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Laid off by Big Tech, then recruited for contract work – at the same place

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Re: Laid off by Big Tech, then recruited for contract work – at the same place

#71

Post by Consultant32452 »

speedgoose wrote: post #48

I’m not a lawyer, but I have a vague idea about my rights and firing people to hire them as contractors instead is illegal in both jurisdictions I know, France and Norway. Firing people to hire contractors instead is risky because you need a reason to fire people. The reason could be economical, but one could easily argue in court that if the company is hiring contractors instead, well, it was not the real reason. Th…

This is one of those things that's technically illegal in the US, but is selectively enforced when big companies don't donate enough to the mafia.

Specifically, the IRS can come after you for incorrectly/falsely classifying an employee as a contractor.

Re: Laid off by Big Tech, then recruited for contract work – at the same place

#72

Post by trilbyglens »

speedgoose wrote: post #48

I’m not a lawyer, but I have a vague idea about my rights and firing people to hire them as contractors instead is illegal in both jurisdictions I know, France and Norway. Firing people to hire contractors instead is risky because you need a reason to fire people. The reason could be economical, but one could easily argue in court that if the company is hiring contractors instead, well, it was not the real reason. Th…

Employees have basically no rights at all in the US. We started the labor movement, and have completely given up all rights over the last 70 years. It's a shame really.

Re: Laid off by Big Tech, then recruited for contract work – at the same place

#73

Post by trilbyglens »

0zemp1c wrote: post #14
neilv wrote: post #12

> There’s no way I want to go back ... making half the amount. IMHO, if a company lays off an employee, and then wants them back as a contractor/consultant, the tasteful offer is that the money doubles , not halves .

do you know why they are offering half instead of double? because they can the game has changed

This was always the game in America.

Re: Laid off by Big Tech, then recruited for contract work – at the same place

#74

Post by hinkley »

anonymouskimmer wrote: post #51
briandilley wrote: post #47

Same thing happened to me in the early 2000's during the first dotcom crash. Except my contractor rate was nearly double my full time rate. It was rather dumb, but obviously they didn't bring _everyone_ back that they had laid off.

Did you have a pension as an employee? Significant stock options?

Nobody in America has a pension, and half the people who think they do are in for a rude surprise later on.

Boeing phased out their pension eligibility back in the mid 00’s as I recall.

Re: Laid off by Big Tech, then recruited for contract work – at the same place

#75

Post by MrBuddyCasino »

celso wrote: post #58
speedgoose wrote: post #48

I’m not a lawyer, but I have a vague idea about my rights and firing people to hire them as contractors instead is illegal in both jurisdictions I know, France and Norway. Firing people to hire contractors instead is risky because you need a reason to fire people. The reason could be economical, but one could easily argue in court that if the company is hiring contractors instead, well, it was not the real reason. Th…

This is illegal in Portugal. It's also illegal to fire someone based on the termination of a specific company role (assuming the company can do it, but this is another discussion) and then next hire someone else, contractor or not, for that same, or similar, role.

Hows that working out for Portugal‘s economy?

Re: Laid off by Big Tech, then recruited for contract work – at the same place

#76

Post by OJFord »

blibble wrote: post #65
jimnotgym wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I came here to say the same. In the UK you can't be made redundant if there is other work you could do at the company. Also in the UK contractors are paid a lot more than full time staff!

> Also in the UK contractors are paid a lot more than full time staff! low level staff maybe the big earners in UK finance are employees contractors don't get a bonus

Certainly industry dependent. OP is about 'big tech' though, not finance (proper fintech aside I suppose).

I think 'contractors are paid more' generally (and in fairness somewhat necessarily) ignores that it's to compensate for other employee benefits. But it's ultimately a kind of pointness/trivial truth - 'the value of holiday and sick leave and job security and life assurance and pension contributions and [...] is non-zero!' - yes, of course it would be.

Re: Laid off by Big Tech, then recruited for contract work – at the same place

#78

Post by tasubotadas »

trilbyglens wrote: post #72
speedgoose wrote: post #48

I’m not a lawyer, but I have a vague idea about my rights and firing people to hire them as contractors instead is illegal in both jurisdictions I know, France and Norway. Firing people to hire contractors instead is risky because you need a reason to fire people. The reason could be economical, but one could easily argue in court that if the company is hiring contractors instead, well, it was not the real reason. Th…

Employees have basically no rights at all in the US. We started the labor movement, and have completely given up all rights over the last 70 years. It's a shame really.

Pretty sure you are mistaking rights with benefits.

Re: Laid off by Big Tech, then recruited for contract work – at the same place

#80

Post by galkk »

Honestly, I don't think that this article is trying to do something from nothing.

From what I see - it's some recruiting agencies trying to cast wide nets to hire people for contracting jobs. By some random chance, fired people are getting offers for companies where they were worked previously.

It'd be different if people were targeted to offer job in the exact same team where they were laid off from, but I haven't seen this in article.

Personal anecdote: I was getting emails from Amazon recruiters while working at amazon.

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