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Although Amazon has instituted a hiring freeze and layoffs are probably on their way, I went through the loop for a security engineer position at AWS. Before I attended the final interviews, Amazon placed the hiring freeze and called me to ask if I wanted to go ahead or cancel my application. I decided do go ahead Right now I'm waiting for their response and the position I applied to changed from "under consideration" to "no longer under consideration". Thoughts?
any telltale signs of layoffs in tiger?
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Chief
Do you have a contract that specifies you can't be laid off, or specifies a layoff payout that didn't happen? Are you a member of a union? Did you make a whistleblower/harassment/assault/discrimination claim and were laid off afterwards?
Not sure what good a lawyer would be outside of those scenarios.
For what? You are an at-will employee. You can be fired at any time for any reason (except illegal ones). And you can quit at any time for any reason. In fact, in most places, severance is not legally required. BTW, the moment you sign those papers and cash that severance check, you are basically signing off that you’re not going to seek legal action.
Unless you really feel like something illegal happened (you were fired because you are a minority, woman, etc.). Suing your former employer (who likely did nothing illegal in firing you) and losing would just be painting a bullseye on yourself and make you unemployable in the future. Only winners in this situation are the lawyers.
No, but if my partner is reading this, I wish PwC would lay me off.
Why not just tell him directly instead
At will bro
To review the package? Sure
To fight the decision? Nah
Chief
Thought, yes. Rapidly dismissed said thought as expensive and pointless, yes.
What would the end goal be?
If you can afford a lawyer in USA, you can afford a layoff
Rising Star
Unless there’s a clear case of discrimination and you happen to be in a protected class (I.e. have an illness you’ve disclosed, are pregnant and your firm knows, above a certain age etc), it’s not worth the time or $. You can call a few attorneys and get their perspective if that’d make you feel better. Most don’t charge for a consultation.
You can be laid off while pregnant. Just like you can be laid off as a woman, minority, gay person, etc. You just can’t be fired because you are pregnant, or a woman, or minority, etc etc
Chief
Question: what “qualifies” you to be laid off?
What “disqualifies” you from being laid off?
Layoffs, I suppose by definition, aren’t performance based. I’m not a lawyer but can’t imagine there’s much related to a wrongful termination that you could do anything about. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck.
As others have said, if there’s some discrepancy between what your contract says as severance or a written agreement for severance vs what you actually got, then maybe if a call / email to HR can’t sort it out.
Chief
Do you live in a state that has at will employment?
If you feel that the lay-off was discriminatory and you can prove it - a Laywer can help. Otherwise, waste of money.
Someone at PwC I know negotiates five months severance. Absolutely get a lawyer.
I would hire Harvey Specter
Good luck with an imaginary lawyer
Chief
You are an employee at will, a company can let you go for any reasons (as long as it’s not the protected ones). If you feel you were discriminated against based on race/origin/gender/sexual orientation etc, then get a lawyer. Deloitte consults with lawyers prior to layoffs, so you have to be adequately prepared.
At will employment. You can be hired today, and laid off tomorrow. You can start a new job today and quit tomorrow. At will.