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Meta fires a software engineer two days after he relocated from India to Canada

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Re: Meta fires a software engineer two days after he relocated from India to Canada

#261
post #180

I'm horrified by so many of the comments here that seem to lack even the most basic of human decency. Allow me to fill people in for those who have never uprooted your life and moved across the world for a job. It is a massive commitment on the part of the employee, where you sell the majority of your earthly possessions, property, cars, etc. Then you go through an immigration process which even if its handled by FAA…

This is crazy entitlement. Three months salary in a tech job is more than most people make in a year. If you are moving overseas, maybe wait before selling all your stuff until you pass probation. This idea that you should be guaranteed three months is so backwards. You are on trial. Tell me anyone’s advice that goes “we should fire slow, hire fast”.

Ok, let's ignore the selling stuff.

Your partner also quits their good job. That good job might not be available if you come back, congratulations, you're back at years of job hunting and job hopping to be where you were years before. In the new country maybe this was not a concern and the other partner who was just laid off had a great salary to cover.

Your kids leave their good school. Now that school no longer accepts applicants and you're stuck with whatever you can find on a short notice.

This list is far from comprehensive.

Re: Meta fires a software engineer two days after he relocated from India to Canada

#262

I'm horrified by so many of the comments here that seem to lack even the most basic of human decency. Allow me to fill people in for those who have never uprooted your life and moved across the world for a job. It is a massive commitment on the part of the employee, where you sell the majority of your earthly possessions, property, cars, etc. Then you go through an immigration process which even if its handled by FAA…

I am not sure where it is coming from exactly. I’ve been around for other major downturns, this is the first I recall at least where there’s almost like a “What Would Ebenezer Scrooge Do” mentality that has taken over amongst technology leaders. A lot of people I thought I respected are tweeting things like you have to put family second if you want to succeed, or people who don’t work every weekend should be fired (or even apologising to someone if you ask them to work on the weekend is a capitulation), that sort of thing. Unnecessary cruelty around layoffs, to send a message, seems like another.

I agree that work isn’t family and that it’s a business first, but recently it seems like causing or experiencing suffering is being seen as a kind of proof of commitment. I don’t think that path ends well.

Re: Meta fires a software engineer two days after he relocated from India to Canada

#263
post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Simple solution: Only agree to relocate if your contract guarantees you employment for at least X months... Or a termination payment of Y dollars if employment lasts less than X months. Anyone who moves across the world for an employer without getting a term like that in writing simply is naive - and we shouldn't offer them sympathy after the fact. It's like someone having their house flooded when they deliberately d…

Have you tried that? Has it ever worked? How many people do you know that have done that? 1%? 5%? 10%? What you're saying is fantasy land except for executives.

If enough engineers started demanding it, it wouldn't be fantasy land...

I have negotiated changes to my employment contract at every job I've ever worked, big and small companies, so it is very possible. Usually just crossing out a clause or editing a number is pretty straightforward and doesn't require approvals too high up the management chain.

Re: Meta fires a software engineer two days after he relocated from India to Canada

#264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

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Ya, after watching the bodily reactions of family members that led up to death in some cases I’d never go out on a limb to get that shot for a dollar. But the “lived experience” crowd sure don’t want to hear about mine.

Re: Meta fires a software engineer two days after he relocated from India to Canada

#265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you think the trump hate is irrational? What is the main rational points and reasons you like Trump? Or at least, think that he is being unfairly treated, since that does not require liking/agreeing with him.

Fwiw I understand why people despise Don. But I don't understand the blind dedication to hate, especially when other politicians and leaders pull similar shenanigans and then there's crickets. If you're violently against X or Y that's fine. But apply the rules evenly, fairly, and rationally. When you hate so hard and so long that you lose your compass...that's irrational. The majority of Trump haters fall into this b…

> But I don't understand the blind dedication to hate, especially when other politicians and leaders pull similar shenanigans and then there's crickets

Do feel free to share examples of other politicians mocking disabled people, or bragging about sexual assault, or trying a coup or any of the millions of transgressions of trump and not facing any criticism.

Re: Meta fires a software engineer two days after he relocated from India to Canada

#266
post #236
post #126

I read a story on my LinkedIn feed about a lady who had it worse: she relocated to the US with her family a couple months ago on an L1 visa, before being fired from Meta. Because of this, she now has a few months to pack her belongings, because obviously the L1 is non-transferable, and even if she applies and wins on the H1-B lottery and finds a sponsor the earliest she could start working again is fall of next year.…

I think that treating the adversarial and anti-business (and, dare I say, inhumane) US immigration policies as simple facts of life is a mistake. These are not stone tablets carved by a god; these are policies that people presently living dreamed up and implemented. They were made and they can be unmade. Life isn’t unfair nearly as often as US immigration policies are unfair.

I think it’s more that this one lady cannot fight against the entire US judicial system. Especially with the SC as it is.

Re: Meta fires a software engineer two days after he relocated from India to Canada

#267
post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do agree, but I guess I'm not sure what the solution is here? Large layoffs in large orgs are generally done at a team level rather than an individual level. So presumably this individual's entire team no longer exists. So out of respect for them relocating do you then try to reposition them in the company somehow? And what about all the people who didn't relocate but may have recently left stable job for an opport…

> I'm not sure what the solution is here? > Maybe I'm missing something here. Maybe look at how it's done in pretty much every other developed country in the world? Employees have notice periods and extra safety margins around visas. (Of course not in USA)

30 days (the EU standard) are not really that much more than the usual 14 days in the US.

Re: Meta fires a software engineer two days after he relocated from India to Canada

#268
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dont think that's true in canada. IANAL but i was under the impression that if you are fired you are still allowed to stay until your work permit expires. Its only usa that has the problem you describe.

> Its only usa that has the problem you describe. The grace period can vary wildly by country and, often, by the type of visa or work permit you hold. Just in my own sphere of experience, for example: - Hong Kong GEP holders can stay for the length of their original permit, while people on domestic help visas get only 14 days - EU Blue Card and Japanese work visa holders get 90 days - US H-1B holders get 60 days - Si…

> Japanese work visa holders get 90 days

In basis. If you can still support yourself and you are still looking for a job Japan has no issues extending this.

Re: Meta fires a software engineer two days after he relocated from India to Canada

#269

I'm horrified by so many of the comments here that seem to lack even the most basic of human decency. Allow me to fill people in for those who have never uprooted your life and moved across the world for a job. It is a massive commitment on the part of the employee, where you sell the majority of your earthly possessions, property, cars, etc. Then you go through an immigration process which even if its handled by FAA…

Not a Meta problem, this is a USA workers rights problem.
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