Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

There is definitely an LR list. Actually several lists. I know, because i sent in one to the SSED in the UK market. Managers were asked to prepare one way back in June. Now, what I don't know is if everyone on that list will be whacked or if part of them will get the chop or if more will be added to that. I also don't know if I myself will get shown the door. Job market is really not very attractive right now. I know people from February 2023 layoffs who are still looking for a job. More experienced you are, harder it is.
Tighten your belts as far as family expenses are concerned. Folks, we are mid-level managers and LR is not in our hands. We just forced to do the distasteful work by the Director and VP.

The director and VP also has an unofficial "naughty list" - people inside and now ex-Cisco, who they will never hire in the org no-matter what, not even if they are at risk of an LR, qualified and if there'd be an open position . That is an express order to us managers across UKI. This list has no HR input and most of these people never got in trouble at all, quite the contrary. The list is based on personal bias.

Good luck to all

@1sri+1u3v67Pa Honest question. Why does your role even exist?

SSEM here. It’s not a list per se. Each quarter we are asked for our top and bottom performers. We are challenged to move our bottom performers up, or move them out. When an LR comes and our org is impacted, we are given a number we ha e to reduce by. If you’re a bottom performer you’re on the list. It su-ks but it’s the way.

Heads down. work work work. nothing to see

If the list already exists why are they waiting a month to drop the bo-b?

“Pick up the effort, show you belong”. Oh get the fu-k out of here with that nonsense. This is the type of toxic trash that gets circulated as “normal” behavior at Cisco.

I learned this in the Army. Even when leaving I determined to give my all because I’m not a pile of s*** and my dignity is worth more than sending a “message” that validates why I don’t belong. I’m just a regular employee. Not a manager or a leader. But stop this immature handling. Grow up. Is this situation handled well by the ELT? Probably not. But you, be professional. That’s all I am saying. Remain professional no matter what happens. If that’s too much to ask, then that’s a problem with you, not me.

All lists have been made, at least your managers and directors have already given inputs.

This is very good advice.. mgmt has some very tough decisions to make.. and they themselves are also at risk.. the lists are not finaled.. regardless of how this is the total unbelievable and it is terrible what is happening and how it is being done.. keep your head high and support the team and your colleagues.

“Pick up the effort, show you belong”. Oh get the fu-k out of here with that nonsense. This is the type of toxic trash that gets circulated as “normal” behavior at Cisco.

the best advice!

Don’t forget the “training” spreadsheets, that weighs on the in/ out decisions at top where they don’t even know who you are.

There is a list - of 350 people that will be impacted next week. I imagine those high level people will then be NDA’d and charged with making the next set of lists. People on those lists will be notified September 16 (US) and on.

I am not a leader, I am a IC who wrote this. Unless you know for a fact there is a list, prove it. Provide the departments and numbers who is getting affected.

F the manager who posted this.

Chuck, Fran, and Scott cultivated this culture deliberately. People are only this jaded and cynical because the layoffs happen EVERY 6 months it seems. How can anybody focus and do good work when the axe is always hovering over your neck? The ELT reap what they sow.

The thing is: there’s a list. Leaders never ever ever go into these things without a list. They started the list when acquired Splunk. Anyone HR adjacent can tell you that.

There’s the list now. And there’s going to be other lists later as leaders take over their restructured teams and figure out how to execute on their strategy.

Yes, we are going to see a lot of stress behavior right now. I just hope everyone is in a good place 12 months from now.

Good advice. At the same time, something someone would say who knows there a list

Hi J2, good to hear from you.