mess it was. And now she touts that as the reason why she should be president. It's a sick joke that she thinks gutting one of Silicon Valley's preeminent companies makes her worthy of being president. HP was the first company to pioneer Silicon Valley culture, ie. The HP Way. It was only after Fiorina's tenure that HP turned into a shadow of its…

OTOH, HPQ has /8 netblocks, and they're adjacent, that's gotta be valuable!
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