Got laid off yesterday...what do I do?

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • samdapatriotsfan
    SBR MVP
    • 10-10-08
    • 1585

    #1
    Got laid off yesterday...what do I do?
    I am a technical support engineer with over 11 years of experience and, surprise, my director called me in yesterday to tell me that my position is being moved to India. This is not the first time this has happened to me but hopefully it will be the last. They offered me a small severance if I sign a disclosure saying that I will not sue them...for any reason.

    This has piqued my interest. Why would I have to sign something saying I will not sue? What are they worried about? I have never been asked to sign anything like this before. I kind of think it may have something to do with the fact that I am the only black man in the company. But I hate playing the race card so I have to believe that is not it. However I am failing to see any other reasons for asking me to sign such a document.

    I have until the beginning of February to sign or reject the offer.

    Any ideas/advice on what they may be getting at or why they would ask me to sign this?

  • William Walters
    SBR Hall of Famer
    • 01-17-11
    • 6372

    #2
    Great.........yet another toll free customer service number where I can't understand a motha-fukkin thing they are saying to me!

    Tough break pal. Can't offer up any good advice..........never been down that road.
    Comment
    • dom75
      SBR Wise Guy
      • 10-11-10
      • 779

      #3
      I would reject the offer. I have been laidoff twice by the same company and will soon be laidoff again in a month or two. It is my understanding that if you take the severance pay then you can not get unemployment benefits. Look into it deeper as I am not completely sure.
      Comment
      • EmpireMaker
        SBR Posting Legend
        • 06-18-09
        • 15581

        #4
        consult a lawyer
        clearly they weren't thinking about you when they decided to move your job to India
        do what's best for you
        Comment
        • Deuce
          BARRELED IN @ SBR!
          • 01-12-08
          • 29843

          #5
          Unemployment, sit back, relax. Find a gig paying under the table. If you can't beat em', join em'.
          Comment
          • griz
            SBR MVP
            • 01-27-11
            • 3647

            #6
            consult a labor professional on this.
            Comment
            • Iced
              SBR MVP
              • 01-04-11
              • 1614

              #7
              A lot of companies offer severances as long as you sign a disclosure not to sue, it's relatively standard.

              Companies can get sued for firing someone because of age, gender, race, filing a claim for workers' comp benefits, taking a leave under the FMLA, etc.

              Outsourcing, though, is a valid reason to let someone go, and you can't sue them for that.

              You can probably find a lawyer who would represent you if you want to sue them for racial discrimination or some BS like that, but I'd recommend just taking the severance. Like I said before, the disclosure is standard protocol, it's not like the company is giving you a disclosure because you're a special snowflake.

              Take the severance and start looking for another job, good luck.
              Comment
              • darkhat
                SBR Hall of Famer
                • 08-18-10
                • 5722

                #8
                It is very common for companies to have you do this. They just are covering their ass because people can obviously sue for a billion reasons at any given time. My company makes us sign things like this constantly. Oh you showed up with a new pair of shoes? Sign this saying you won't sue us if you trip on the way to your computer.
                Comment
                • playersonly69
                  SBR Posting Legend
                  • 01-04-08
                  • 12827

                  #9
                  You most DEFINITELY get unemployment even if you get severence pay.
                  Comment
                  • samdapatriotsfan
                    SBR MVP
                    • 10-10-08
                    • 1585

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Iced
                    A lot of companies offer severances as long as you sign a disclosure not to sue, it's relatively standard.

                    Companies can get sued for firing someone because of age, gender, race, filing a claim for workers' comp benefits, taking a leave under the FMLA, etc.

                    Outsourcing, though, is a valid reason to let someone go, and you can't sue them for that.

                    You can probably find a lawyer who would represent you if you want to sue them for racial discrimination or some BS like that, but I'd recommend just taking the severance. Like I said before, the disclosure is standard protocol, it's not like the company is giving you a disclosure because you're a special snowflake.

                    Take the severance and start looking for another job, good luck.

                    I don't think I want to deal with the hassle of suing them, especially if this is pretty standard. Thanks for the info.
                    Comment
                    • samdapatriotsfan
                      SBR MVP
                      • 10-10-08
                      • 1585

                      #11
                      Originally posted by William Walters
                      Great.........yet another toll free customer service number where I can't understand a motha-fukkin thing they are saying to me!

                      Tough break pal. Can't offer up any good advice..........never been down that road.

                      Comment
                      • RubberKettle
                        SBR Hall of Famer
                        • 12-28-09
                        • 6421

                        #12
                        Go down to the local unemployment office and talk to someone about your options.
                        Comment
                        • mathdotcom
                          SBR Posting Legend
                          • 03-24-08
                          • 11689

                          #13
                          take advantage of book promo offers

                          they are best in late august though so next time try to get canned later in the year
                          Comment
                          • jjgold
                            SBR Aristocracy
                            • 07-20-05
                            • 388179

                            #14
                            I would play the race card Son, fuk them

                            I bet your a hard worker too

                            Shake them down for more
                            Comment
                            • senseionline
                              SBR MVP
                              • 08-20-10
                              • 1819

                              #15
                              and government keep telling us job is booming wtf
                              Comment
                              • samdapatriotsfan
                                SBR MVP
                                • 10-10-08
                                • 1585

                                #16
                                Thanks for info on unemployment, it has been a long time since I have had to use it. I am already applying for jobs and I hope I won't even have to use it.




                                Originally posted by mathdotcom
                                take advantage of book promo offers

                                they are best in late august though so next time try to get canned later in the year
                                Thanks Math, I will try to keep that in mind for next time.
                                Comment
                                • BroDog73
                                  SBR Sharp
                                  • 06-09-11
                                  • 349

                                  #17
                                  Originally posted by Deuce
                                  Unemployment, sit back, relax. Find a gig paying under the table. If you can't beat em', join em'.
                                  This is exactly what is wrong with our country!

                                  Sorry man, situation sucks! Good luck in finding a new job!
                                  Comment
                                  • FuzzyDunlop
                                    SBR MVP
                                    • 01-15-11
                                    • 2422

                                    #18
                                    Fairly standard cover their ass policy, unfortunate (possibly illegal) that your severance is tied to it. Are you in New England? If so, PM me and I'll take your resume, my company is growing and I know of a few other people that hire quite regularly in MA & NH.
                                    Comment
                                    • iFrat
                                      SBR High Roller
                                      • 09-29-11
                                      • 122

                                      #19
                                      Take that race card straight to the bank. I wouldn't sue, but you could get them to bump that severance package up some. Also you cant get full unemployment if you take it, at least not in TN. Most of the time its a better deal than unemployment anyways. Think the max in TN is only 280 bucks wk before taxes.
                                      Comment
                                      • samdapatriotsfan
                                        SBR MVP
                                        • 10-10-08
                                        • 1585

                                        #20
                                        Originally posted by FuzzyDunlop
                                        Fairly standard cover their ass policy, unfortunate (possibly illegal) that your severance is tied to it. Are you in New England? If so, PM me and I'll take your resume, my company is growing and I know of a few other people that hire quite regularly in MA & NH.

                                        Thanks Fuzzy, I appreciate the offer but I am in California. Silicon Valley to be exact.
                                        Comment
                                        • The Oddsbreaker
                                          SBR Hustler
                                          • 02-03-09
                                          • 78

                                          #21
                                          Originally posted by dom75
                                          I would reject the offer. I have been laidoff twice by the same company and will soon be laidoff again in a month or two. It is my understanding that if you take the severance pay then you can not get unemployment benefits. Look into it deeper as I am not completely sure.

                                          You can get both severance and unemployment in MA and NH, my neck of the woods. Not sure about Cali...
                                          Comment
                                          • jjgold
                                            SBR Aristocracy
                                            • 07-20-05
                                            • 388179

                                            #22
                                            Originally posted by FuzzyDunlop
                                            Fairly standard cover their ass policy, unfortunate (possibly illegal) that your severance is tied to it. Are you in New England? If so, PM me and I'll take your resume, my company is growing and I know of a few other people that hire quite regularly in MA & NH.
                                            Hey you mother fukker

                                            How about me??

                                            I have no fukkin job man and can do fukkin anything

                                            Sammy DAPPER call me
                                            Comment
                                            • RyanLeafOfBets
                                              SBR Hall of Famer
                                              • 01-03-10
                                              • 8164

                                              #23
                                              Sorry to hear about that... Unemployment pay sucks, but better than nothing. I didn't get a severance when I got laid off a couple years ago, but even if you can't get unemployment if you accept a severance pay, the severance pay is probably better off than unemployment (assuming you can get a job in 3-6 months)
                                              Comment
                                              • Ninersnut
                                                SBR MVP
                                                • 05-20-10
                                                • 3730

                                                #24
                                                You should of said cool, I'll move to India. Is there relocating expenses?
                                                Comment
                                                • dj_destroyer
                                                  SBR MVP
                                                  • 07-28-10
                                                  • 3856

                                                  #25
                                                  Originally posted by Deuce
                                                  Unemployment, sit back, relax. Find a gig paying under the table. If you can't beat em', join em'.
                                                  This... it's the fukking dream and you don't feel like a total troll because you've paid into it all your life.
                                                  Comment
                                                  • TR88
                                                    Restricted User
                                                    • 06-10-10
                                                    • 9364

                                                    #26
                                                    Originally posted by jjgold
                                                    Hey you mother fukker

                                                    How about me??

                                                    I have no fukkin job man and can do fukkin anything

                                                    Sammy DAPPER call me
                                                    Comment
                                                    • itchypickle
                                                      SBR Posting Legend
                                                      • 11-05-09
                                                      • 21452

                                                      #27
                                                      Maybe sit back and reflect on all of the other skills you could have learned with your off time during 11 years of chatting on the phone

                                                      Good luck on another job hunt though. Take this as a lesson ...never stop learning shitt....never know when you might need a fall back
                                                      Comment
                                                      • samdapatriotsfan
                                                        SBR MVP
                                                        • 10-10-08
                                                        • 1585

                                                        #28
                                                        Thanks itchy, I am looking into taking a couple of Unix courses to broaden my skill base.
                                                        Comment
                                                        • d2bets
                                                          BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                                                          • 08-10-05
                                                          • 39995

                                                          #29
                                                          Consult a lawyer. Maybe have the lawyer send a letter demanding more severance/better terms. Also check and see if there is any non-compete clause in there.
                                                          Comment
                                                          • Sam Odom
                                                            SBR Aristocracy
                                                            • 10-30-05
                                                            • 58063

                                                            #30
                                                            Tell'em

                                                            3x their offer then you'll sign - otherwise say "I will contact an attorney"
                                                            Comment
                                                            • bachngocduong
                                                              SBR MVP
                                                              • 03-17-06
                                                              • 1826

                                                              #31
                                                              Originally posted by dom75
                                                              I would reject the offer. I have been laidoff twice by the same company and will soon be laidoff again in a month or two. It is my understanding that if you take the severance pay then you can not get unemployment benefits. Look into it deeper as I am not completely sure.
                                                              WRONG
                                                              I take the severance pay and still get unemployment benefits
                                                              Comment
                                                              • ttwarrior1
                                                                BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                                                                • 06-23-09
                                                                • 28459

                                                                #32
                                                                file for unemployment and use that for awhile and then go online and put in applications to similar jobs
                                                                Comment
                                                                • samdapatriotsfan
                                                                  SBR MVP
                                                                  • 10-10-08
                                                                  • 1585

                                                                  #33
                                                                  Thanks for the info boys. I think I am going to contact an attorney just to see what my options are.
                                                                  Comment
                                                                  • MB
                                                                    SBR MVP
                                                                    • 02-05-09
                                                                    • 1072

                                                                    #34
                                                                    I got laid off too and thought about suing, but didn't want to go through the hassle. I had a friend who sued, and they had a PI and a spy infiltrate his situation so they can get dirt on him. They came out with all his info in court. He won after 2 years, but he said it wasn't worth it.
                                                                    Comment
                                                                    • Sam Odom
                                                                      SBR Aristocracy
                                                                      • 10-30-05
                                                                      • 58063

                                                                      #35
                                                                      Originally posted by samdapatriotsfan

                                                                      Thanks for the info boys. I think I am going to contact an attorney just to see what my options are.

                                                                      Bluff them 1st...


                                                                      Originally posted by Sam Odom

                                                                      Tell'em 3x their offer then you'll sign - otherwise say "I will contact an attorney"

                                                                      Settle for 2x or 1.5x
                                                                      Comment
                                                                      Search
                                                                      Collapse
                                                                      SBR Contests
                                                                      Collapse
                                                                      Top-Rated US Sportsbooks
                                                                      Collapse
                                                                      Working...