I was laid off yesterday and today folks are calling me and asking me work related questions. Should I have to answer them? I am in a dilemma.
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"I had to turn off my phone, the recruiters have been harassing me all week"
I would "help" because of severance. But my answers would be super vague with a lot of "I don't remember".
“Sorry I missed your call, I was napping on my deck after a boozy brunch.”
@hsz+1pneUkSS @gsr+1pneUkSS and @OP here's the relevant part of the QA29:
except as described in Q&A 17, you provide services, directly or indirectly, to the Company or any Affiliate before your Termination Date or the end of the period of time that your Severance Payment represent (see Q&A 30 and Q&A 32), or
Q&A 17. Do I have to Work during the Notice Period? No you do not have to work during the Notice Period, unless the Company requests that you work during the Notice Period. If the Company requests that you work during the Notice Period, then you will be entitled to severance benefits only if you continue to perform your assigned duties and responsibilities to the satisfaction of the Company through the date established by the Company in its discretion. If you are requested to work during your Notice Period, then you cannot sign and return your Severance Agreement until after your last day of actual work.
I already replied once, but apparently it was deleted. Anyway I know of at least one green team that is really struggling this past week because a "single point of failure" was layed off.
OP, dont do anything to jeopardize your severance. Take some time and enjoy your family.
If you think you owe anyone your efforts for free then you weren’t laid off, you received your requested salary of $0.
That's an easy one: Tell them you're available on contract. Rate? Minimum your former salary x 1.33 (cost of benefits). Better yet, double your old salary. Take your salary / 2080 (hours in a year) and that's your rate. Then you see exactly how much they value you. I actually did this at a company I got laid off at. I charged them $3000/month to make weekly, 1-hour project calls. For three months.
Tell them THEY own their own tomorrow!!
Another thing is that you are supposed to focus on YOUR future now and leave CS behind, detox etc... That's what WARN is about. Don't let these leeches su-k you dry.
@zoh+1pneUkSS working for free is not the right thing...
It’s really pathetic and inhumane on the part of folks to call you . They need to let the ones that decided to make the call of laying you off handle these issues. It’s a known that this is what happens when you irresponsibly hand lay off to schmucks like Boston consulting.
Not your monkeys or your circus any more.
OP here, thank for sharing your thoughts. I did answer the questions this time (and am sure there will be more) because of the relationship I have with the person asking the questions.
I will consider quoting the clause in the severance agreement and ask for a formal request from MD stating it won't impact the severance agreement before I answer any more questions.
Thanks!
do the right thing.... everyone's feelings are hurt, even those who stayed behind... you never know if that person asking will ever be in a position to extend an olive branch... dont let them abuse it, but if critical, do the right thing. expect everyone else to say sc--w it, they did you wrong, blah blah blah, again, i get it, it su-ks, but in the end it may help you more than itll hurt the company.
I can't believe those people calling you knowing you were laid off. That is a total inhuman and unprofessional behavior. Not to mention showing their incompetence.
You should not answer any questions, and if it's that important let the MD call you and make a case to hire you back.
THIS ⬇️ is 100% accurate
“ According to the Summary Plan Description Q&A 29, you will lose / be ineligible for severance benefit if: you provide service, directly or indirectly, to the Company or any Affiliate before your termination date.
Please consult your legal service before you answer any work related call.”
Honest response: How could that possibly be a dilemma? No.
Refusing to do so will not “show them” for laying you off. No one “will learn” from laying you off. Schwab is a corporation that hired an outside firm to determine who to lay off. Apparently the criteria is unknown. You don’t owe anyone anything.
“Have to” no!
Willing to if no negative consequences to your severance package, could if not over the top and for a brief time. Likely folks calling you are not ones that made the decision to let you go.
According to the Summary Plan Description Q&A 29, you will lose / be ineligible for severance benefit if: you provide service, directly or indirectly, to the Company or any Affiliate before your termination date.
Please consult your legal service before you answer any work related call.
“If you are asking this question, I can see why you didn't make the cut.”
Comment like this shows what type of human being you are, I wish you all the best in next round of lay offs and your miserable brain and attitude, any chance you are high management? Judgmental arrogant piece of cr-p?
If you are asking this question, I can see why you didn't make the cut.
I'm so sorry to hear you were laid-off.
No... Just let the phone ring. People should/will understand soon enough. You don't owe the company any more of your time. It doesn't make you a bad person to create this boundary. These layoff decisions create consequences and this is one of the things companies will learn to live with.
may be the big bosses who made these decisions should answer those questions.
Honest answer? HE-L No, if you were important or needed, they should not have to let you go, this is insulting you even more, I was let go myself and not picking up the phone for nobody.
I am still at Schwab, and are you fking kidding me, f NO!