i joined uber just 2 mo ago and now i've been laid off. after going through 4 rounds of interviews, getting the job and thinking i was finally settled, uber apparently decided to lay off 10% of employees and i ended up being one of them. i honestly don't even know how to process this right now. i work in data analytics and i'm currently in the UK on a sponsored work visa, which makes this whole situation soooo much worse. for most people getting laid off means having to find another job, but for someone in my situation it can also mean losing the ability to stay in the country.
and uber knows this, or at least i would hope they understand what happens when they terminate someone who depends on employer sponsorship. i dont think they care tho - what makes this even more frustrating is how they decided who to lay off. i was still on probation because i'd only been there for 2 months, and during the call they literally told me i had the lowest tenure among the people in my pool. that was apparently the reason i was selected. not because i did anything wrong, not because i wasn't performing, just because i was the newest person there. seriously, you put someone through four interview rounds, hire them, bring them onboard and then two months later decide they're no longer needed because they haven't been there long enough.
how does that even make sense?
i asked uber to extend my notice period so i could have more time to look for another sponsored job. i was even willing to take a cut in my severance package in exchange for that additional time. i'm not asking for more money, just enough time to find another employer willing to sponsor me so i can continue living and working in the uk. they refused. i don't think people understand how difficult it is to find a sponsored position right now, especially when you're suddenly unemployed and facing immigration deadlines.
i'm in data analytics and already looking for opportunities, but finding a company that's hiring and willing to sponsor a visa is a completely different challenge. the whole thing just feels so incredibly heartless. if uber knew there was a possibility of cutting 10% of its workforce, why were they hiring people just weeks before? why make someone go through multiple interviews and start a new job only to turn around and say sorry, you're the newest person so you're out? i'm trying to stay positive and find another position, but the uncertainty is honestly terrifying. i thought joining uber would be a great career move and instead i'm now worried about my job, my visa and whether i'll even be able to stay in the uk. i'm curious whether others at uber were affected by these layoffs, particularly in the uk or in data analytics. were recently hired employees and people still on probation targeted first? did anyone else on a sponsored visa get laid off? and has uber been willing to extend notice periods for other employees facing immigration issues, or is this how they're handling everyone?