Live data from Hacker News

Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

tiktok.com

161–170 of 454 posts

Re: Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

#161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> … legally they can't give them any more specifics. Could you please provide a source for that? That can be an important distinction for an employee. For example, when answering the question "Why did you leave your previous job?" It's important for the now ex-employee to have accurat information.

they're wrong. Employees in California have the right to request their HR files including performance reviews and anything used to determine their termination. https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_righttoinspectpersonnelfiles...

This is a good thing to have, but Brittany seems to be Atlanta-based - or at least used to be in 2020. Cloudflare does have an ATL-based sales opening right now: https://boards.greenhouse.io/cloudflare/jobs/4094720?gh_jid=...

Re: Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

#162
post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presumably these Cloudflare HR employees do have the data for why this person was laid off, and they might even have it in front of them, but yeah legally they can't give them any more specifics. As far as I'm aware, evidence of good performance could be used to strengthen their case to collect unemployment (if Cloudflare tries to fight Brittany's unemployment claim); it could also be used as evidence in a discrimina…

> but yeah legally they can't give them any more specifics. Why is that?

Because it's online and the entire call can be recorded?

Re: Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

#163
post #25

I get why Brittany's mad: Cloudflare appears to be handling this about as bad as possible. But those two HR randos aren't gonna have anything worthwhile to say, either. I don't want to be judgmental of Brittany because it's a sucky call to have to take. But my recommendation in this situation is to say "I disagree with that assessment of my performance, but I understand you are terminating my employment. What details…

And what she's did is establish that they have nothing of worth to say and make them as uncomfortable as possible throughout the whole thing.

Those both seem very worthwhile.

Re: Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

#164

A similar situation happened to me after 7.5 years at a company where I had been given consistently good feedback and promotions. I was fed the lie that my position was being eliminated when there were active public postings for the same position (Staff Engineer). My access to corporate systems was cut off at 8am with no warning or explanatio. I got a similar cold call from an HR person I had met once by chance. No i…

> Not being able to say goodbye to my coworkers I had known for years was emotionally traumatic.

Since something similar happened to me (decades ago), I basically don’t socialize with coworkers anymore, i.e. there is no emotional investment.

Re: Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

#165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would say so. This video is a perfect demonstration of America's "at-will employment" culture. It's extremely asymmetrical, too. Companies can fire you at any moment, for any reason (with or without cause!)... yet it is considered rude for employees to not provide ample notice when deciding to voluntarily quit.

This needs to change, no more notice

Meh, in my view, this is sort of a "two wrongs don't make a right" situation. I don't want to leave without notice. Not for the company, but for me. Those final weeks are nice, useful. I can tie up some loose ends that have been bugging me, say goodbye to people, all that good stuff. And I keep getting paid during that time, for honestly very easy (low stakes and low stress) work. It's win win for me.

Of course I know the company might escort me out when I give notice instead of letting me serve out the time, and of course that would hurt my feelings, but when I regained my composure I would see that it reflects poorly on them, not on me, if they do that lame nonsense.

So I think it's really sad for companies (and also employees) that for whatever reasons they don't feel they can give notice in this same way.

But I certainly don't want to give up something that I value for myself, out of spite. That makes no sense to me.

Re: Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

#166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's illegal to record others without their consent! That's highly contingent on jurisdiction. I don't know where she's recording this. I'm assuming that she's US-based, and even in the US, the laws vary by state.

Yep. 11 out of the 50 states require all parties who are being recorded to consent. For instance, in California it's not legal to record secretly: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySectio...

Florida, where I'm based, is also a two party consent state.

The specifics of case law get quite thorny. Sometimes, consent is implied. Other times, a simple and vague message like, "for quality assurance, this call may be monitored" is enough. If you live in a two party consent state and hear that message, this is why. Consider yourself informed, and know that everything you say is being recorded for future playback.

Re: Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

#167
post #25

I get why Brittany's mad: Cloudflare appears to be handling this about as bad as possible. But those two HR randos aren't gonna have anything worthwhile to say, either. I don't want to be judgmental of Brittany because it's a sucky call to have to take. But my recommendation in this situation is to say "I disagree with that assessment of my performance, but I understand you are terminating my employment. What details…

Nah, she did well by frustrating the process. Next time they’ll think twice before gaslighting and humiliating an employee. Telling her she was getting fired due to her own performance is just that. In my books she did well, hope she starts a gig on her own to never have to deal with NPCs such as those two. They feed on people’s misery.

> In my books she did well,

You don't have the details and she had 0 sales.

You're basing yourself on a TikTok video, with someone who knew it was being recorded and acted accordingly.

Eg. Cloudflare 's products are very technical and perhaps she has too little general IT knowledge to be able to close a deal ( she mentioned to have 3 chances and closed 0 )

Re: Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

#168
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was her performance, but she didn’t agree

They literally reply that it was a higher level thing that had to do with her team. So a layoff. The initial text seemed like filler.

Well, a layoff has a different impact than being fired.

They talk about the performance of her and her peers.

In any case, it’s not even a conversation. It’s a notice

Re: Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

#169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nah, she did well by frustrating the process. Next time they’ll think twice before gaslighting and humiliating an employee. Telling her she was getting fired due to her own performance is just that. In my books she did well, hope she starts a gig on her own to never have to deal with NPCs such as those two. They feed on people’s misery.

No need to dehumanize anyone

Why not? It is precisely what these HR people are doing to every person they call.

Re: Cloudflare employee posts layoff call with HR and goes viral [video]

#170

Uploading a private conversation with HR to TikTok surely isn't going to help her job hunting. Prospective employers might view such behavior as a red flag... It might even be illegal given that the HR people are likely located in California, a "two-party consent" state.

It's really good that some are ready to do what is right instead of just bending over.
Post reply on HN