Hit it from reliable information. Unbelievable. That’s how Hock team works.
24 replies (most recent on top)
"Honesty is tricky here. Because the honest answer has always been "I don't know". Literally, for the last 17 months, the only answer anyone can give legally is "I don't know".
Dont abuse the virtuous word "honesty", with qualifiers like "tricky" and "legally". Management has developed a warped sense of morality when it comes to the use of these human traits. If you are management, who wants to say he/she is honest - by its definition - then you should say:
I know the answer to your question, but I am not at liberty to disclose the answer.
or I am not legally permitted to disclose the answer or I am under instruction to disclose the answer only at an appropriate future time.
Saying "I don't know" when you know the answer, is not honest in any moral context,
as is saying "I know" when you have no clue. Management practice straddles both ends and plays it both ways, at times, enjoying seeing people squirm at the wrong end of this information asymmetry. Gurus like our OP claim this to be the only amoral stance to take - but, to me (I know you dont care what I think), this view of honesty is plain immoral.
Ignoring noob mgrs who dont know what they know, and sociopath mgrs who think they know what they dont know, how does one distinguish between a mgr who knows but says "I dont know" (like the OP), and a mgr who doesnt know, but also says "I dont know" (emulating the OP)? Given this travesty, seeking an answer from mgmt, is a fool's errand - says the fool (me).
If you’re in Ops IT Legal HR the job market outside of tech is still strong. Don’t limit yourself to the tech industry. You can always go back to working in tech once it’s back to norm if you are so inclined. Unless you’re lucky to find one of course.
My friend Rufus agrees. 98.5% cuts by Tuesday 😂
"Honesty is tricky here. Because the honest answer has always been "I don't know". Literally, for the last 17 months, the only answer anyone can give legally is "I don't know".
That's a respectable answer. And I don't have a dog in this fight anymore as I left. If I was in a position of management at VMW, I would have probably suggested those under me to prepare themselves. IMHO, getting acquired by BC Should have sent the easiest to understand outcome to anyone who spent a few minutes studying their business model. They are NOTHING like VMW and during the first company meeting with Hock it was crystal clear they do not keep anyone around unless they make money. From what I gather is that unless you're an engineer then its over. As I was not an engineer I took that as the nod to get out of there.
Again, I feel for VMW. For those of you left, the job market was already rough when I landed a new job last year. It is now many magnitudes worse. If there are any of you still at VMW and have a gut feeling you will be cut, then you need to get out in front and start applying before the possible 10's of 1000's of other VMW employees get the pink slip. Good luck.
"Elon Musk wasn't the first CEO to discover that dramatic layoffs improve profitability without impacting the business. BC was a pioneer, and has mastered the process."
HAHAHAHA... oh yeah, because Twitter is doing SOOO well after he took over... not.
Not an expert, but I believe companies have to give at least 60 days notice per the WARN Act of major layoffs. So people would know in about 2-3 weeks if the 3rd week of Oct for layoffs is correct. Each state has their own WARN Act website so you can check there.
If you are in fact a part of the "Management" and the mental wellbeing of the employees was actually a priority then my advice in hindsight is that honesty goes a long way. If there were ANY inclination that BC would do what it always does, which means gutting the company, then that should have been communicated to the employees.
Honesty is tricky here. Because the honest answer has always been "I don't know". Literally, for the last 17 months, the only answer anyone can give legally is "I don't know". Those who did know more would face criminal prosecution for leaking it. Yet, that answer wasn't good enough for some. They didn't want honesty. They invented conspiracy theories and held grudges. We all know it can go bad, and it could also go good. Every BU will be impacted differently, and every team within every BU as well.
As a team we discussed who we know in companies that were formerly acquired by BC. Literally, they gave good stories. Nothing of major substance changed. They showed up, did the same job they always did, at a higher pay rate, but had to change health care. Their teams had near-zero layoffs.
Honesty to my team was: I don't know any more than you, but I will share anything I can. Here are five ways it can go good and five ways it can go bad, but we're all just speculating until it's done.
"We do, but to what extent? After it was announced last May, our various teams all agreed to a slowdown to let everyone process the news. We've slowed deadlines since."
I will start by stating it took me around 5 minutes of researching past BC deals to realize it was time to go and that is what I did. I found a new job. Everyone else had access to the exact same information as I. At one time I worked at another soul-su-king and cold company like BC and did not want to go back to that.
If you are in fact a part of the "Management" and the mental wellbeing of the employees was actually a priority then my advice in hindsight is that honesty goes a long way. If there were ANY inclination that BC would do what it always does, which means gutting the company, then that should have been communicated to the employees. Telling everyone things are going to be great and everything is fine is not doing anyone any favors. I occasionally visit this site and the fear of the unknown is the most common thing I see here. Of course from a business perspective that is unwise. If everyone knew from the start that 50%+ of the company was going to be let go then everyone would have jumped ship. But if there ever was a concern for the employees that is what should have happened. However keeping BC happy probably took priority.
In the end its such a shame. VMW was the best place I ever worked. But now its about to get carved up. Such is the nature of the tech world. To those of you still there and keeping yourselves up at night, do something constructive with that fear. Update your resume. Reach out to contacts. Start looking at job boards. Because sitting around and doing nothing but being scared accomplishes nothing. Good luck to you all.
"52% lay offs on third week of October."
Seems high, until you review how BC systematically gutted the headcount at Symantec and CA. Every legacy software vendor has fluff functions where people hide for years.
Elon Musk wasn't the first CEO to discover that dramatic layoffs improve profitability without impacting the business. BC was a pioneer, and has mastered the process.
I can't wait for the fat to be cut. So long Magoo and Betsy. Your careers are proof that you don't have to be smart or produce results to be successful and make lots of money.
Due to upcoming layoffs anxiety I am not able to sleep. Cant focus on work. Management should understand the situation.
We do, but to what extent? After it was announced last May, our various teams all agreed to a slowdown to let everyone process the news. We've slowed deadlines since.
It's 17 months later. If it is still getting to you, then you need to talk to someone. A professional. It's okay to be stressed out but from a management perspective, unless you ask for accommodations, then it sounds like an excuse to not work.
Layoff number might be changed to 30% , but October 3rd week is correct
I presume this is as reliable as this one : https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1nppkicv
- Valid call but the writing is on the wall, it will close before end of BC financial year 10/31/23 and mass redundancies will be executed on or before November, to think different is stupid. Time is getting closer so predictions will get more accurate. Before long posts on this will change from speculation to fact. 12 weeks max to go.... tick, tick, tick... TAN.
Due to upcoming layoffs anxiety I am not able to sleep. Cant focus on work. Management should understand the situation.
I presume this is as reliable as this one : https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1nppkicv
110% on day 1, because firing Magoo counts extra.
Lord, I won’t be missing Magoo, that is a bright spot in all this.
Do you get off on this? Do you just like creating misery for other people for fun? Love disaster-po-n? Just zip it with the rumors.
I heard from my mate Dave it’s actually 95% on day 0,
This is the same figure heard earlier today in meetings in Palo Alto. Expect it. VMware is Twitter just with more products to cut.
Ok, c u next Tuesday.
and then the CMA will block it, and then China will block it, then EU will change their mind and block it, am I missing anyone else?
The FTC cant do anything except lose, I dont believe how people can seriously be thinking like this still
FTC going to block the deal. They are so silent. Lina khan doubling down to reject the deal. VMware stock going down last several days for this reason.
He needs only patent, nothing else. He can lay off 90%.
source: trust me bro, very reliable :)