Voluntering for layoff

[deeppurple]

Hi,
I have a situation in our office that the Management is planing to let go off some employees (possible more than 10%) in next 2-3 weeks .

I will genuinely have to move out of the company to another company,.The reason are two fold (thought all related to Green card)
1. The PERM which my current company filled is in audit for more than 2 years (with very bleak hope) -
2. I have close to 1 yr and 5 months remaiing on my H1B after including recapture period). With new rounds of layoffs planned, no further PERMs can be filled for 6 months (without receiving audits).

The company pays a good severance package when it lets people go off. I am considered as a good member of the team (got a promotion and raise recently).
I hunted for a week and got a decent offer. So, I am thinking if it is possible to volunteer to let me go off (layoff) and get the severance package.

This would be beneficial to both (since I will ensure smooth tranistion and not clear problems and Management gets to reduce their cost as well). Has anyone tried this before? Any suggestion will be helpful.

[direstraits88]

On a H1 visa, the employer can lay you off and just buy you a ticket. So it depends on how the HR views it. Your manager will have to go by their choice. but there's no harm is volunteering. There's no smooth transition in layoffs. It's usually pack everyone in a room and you are gone the next hour.:)

[moneyIsNot_funny]

it depends on what kind of a relationship you have with your manager. One of my friends did so. She had wanted to move back to India. She indicated to him that she can be willing, and he took it.

Be careful though. Typically, HR/Manager will take the easy way out if they can - why lay you off and give you a package when you will go away on your own? So play it carefully. Volunteer, but dont indicate that you have accepted an offer elsewhere. It all depends on what kind of relationship you have with your manager.

[ahirman]

Next time when you switch the job and fill any job application, in the reason for leaving the current company you have to mention that you were laid off.

[moneyIsNot_funny]

Next time when you switch the job and fill any job application, in the reason for leaving the current company you have to mention that you were laid off.

Why????

[deeppurple]

more input sought please -- any first hand experience?

@moneyIsNot_funny
Did she get a severance for sure (when she said she wants to move to india) -- my company has substantial presence in India -- and they might instead offer me position in INdia.

@desipardes
They give geneorous severence to everyone they ask to go -- so shouldnt matter if employee is on H1

[moneyIsNot_funny]

Did she get a severance for sure (when she said she wants to move to india) -- my company has substantial presence in India -- and they might instead offer me position in INdia.

Yes, she did get the severance. I didnt say that she told them that she wanted to move to India - just that she can volunteer, if needed. In your situation, you shouldnt use India as the reason - just that you are willing to volunteer and is tempted by the severance package. Again, it all depends on your comfort level and rapport with the concerned manager. You are not going to find easy answers here. But dont think its a very big deal either.

[hydcat]

OP,
My wife asked her employer for a voluntary layoff before moving to India but got refused.
She had no other option but to quit.

[sammy123]

in my op it's a very thin line actually. If they publicly make an announcement for volunteers from HR then no stopping from your manager or director but otherwise it depends on the manager. In my company we have both types of managers...those who will thankfully utilize volunteers to save others but some are different. Their attitude is whoever wants to leave will anyway leave and think it's like shelling money from their pockets. and once your intentions are public but you have not left there will be an air of mistrust /doubt upon you.

[deeppurple]

I dont know how much it matters -- my manager, director, sr. director and VP all are Indian -- I am known till Sr. director level to be a responsible engineer --- and seems to have a decent relationship with all of them... so i am thinking if can work