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Twitter Layoff Started Today

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Re: Twitter Layoff Started Today

#21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The money they need pay bills and keep them afloat if and until they get new employment. How will these people that were making well into six figures possibly survive?

Now go look at the cost of a home or apartment in San Francisco or nearby towns. I'll wait...

I guess they'll have to lower their cost of living like the rest of us?

Re: Twitter Layoff Started Today

#22

“ many of these folks won’t be able to sell the shares they earned. The money they need pay bills and keep them afloat if and until they get new employment. When severance ends, that’s it.” It’s Twitter’s responsibility to not only offer severance, but make sure employees keep an emergency fund?

No post body was provided.

Re: Twitter Layoff Started Today

#23
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seriously. I wouldn’t be surprised if the lowest total comp was in excess of $200k/year. If you can’t have 6 months in cash sitting in a high yield savings account on that, there’s no amount of severance that will help you.

Someone who earned 150k cash and 50k stock might be able to save, but they'd probably just keep their stock as their "emergency fund". Twitter are blocking them selling that stock. Effectively Twitter are laying people off and putting a freeze on their savings account. I think it's reasonable to have a little sympathy for people in that situation.

Equity isn’t an emergency fund.

Re: Twitter Layoff Started Today

#24

Could anyone explain to me in simple terms how it's possible to have a blackout on Vested stock? I was under the impression that once I'm "vested" the stock is now mine and I own it like any normal stock. Are "vested" shares something different? Could I say for example sell my shares on Robinhood if the blackout wasn't in effect or are they held by some third party?

Companies routinely have blackout periods where employees are not allowed to sell their shares. Typically the shares from equity grants or ESPP are done by a brokerage and they can block those shares from being sold during these blackout periods.

However, when someone leaves the company, they can transfer those shares out to their e-trade account or whatnot. I've done that before and it only takes a few days. After that you aren't beholden to stock blackout periods, unless you have Material Non-Public Information, which means you will probably have to figure out if you can sell without being considered insider trading.

Re: Twitter Layoff Started Today

#25

Almost no information here or anywhere else. Any other source? What roles? How many? Edit: 30% of its recruiting team: https://www.wsj.com/articles/twitter-lays-off-third-of-talen...

I’ll second those questions; I work at Twitter and am on vacation at the moment. I saw this and immediately checked my work email and major slack channels and I see no signs of any layoffs being announced. It’s possible the person claiming it has some inside information or that the layoffs are targeting specific departments and not mine I suppose, but I’d love to see a second source or more detailed information.

Re: Twitter Layoff Started Today

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seriously. I wouldn’t be surprised if the lowest total comp was in excess of $200k/year. If you can’t have 6 months in cash sitting in a high yield savings account on that, there’s no amount of severance that will help you.

The median home value in SF is ~$1.5 million. A typical mortgage on a home like that is ~$4-5k per month. So you're assuming folks have $25-30k in liquid cash hanging around all the time. Not unrealistic but certainly not everyone working at tech companies there has that kinda cash. And that's before you factor in other costs like property taxes, insurance, etc. that you'll need to cover too.

In the rust belt when a factory closes or when people lose their farms, they move to where it makes economic sense. But these (ex-Twitter emps) are some of the most mobile people on Earth! It is sad when someone anyone loses their source of income -on the other hand these are among the most capable of landing on their feet.

Re: Twitter Layoff Started Today

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seriously. I wouldn’t be surprised if the lowest total comp was in excess of $200k/year. If you can’t have 6 months in cash sitting in a high yield savings account on that, there’s no amount of severance that will help you.

The median home value in SF is ~$1.5 million. A typical mortgage on a home like that is ~$4-5k per month. So you're assuming folks have $25-30k in liquid cash hanging around all the time. Not unrealistic but certainly not everyone working at tech companies there has that kinda cash. And that's before you factor in other costs like property taxes, insurance, etc. that you'll need to cover too.

Do you think it’s a good idea for someone in a well-paying job not to have 3-6 months of expenses saved?

Nobody is forcing them to live in SF, especially not Twitter.

Re: Twitter Layoff Started Today

#29

Could anyone explain to me in simple terms how it's possible to have a blackout on Vested stock? I was under the impression that once I'm "vested" the stock is now mine and I own it like any normal stock. Are "vested" shares something different? Could I say for example sell my shares on Robinhood if the blackout wasn't in effect or are they held by some third party?

Companies should also remove your trading window when you exit the company.
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