Ask HN: Who is firing? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Who is firing?

#331

Post by hsod » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 4:21 PM UTC

pjc50 wrote: post #314

stevetursi wrote: post #289

Hertz laid off nearly the entirety of their rank and file IT staff earlier this year. https://news.slashdot.org/story/16/02/13/1630244/hertz-is-pu... In order to receive our severance, we were forced to train our IBM replacements, who were in India. Hertz's strategy of IBM and Austerity is the new SMT's solution for a balance sheet that's in shambles, yet they have rewarded themselves by increasing executive compensa…

I'm always astonished that companies that treat their IT staff this way don't find landmines left behind more often that destroy their infrastructure.

Really? It sounds like you're describing a felony, and one that would probably not that hard to be traced back to the perpetrator.

Re: Ask HN: Who is firing?

#332

Post by mgkimsal » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 4:22 PM UTC

slgeorge wrote: post #324

mgkimsal wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If they say anything that directly results in you being denied a job, it opens them up to lawsuits. This is the received wisdom, but not sure it happens. It might be something that happens at high levels, but it's uncommon for most people to even get a rejection letter or email in the first place, this notion of companies badmouthing you then them telling you that's why you were not hired is just... weird. Someone…

It may not happen, but many companies believe it could happen. Consequently, they say next to nothing about ex-employees - only the dates of employment. If you're the company being asked for the reference there is no upside in you saying that Joe was fired - why would you want to help another company, and why would you want to risk (however infinitesimal) a law suit. This is commonly defined by policy, simply ask the…

I get that part, but even if past employer A said something to potential B, why would B say anything to me? It's just going to involve them in something they don't want to be part of in the first place.

Re: Ask HN: Who is firing?

#333

Post by JSeymourATL » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 4:24 PM UTC

andy wrote: post #234

I was fired from Wickr.com a few months after their layoffs. I was fired from Wickr a few months ago. The given reason was they considered me not a Senior Android Developer and that was my title - I asked too many questions apparently. My manager indicated that if my title had been Android Developer there probably would not have been a problem. I don't care about titles really. I was hired in 2014 as a contractor for…

> Personally, I would prefer to be laid off vs fired...

That's a distinction with very little difference. You got pushed out.

Creating a poor employee performance review is standard corporate cover for incompetent managers. Besides, who do you want on the team? Cheerfully loyal minions or the guy who gripes about overtime?

Use the Group Restructure/Company Lay-offs as your cover story for leaving and move-on.

Re: Ask HN: Who is firing?

#334

Post by redboxcandy » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 4:28 PM UTC

mountaineer22 wrote: post #218

throw1988_9121 wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In your opinion what hurts morale more? One big round of layoff, or multiple smaller rounds? I've only seen the later happen, and personally I think I'd prefer the first one. If you know that after that large layoff round the rest of the company is safe, I'd venture that might be better for the morale of the remaining employees.

I worked at a place, where I was not laid off, but my friend was, on his birthday. For me, this was a real eye-opener. It would not have been a big deal for HR to wait another day, and then lay him off. Another employee, also laid off, 2 days after moving out of his aunt's house and had put a deposit down on an apartment and DSL connection. I think I left a month later right before the company imploded.

Happened to a friend of mine while he was on his honeymoon. Through a slip by management people knew it was coming. He wanted to know before he left, but they wouldn't tell him. So he ended up checking his voicemail everyday while he was on his final vacation.

Re: Ask HN: Who is firing?

#335

Post by 7Z7 » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 4:39 PM UTC

cwilkes wrote: post #258

zelos wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love the fact that no one seems to know why we say "sent to Coventry" as well.

Probably related to Coventry being "ignored" in WWII by British officials so that German wouldn't catch on that the enigma machine was broken. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-11486219

The phrase is much older than that..

>Grose's The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue - 1811:

>>To send one to Coventry; a punishment inflicted by officers of the army on such of their brethren as are testy, or have been guilty of improper behaviour, not worthy the cognizance of a court martial. The person sent to Coventry is considered as absent; no one must speak to or answer any question he asks, except relative to duty, under penalty of being also sent to the same place. On a proper submission, the penitent is recalled, and welcomed by the mess, as just returned from a journey to Coventry.[0]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Send_to_Coventry

Re: Ask HN: Who is firing?

#336

Post by cookiecaper » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 4:41 PM UTC

Curnee wrote: post #313

rybosome wrote: post #306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The failing business and laid off workers combined with executive compensation increases/bonuses is very much an example of why Sanders and Trump are so popular, and why candidates like them (or more extreme) will come out of the woodwork in 4 years.

I find it hard to believe Trump wouldn't, or hasn't, done exactly as Hertz has done. This seems like an all too common stratagem for upper echelons within a business to convince shareholders that the books are healing.

Trump does this kind of thing because he believes it's necessary to compete. For example, he makes neckties in China/Mexico/wherever because that's the only way one can do so profitably.

Trump is the epitome of "Don't hate the player, hate the game". While Trump has played the game as necessary in the business world, Trump claims he is running for office so that he can change policies such that offshoring American jobs is no longer economically feasible, and such that companies that do this will face punishment.

Though it seems counter-intuitive, Trump and Sanders are striking the same chord, just from different directions. There is a surprising amount of crossover support from Sanders to Trump, especially as evidence of DNC corruption against Sanders in the primary process continues to mount.

Re: Ask HN: Who is firing?

#337

Post by muyuu » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 4:44 PM UTC

issaria wrote: post #230

expertentipp wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Berlin startups are infamous for hiring foreigners from countries with low salaries, ideally from outside of EU (so no free movement of workers with Germany) and paying them below the market salary. Low pay + dealing with German bureaucracy + sky rocketing prices of everything in Berlin = person has a problem. As for Axel Springer - their understanding of internet innovation is quite... "skewed". e.g. as some kind of…

Chinese developer working in a Berlin startup here. I agree the Berlin startups do hire a lot of foreingers (there is a report stating that 49% of employees are foreigners), and it drives the salary down, but I can say my salary is the same level as others developers, as developers has such a huge demand here that you can change jobs freely, unlike American H1B visa. Also because the EU bluecard has a salary requirem…

Yeah but the requirements of the EU bluecard are in line with the EU average - low for Germany.

Re: Ask HN: Who is firing?

#338

Post by hanginghyena » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 4:44 PM UTC

slgeorge wrote: post #324

mgkimsal wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If they say anything that directly results in you being denied a job, it opens them up to lawsuits. This is the received wisdom, but not sure it happens. It might be something that happens at high levels, but it's uncommon for most people to even get a rejection letter or email in the first place, this notion of companies badmouthing you then them telling you that's why you were not hired is just... weird. Someone…

It may not happen, but many companies believe it could happen. Consequently, they say next to nothing about ex-employees - only the dates of employment. If you're the company being asked for the reference there is no upside in you saying that Joe was fired - why would you want to help another company, and why would you want to risk (however infinitesimal) a law suit. This is commonly defined by policy, simply ask the…

Sadly that is trivial to get around these days, especially if someone at the new company knows someone at the old one.

Most professionals I know are happy to "bend" policy to give a respected colleague or personal friend a good reference, especially if that person is on the street.

If the company clams up and limits its response to name, rank and serial number, that's a huge red flag.

Re: Ask HN: Who is firing?

#339

Post by jszymborski » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 4:49 PM UTC

KB1JWQ wrote: post #257

andy wrote: post #234

I was fired from Wickr.com a few months after their layoffs. I was fired from Wickr a few months ago. The given reason was they considered me not a Senior Android Developer and that was my title - I asked too many questions apparently. My manager indicated that if my title had been Android Developer there probably would not have been a problem. I don't care about titles really. I was hired in 2014 as a contractor for…

Hand of fate is moving and its finger points to you It throws you on the street; now what's next for you? Your options: worthless, and you're bound by NDA Pied Piper seems quite cushy, best update your resume -- Iron Maiden, "The Wickr Man"

are you suggesting he apply for a job at that new compression company Hooli tried to buy?

Re: Ask HN: Who is firing?

#340

Post by cema » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 4:53 PM UTC

Parametric Technology (http://www.ptc.com/) has had a series of layoffs. They are trying to turn the business around, clumsily it seems. Never having been associated with the company myself, I will let others talk. Well known in Boston area.