I am Lead Dir and lost 2 on my team. Both are better than rest of the team with one being an invaluable resource. How were they chosen? Curious
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This is sad to hear. This company is doomed unless politics is taken out of the equation for layoffs. What a nice company Aetna used to be before the takeover.
OK, let me understand - say a VP gets notified they need to cut $X from their department. Then, they work with the LDs to see who's 'best' for layoff to achieve the savings PLUS who's politically out-of-line?
Don't let anyone tell you it's not political because it is. If you are on the Aetna side, Executives, Directors, Managers go around talking to their reports and other departments they collaborate with for their take of their colleagues. That's when the political gossip comes out. Some will take their word for it and others will do their research to see if there is truth to it. Example, a direct report isn't meeting their metrics or KPIs and their Director has been hiding it or turning a blind eye but the other department LD narc them out with proof to their Executive, bypassing the employees hiring manager.
Layoffs isn't just about saving money and letting go your reports who make the most money its about who is left behind that will get the job and help the new vision/direction. They eliminate anyone who gets in the way.
It sounds like you've been left behind the political game. Just remember just because you have a favorite and think they're invaluable doesn't mean another leader and department think so.
How about letting Karen go - instant savings in the millions and then hire a CEO for a more reasonable salary who stands a chance of getting a better rating on simple things like trust, transparency, competence...
I see lots of posts with talk about people who make 120-130 in their examples. Im starting to feel real cr-ppy about my 100k salary in just met last year after 30 years of dedication to this company.
Sad you even posted that.
Yeah, if you are a LD and weren’t asked for input on the culling of your own herd… You might want to question how politically connected or valued you actually are to your higher ups.
This is also why, before the company is going to go through layoffs, there’s always this huge push for everyone to update their professional profiles in the company HR system. They say it’s to support your growth and development, but it’s really just so the people that don’t really know you can make a “less damaging” decision on who to eliminate, if they even read them at all.
I have a bad news for you in particular...
Are you inquiring if we are aware of who made the selections? You already know who decided on the layoffs. Remember...bad karma will come after you too.
You might have an employee who makes 130k and provides the value of 1.5 employees maybe even 2 but they will still lay him off and keep the 110k employee to save 20k. Later they will realize the mistake and call him back, but that employee will already be employed elsewhere and thrive because he's very good. Classic rookie mistake.
Stop playing du*b
VP gets a number and works with their directs to come up with a list. That list is then combined with other lists and reviewed by legal to make sure age, s-x, ethnicity, etc. are ok. They check the approved list to make sure salaries of the doomed are hitting the savings targets. After that, the process begins.
How were the ones to choose who got laid off? VP?
Yeah this is wild - also LD here and I was actively involved in making the selections
You are LD and asking us how your people were selected? Crazy town...or you are getting your meeting invite tomorrow