Kymermosst's Journal: Outsourcing: The Saga Continues...

So, this is the big week for my colleagues and I in regards to my employer's IT outsourcing activities. Several people were called into meetings where they were being informed that they were selected for "transition out of the company" - in other words, getting laid off.

Meanwhile someone found out that the offer letters for people "transitioning to the sourcing provider" are being sent via a shipping company rather than USPS. Another adventurous soul called the shipping company and was able to confirm that such a package was being sent to their home address, and even got the tracking number. That sparked a flurry of people doing the same, and thus most people found out what their fates are going to be, with both my employer and the outsourcer trying to do damage control (people were not supposed to find out this way). Evidently someone with some pull called the shipping company, because by the afternoon they had started refusing to answer questions.

I will be receiving a package from the sourcing provider, to be delivered to my home on Monday. Not that it means anything, because it will likely be a term of employment, not a permanent position. If I meet certain "transition milestones" I will qualify to receive my severance package at the end of the term.

However, I can think of several ways I can get screwed here. Given how this whole process has carried out thus far, I can't image *not* getting screwed. Anyway, here's the potential ways:

* My "transition milestones" might be made so difficult to accomplish so as to deny me my severance package.

* I may be offered a permanent position contingent upon moving. My inability to move (for several factors) might be taken as a voluntary termination and void my right to unemployment benefits.

Along the way, I lose all of my unvested options and RSU grants that I had planned on using to pay off my student loans. I doubt the new employer will offer me anything comparable, as they know we are a captive group of new employees without much choice.

At least I know something at this point.

Based on what you've written thus far

[Shadow Wrought]

I know I'd be doing my damnedest to get as far away from that company as possible. Treating your employees like that is almost a surefire recipe for failure. I'm still pulling for you;-)

on the ways you can get screwed

[Bill Dog]

#1 destroys any semblance of positive feelings there might be left -- some companies care at least a little about good will/reputation, and making the best of a bad sitution. And #1 encourages lawsuits, so if #2's an option for the company I would imagine it would be that. And if your take on #2 is correct (equivalent to voluntary termination), I think it also means there's not a claim against the company for unemployment insurance. (I don't know exactly how that works -- may affect their rates.) But I'm no

Re:

[Degrees]

I concur - my previous employer lost the contract, and they were reasonable about it. The people that got severance got it in exchange for an agree-not-to-sue signature. Although there was a mid-level manager that was bent out of shape, at the corporate level, they were concerned about their reputation (both with the ex-customer and the ex-employees).