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Googler... ex-Googler

nerdy.dev

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Re: Googler... ex-Googler

#331

Post by mcherm »

varenc wrote: post #215
hnfong wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not like there aren't disgruntled employees before layoffs. If a single employee could cause billions of dollars in losses, then the company already has a big problem regardless of layoffs. It's very interesting how so many people in upper management seem to think that they can trust employees not to sabotage and cause billions of dollars in losses by paying them like 100k a year.

The big difference is liability exposure. If a current employee causes damage, that's one thing. But if a recently laid-off employee who retained full system access causes billions in losses, the CEO and board would face severe consequences legally and reputationally, since it would be perceived as an obvious security lapse.

This is a strange sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. Effectively, your argument says that if there is any step, whether wise or foolish, kind or cruel, that some take, all must take it or risk being found negligent.

That's no way to run an (overly litigious) society.

Re: Googler... ex-Googler

#332

Post by chippiewill »

michalstanko wrote: post #163
apexalpha wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Weird, as someone from Europe I've never experience anything else. Layoffs here are always done in conjunction with the unions. People are moved to different jobs, helped with training etc... Only in very critical jobs they'd walk you out immediately but then you still get the pay.

It really depends on the people you work for, it's not like Europe is some kind of paradise in this matter. I was working as a contractor for a company in Germany, after a few years working together, they cut me off from one day to the next (the new manager decided to start saving money), even though my contract included a clause about a one-month notice period. They didn’t even bother to pay the invoice for the work…

The legal responsiveness for contractor disputes is definitely not as good as employment. Messing up employment relations in Europe ends up really expensive in most jurisdictions because there'll usually be some mix of unions, government agency or charity that'll have the employee's back.

Contractors don't have that kind of support pretty much anywhere (that's sort of the point), and it's just a standard contract dispute that lawyers argue about.

Re: Googler... ex-Googler

#333

Post by lapcat »

This article was actually posted 3 days ago. I saw it back then and read the comments. You can see the old timestamp here: https://hn.algolia.com/?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnerdy.dev%2Fex-googl...

I think this is what HN calls the "second chance pool".

I absolutely hate when HN reposts an article and alters/falsifies the timestamps. It's so incredibly misleading.

Re: Googler... ex-Googler

#334

Post by whiplash451 »

Strom wrote: post #290
whiplash451 wrote: post #177

« Relationships that took me years to cultivate… mostly going to be gone too » Why? What prevents you from spending time with your ex-colleagues?

Probably because most interactions were on company time. Because of course if the relationships were outside of work, then changing jobs would have little effect.

If those ex-colleagues were truly good friends, they ought to find the time to hang out with you outside of work.

This would likely lead to genuine, more interesting conversations.

In my experience, true relationships survive (and sometimes thrive in) a departure.

Re: Googler... ex-Googler

#335

Post by lproven »

apexalpha wrote: post #149
abdj8 wrote: post #110

Layoffs are a difficult thing for employees and their managers. I have seen people (one was a VP of Engineering) escorted out of the building, sent in a cab to home along with a security guard (this was in India), not allowed access to computer or talk with other employees. But, recently have had a very different experience. The current company I work for announced 30% layoffs. The list was made public within one hou…

Weird, as someone from Europe I've never experience anything else. Layoffs here are always done in conjunction with the unions. People are moved to different jobs, helped with training etc... Only in very critical jobs they'd walk you out immediately but then you still get the pay.

> Weird, as someone from Europe I've never experience anything else.

Yeah, no. Also European, and have been marched out without notice, cut off that day with no chance to say goodbye, etc.

Re: Googler... ex-Googler

#336

Post by tempfile »

icemelt8 wrote: post #319
oblio wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it, really? Aren't US tech interview notoriously difficult? Many rounds of interviews, background checks, etc.? Most purely European companies don't do that. Actually, unfortunately, some of them do, because of American influence. But for sure they didn't use to.

What he meant is that the whole capitalist culture, less regulations, creates a more thriving economy which creates more jobs and hence more options to go to.

Indeed, but that is just ideology, not based on any facts.

Re: Googler... ex-Googler

#337

Post by lproven »

perching_aix wrote: post #166
apexalpha wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Weird, as someone from Europe I've never experience anything else. Layoffs here are always done in conjunction with the unions. People are moved to different jobs, helped with training etc... Only in very critical jobs they'd walk you out immediately but then you still get the pay.

* Experience in Central- and Eastern Europe (CEE) may differ. Well, getting escorted out definitely doesn't happen here either at least.

> Well, getting escorted out definitely doesn't happen here either at least.

It 100% does. It happened to me in Brno, Czechia, and this February I interviewed someone to whom the same thing happened and who was attempting to sue for unfair dismissal.

Re: Googler... ex-Googler

#338

Post by mycatisblack »

yodsanklai wrote: post #318
Scandiravian wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having experienced layoffs in both US and EU companies, the difference is massive. In my experience there is very little respect for "the human" being laid off in US companies People literally would just disappear day to day. I've had several instances where I only found out a colleague had been fired because I tried to write them on Slack only to find that their account had been deactivated Personally I felt constan…

> I don't want to work for another US company again if I can help it You can work for a US company in the UE. They have to follow the local rules like anybody else.

Having worked in a (now defunct) US co in West-EU I can say it’s a subtle blend of the two. The layoff was announced, shortly after a few people received a call by HR, were escorted to their desk by security and had to turn in all company belongings on the spot. They were not allowed to touch a computer or telephone and were then escorted out of the premises. Afterwards, we learned that they had received a severance package that met local rules.

Most of my colleagues were shocked by the treatment. Moral took a dive after that.

Re: Googler... ex-Googler

#339

Post by rickdeckard »

yodsanklai wrote: post #318
Scandiravian wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having experienced layoffs in both US and EU companies, the difference is massive. In my experience there is very little respect for "the human" being laid off in US companies People literally would just disappear day to day. I've had several instances where I only found out a colleague had been fired because I tried to write them on Slack only to find that their account had been deactivated Personally I felt constan…

> I don't want to work for another US company again if I can help it You can work for a US company in the UE. They have to follow the local rules like anybody else.

From my experience that often just prolongs the process, but doesn't change the management culture.

An employee decided to be laid off is equally written off immediately, it's just delegated to the regional/local HR to "manage the rest".

If you're not escorted off-premise, you get to enjoy some additional days/weeks of colleagues and managers telling you how surprised they were...

Re: Googler... ex-Googler

#340

Post by palata »

underdeserver wrote: post #138
AndyKelley wrote: post #131

> I really was just a fuckin cog in a mega corp. Yes, you were. Next time, please choose a company that contributes to society rather than shoving ads in everyone's faces.

Google contributes to society. Search helps people find information. YouTube is quite possibly the most prolific source of learning ever created. Without Google Translate I'd have had a much harder time in a recent trip to Japan. There's a lot of bad, but no contribution to society? That's a bit much. Disclaimer: Ex-googler (left 2 years ago).

> Without Google Translate I'd have had a much harder time in a recent trip to Japan.

I haven't used Google Translate in years. You do know there are alternatives, don't you?

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