For the first time ever I just saw a Fishbowl post asking about firms’ histories of stealth layoffs in the context of a job search. Perfect. Why don’t more associates who are looking at prospective employers pay more attention to this issue and which firms behaved responsibly and irresponsibly in the early days of the pandemic? If I was in the market those issues would be top of mind for me.

likesmarthelpful
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Have you not seen the ubiquitous Goodwin bashing? I think this is pretty top of mind for folks.

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“Badlose”

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Get a life OP. I don't mean that in an ill mannered way either. Get off this app and go enjoy life.

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A4, I have a rich life. Please feel free to ignore my posts. And of course you meant that in an ill mannered way.

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Bc most associates who think they were “stealthed” were actually separated for performance when the firm was trimming fat

likefunny

Teacher, firms have occasionally done exactly as you want and been branded or punished by the relevant public eye for it. Getting "Lathamed" or "Goodwined" were real. Also, severance is handed out as a matter of industry practice--we call it website time. I'm actually not sure why you think the law firm version of trimming the fat is any worse than, say, tech layoffs (pre-announced, rip the bandaid, etc.). In most instances, we are given a fair chance to openly interview for 2-3 months while still employed.

And this goes beyond the substance, but I'm starting to doubt your highly advertised experience in biglaw if you're asking these elementary questions. Firm economics is opaque at times but this is not complicated.

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Its official. You have *way* too much time on your hands.

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OP, like you, I have 35 years experience, including partner at 3 firms. While I comment only occasionally, I think it’s great that you share your thoughts more regularly and try to help associates in a nice professional manner. And I appreciate this is how you would like to spend some of your time in retirement. I’m working on transitioning to retirement, including assisting someone to assume my practice. While I don’t expect to comment more in retirement (if at all), I respect you do you. 😊

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The people in this thread saying “wElL aCtUaLlY the layoffs were for performance” don’t seem to get the point. The people laid off performed adequately until the business worsened. It’s not like laying off low performers during good times. When the market is slower, firms can decide whose income to keep the same: associates’ (by keeping people on whom they’d otherwise keep on), or partners’ (who are better able to weather worse economic conditions due to higher net wealth).

Sure, when stealth layoffs come, they probably are laying off the lower billing or lower performing associates. But that’s beside the point, which is that it’s a matter of protecting the welfare of employees who make them rich. T1 is saying that it’s good that associates prefer to work at firms with lower risks of getting screwed in favor of keeping the rich rich.

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Yeah as someone who was stealthed it freaking sucks that people think that way. My group was small enough that there were very few people laid off (and hours were low because they had no work) so it’s easily justifiable as “performance”. I wasn’t a stellar associate, but seeing other associates in better groups I know that I sure as hell did not deserve to be fired for performance.

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I’m not rejecting a firm’s offer because a random anonymous junior on Fishbowl claims to have been stealthed by them. At a certain mass, it become credible. But most of the time, it’s just a few people who were probably let go for performance reasons. We can see if a firm is growing and succeeding despite the supposed “stealths.” If a firm is hiring into that group and their revenues are growing, it really was performance reasons.

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OP: The thing is…. Most firms did some version of this. There was even a layoff tracker if I’m not mistaken.

Any resources showing stealth layoff stats?

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@Teach: look into r/biglaw. Usually mirrors this thread but not always

🚬

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If you want to be overly sensitive and take offense, then go ahead. No skin off my nose. But it shouldn't detract from the point that you would be way better off getting off this app. This isn't healthy

Would also think no one has the username he has so much more visible when commenting.

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