Severance vs Demotion: pls advise

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My company just announced a 20% RIF — my specific group which is 10% of the company, has seen 0 layoffs. HOWEVER….I am the only employee in this section that is being asked to either: (1) take a severance that converts years of employment into weeks (2 weeks per year); or (2) a demotion to lower title, 10% lower salary, same job functions/responsibilities, and I can “post” for the role I was just demoted from once it is listed. I come out even by staying in the lower role for 3 months, assuming a job search takes longer than 3 mos.


Yes, I’m working with an employment attny. But has anyone seen this before? What is my best career recourse? I’m not asking best financial outcome —- for my career, do I take a title decrease that I can likely disguise while I network and look for a new job on company dime? Current company colleagues will figure out what happened - most allies, a couple asstwats that made this so….and to whom I want to give none of my energy, which is proving useless so far. What is the mental load I put on myself while doing that rather than just making a clean break assuming I can support that for a year or so beyond the severance?

Thanks…..

I have seen demotions for those who aren’t doing good work/ not doing their entire work but they kept their same salary. One had half of their work (and that part of their title) given to someone else and another kept title but lost all managerial duties. Honestly they both deserved it but they both kept their titles (minus one who had part removed) and the same salary.

It infuriated people they received the same salary for a lot less work. It made the better people look elsewhere.

If they are offering you a demolition and saying you can apply for the higher role they are basically telling you they don’t see you at the higher level for whatever reason.

I would try and negotiate the demotion- can you keep the same title until they fill that role? That way you can apply for roles but keep the title in your resume while you apply? I would personally take the demotion and apply elsewhere. It is really tough out there and I know many people who took 9-12 months to get their next role.

Good luck

I would not give too much thought on managements perception. Unless you are junior, performance is rarely about doing the job.

I was managed out at a couple places, and now at a place where i am using half of the effort, twice the pay and gotten promotion after a year. It is just luck and it’s subjective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I lean towards sucking it up and having the company pay for the conferences and associated travel to get to places where I can network. That said, I *could* take the hit for a year.

Missing pieces of info:
- I’m a single mom and child support could change under a severance picture, so I can make things work for a while
- as to the only in my group: new boss doesn’t like that I steered towards certain “hard” decisions that he banked on taking the “easy” route, until he came on board and figured out the dumpster fire that is our particular market situation and why the “hards” made sense. He likes a certain personality type, which generally involves dim and carney sales.

What is dim and carney sales?
I'm sorry you tried to do a good job but boss only like easy. Probably a good idea to take the demotion and get away from all that in the longer term anyway.

[Anonymous]

Take the pay cut, ask to keep current title (or switch title to something more neutral/lateral).

Titles are free, but money is what counts for management. It's clear to me that your managers have been told to trim costs. "Demoting" you helps in that effort.

In the meantime, aggressively look for a new job over the next 3-6 months. Put in less effort at work.

When push comes to shove, they will lay you off. Eventually. But they are not in place financially where they need to lay you off. Hence the pay cut.

[Anonymous]

Take the demotion and keep the vast majority of your salary, your health insurance and other benefits. The job market sucks for most roles right now, especially in the DMV where SO many people have been laid off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I lean towards sucking it up and having the company pay for the conferences and associated travel to get to places where I can network. That said, I *could* take the hit for a year.

Missing pieces of info:
- I’m a single mom and child support could change under a severance picture, so I can make things work for a while
- as to the only in my group: new boss doesn’t like that I steered towards certain “hard” decisions that he banked on taking the “easy” route, until he came on board and figured out the dumpster fire that is our particular market situation and why the “hards” made sense. He likes a certain personality type, which generally involves dim and carney sales.

Please don’t refer to yourself has a single mom if you are getting child support. That total is reserved for true single parent without a second adult contributing time or finances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My company just announced a 20% RIF — my specific group which is 10% of the company, has seen 0 layoffs. HOWEVER….I am the only employee in this section that is being asked to either: (1) take a severance that converts years of employment into weeks (2 weeks per year); or (2) a demotion to lower title, 10% lower salary, same job functions/responsibilities, and I can “post” for the role I was just demoted from once it is listed. I come out even by staying in the lower role for 3 months, assuming a job search takes longer than 3 mos.


Yes, I’m working with an employment attny. But has anyone seen this before? What is my best career recourse? I’m not asking best financial outcome —- for my career, do I take a title decrease that I can likely disguise while I network and look for a new job on company dime? Current company colleagues will figure out what happened - most allies, a couple asstwats that made this so….and to whom I want to give none of my energy, which is proving useless so far. What is the mental load I put on myself while doing that rather than just making a clean break assuming I can support that for a year or so beyond the severance?

Thanks…..

I have seen demotions for those who aren’t doing good work/ not doing their entire work but they kept their same salary. One had half of their work (and that part of their title) given to someone else and another kept title but lost all managerial duties. Honestly they both deserved it but they both kept their titles (minus one who had part removed) and the same salary.

It infuriated people they received the same salary for a lot less work. It made the better people look elsewhere.

If they are offering you a demolition and saying you can apply for the higher role they are basically telling you they don’t see you at the higher level for whatever reason.

I would try and negotiate the demotion- can you keep the same title until they fill that role? That way you can apply for roles but keep the title in your resume while you apply? I would personally take the demotion and apply elsewhere. It is really tough out there and I know many people who took 9-12 months to get their next role.

Good luck

I would not give too much thought on managements perception. Unless you are junior, performance is rarely about doing the job.

I was managed out at a couple places, and now at a place where i am using half of the effort, twice the pay and gotten promotion after a year. It is just luck and it’s subjective.

It’s not just luck. No offense but this was likely because you have significant personality issues. I’ve seen this again and again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I lean towards sucking it up and having the company pay for the conferences and associated travel to get to places where I can network. That said, I *could* take the hit for a year.

Missing pieces of info:
- I’m a single mom and child support could change under a severance picture, so I can make things work for a while
- as to the only in my group: new boss doesn’t like that I steered towards certain “hard” decisions that he banked on taking the “easy” route, until he came on board and figured out the dumpster fire that is our particular market situation and why the “hards” made sense. He likes a certain personality type, which generally involves dim and carney sales.

Please don’t refer to yourself has a single mom if you are getting child support. That total is reserved for true single parent without a second adult contributing time or finances.

Lol are you the poster above who can’t figure out why you kept getting managed out of places? Uh because you’re awful to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My company just announced a 20% RIF — my specific group which is 10% of the company, has seen 0 layoffs. HOWEVER….I am the only employee in this section that is being asked to either: (1) take a severance that converts years of employment into weeks (2 weeks per year); or (2) a demotion to lower title, 10% lower salary, same job functions/responsibilities, and I can “post” for the role I was just demoted from once it is listed. I come out even by staying in the lower role for 3 months, assuming a job search takes longer than 3 mos.


Yes, I’m working with an employment attny. But has anyone seen this before? What is my best career recourse? I’m not asking best financial outcome —- for my career, do I take a title decrease that I can likely disguise while I network and look for a new job on company dime? Current company colleagues will figure out what happened - most allies, a couple asstwats that made this so….and to whom I want to give none of my energy, which is proving useless so far. What is the mental load I put on myself while doing that rather than just making a clean break assuming I can support that for a year or so beyond the severance?

Thanks…..

I have seen demotions for those who aren’t doing good work/ not doing their entire work but they kept their same salary. One had half of their work (and that part of their title) given to someone else and another kept title but lost all managerial duties. Honestly they both deserved it but they both kept their titles (minus one who had part removed) and the same salary.

It infuriated people they received the same salary for a lot less work. It made the better people look elsewhere.

If they are offering you a demolition and saying you can apply for the higher role they are basically telling you they don’t see you at the higher level for whatever reason.

I would try and negotiate the demotion- can you keep the same title until they fill that role? That way you can apply for roles but keep the title in your resume while you apply? I would personally take the demotion and apply elsewhere. It is really tough out there and I know many people who took 9-12 months to get their next role.

Good luck

I would not give too much thought on managements perception. Unless you are junior, performance is rarely about doing the job.

I was managed out at a couple places, and now at a place where i am using half of the effort, twice the pay and gotten promotion after a year. It is just luck and it’s subjective.

It’s not just luck. No offense but this was likely because you have significant personality issues. I’ve seen this again and again

Again, personality issue is not “doing the job issue”. Not sure what you are disagreeing with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I lean towards sucking it up and having the company pay for the conferences and associated travel to get to places where I can network. That said, I *could* take the hit for a year.

Missing pieces of info:
- I’m a single mom and child support could change under a severance picture, so I can make things work for a while
- as to the only in my group: new boss doesn’t like that I steered towards certain “hard” decisions that he banked on taking the “easy” route, until he came on board and figured out the dumpster fire that is our particular market situation and why the “hards” made sense. He likes a certain personality type, which generally involves dim and carney sales.

Please don’t refer to yourself has a single mom if you are getting child support. That total is reserved for true single parent without a second adult contributing time or finances.

Lol are you the poster above who can’t figure out why you kept getting managed out of places? Uh because you’re awful to deal with.

Nope, I am the shitty personality poster, and it doesn’t bother me you are laughing. My current employer seem to like me and pay me big bucks, which is all I need 😁

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My company just announced a 20% RIF — my specific group which is 10% of the company, has seen 0 layoffs. HOWEVER….I am the only employee in this section that is being asked to either: (1) take a severance that converts years of employment into weeks (2 weeks per year); or (2) a demotion to lower title, 10% lower salary, same job functions/responsibilities, and I can “post” for the role I was just demoted from once it is listed. I come out even by staying in the lower role for 3 months, assuming a job search takes longer than 3 mos.


Yes, I’m working with an employment attny. But has anyone seen this before? What is my best career recourse? I’m not asking best financial outcome —- for my career, do I take a title decrease that I can likely disguise while I network and look for a new job on company dime? Current company colleagues will figure out what happened - most allies, a couple asstwats that made this so….and to whom I want to give none of my energy, which is proving useless so far. What is the mental load I put on myself while doing that rather than just making a clean break assuming I can support that for a year or so beyond the severance?

Thanks…..

I have seen demotions for those who aren’t doing good work/ not doing their entire work but they kept their same salary. One had half of their work (and that part of their title) given to someone else and another kept title but lost all managerial duties. Honestly they both deserved it but they both kept their titles (minus one who had part removed) and the same salary.

It infuriated people they received the same salary for a lot less work. It made the better people look elsewhere.

If they are offering you a demolition and saying you can apply for the higher role they are basically telling you they don’t see you at the higher level for whatever reason.

I would try and negotiate the demotion- can you keep the same title until they fill that role? That way you can apply for roles but keep the title in your resume while you apply? I would personally take the demotion and apply elsewhere. It is really tough out there and I know many people who took 9-12 months to get their next role.

Good luck

I would not give too much thought on managements perception. Unless you are junior, performance is rarely about doing the job.

I was managed out at a couple places, and now at a place where i am using half of the effort, twice the pay and gotten promotion after a year. It is just luck and it’s subjective.

It’s not just luck. No offense but this was likely because you have significant personality issues. I’ve seen this again and again

As some who has been in an executive role, strong disagree. Promotions are highly political. It’s rarely about whether one can simply do the job - it’s who likes you and who doesn’t like you and sometimes that’s based on plain old luck.

Once I saw, realized, and accepted this, I finally stop working work so much of my identity.