Thread regarding VMware layoffs

I keep a lot of po-n on my VMware laptop, hidden in a VM. It comes in handy when I'm working away. Do you think Broadcom will put spyware on my laptop and discover it somehow?

"Personally I changed to another industry and even here are layoffs all over the place. So if you think you get a juicy package when laid off and you can sit there with your cat drinking bud light looking for new jobs - think again. Your package will run out in no time."

This above is 1000% accurate. I left VMW very early on after the announcement and even though this was before all of the tech layoffs the market was already tough. Many positions that I got an interview for were ultimately canceled due to cutbacks. It took months to find a new job. So I can only imagine its far worse now.

Those still at VMW have what sounds like a few months. Enough time to at least get started with a job search before everyone gets laid off.

“ Too many people waited until the end not believing all the rumours of deep and radical cuts.”

Exactly what’s happening now

The managers will know weeks in advance according to the CA Tech employees. Some are just nice enough to share. They aren’t obligated to but those that did definitely had more empathy IMHO.

If you are in one of the product BUs, the decisions will be made by the VMware people tapped to lead those BUs based on the budget they are given. If you are in a back office function, those decisions will be made by the Broadcom leaders of those functions, again, based on the budget they are given. Don’t think legacy Broadcom people aren’t also sweating, because some of them will get clipped to make room for some of you.

Do you think I’ll be able to keep my laptop?

Managers might be less safe then a lot of us engineers. They are going through this too and are dependant on their manager updating them... I don't agree with 'it's up to your manager'. If my manager found out 24/48 hours before me, what are they meant to do. Fine if it's a small, cornered layoff but this is a different scale of a sh-t fan. I will find out my fate and they will find out their fate.

Managers do not have any information yet.

If you’re a manager be a leader and do the right thing by informing your reports the moment you have the information. Otherwise you risk burning bridges and the tech industry is a small world after all…

I left VMware after I caught Kit lying about it so technically I don't have a right to post here but I can only say - anyone that wants to wait. Have a look at the current market. Layoffs are literally everywhere.

Personally I changed to another industry and even here are layoffs all over the place. So if you think you get a juicy package when laid off and you can sit there with your cat drinking bud light looking for new jobs - think again. Your package will run out in no time.

Competition due to layoffs is already hard. In fact I tried to move jobs again and the day after my last interview said company had huge layoffs and the team I applied for is gone, including the recruiters, managers and colleagues. So I don't expect an update on my application any time soon.

My point is - if you wait for the layoffs - which will cut deep - you will have an even worse competition.

God help those people that didn't progress and still think vmware tech is up to date tech and think they can make the same money when leaving vmware.

I worked in PS back in the day and local vmware architect roles go for 30-50% of my vmware salary.