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Comment by tiredwired | Hacker News Reader

They suddenly decide to inventory equipment (determine company value or collateral). Cutting back on benefits like 401k matching. Delays buying new equipment. People quitting and not being replaced. Senior management having all-day private meetings. They request your background information as if to determine if you are qualified for current or new positions (if company is discussing being acquired). Hackathons with a theme completely off target from current products. Multiple sets of men in suits touring the office. Managers stop downloading latest version of the beta-test app. Managers stop showing up for meetings. Managers stop caring about product quality. You look up from your desk and realize the office is empty when it should be busy - either those people are being terminated or you are being terminated.

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"Multiple sets of men in suits touring the office"

New tenants being shown round the office you are in can be a bit worrying...

Not to discount what you're saying, but there are several sets of “men in suits” that appear long before you lose your office space.

Some are your investors (or work for them). Some are consultants or advisors, promising to solve all your problems. The service provider you're re-negotiating payment terms with. Potential acquirers, etc.

Absolutely, I used to work for a large company that did a lot of acquisitions and I was on the pre-acquisition due-diligence team for a few of them and I recognised the enquiring but slightly worried looks of employees. I've been on both sides!

NB I didn't wear a suit though, I do have some standards ;-)

>I used to work for a large company that did a lot of acquisitions and I was on the pre-acquisition due-diligence team for a few of them

I'd be very curious about the whole process beginning to end, and what you tended to look for, what made things go through or not go through, and just general advice you have for companies that may want to be acquired in the future.

Must they be men?

Of course not. They also don't need to be in suits. The wording is just meant to evoke particular imagery. And the comment that you replied to just used that quoted section from the parent and grandparent, anyhow. If you have a problem with the wording, then you have a problem more directly with the grandparent than with this comment, IMO.

Yes. they must. be men. If there were a bunch of women in suits cruzin around I would be kinda stoked. haha. I almost didn't reply to this because I understand that you're trying to make a point but because your post has no value I decided to reply with a post of equal value.

and they the men in suits should get paid more. Keep downvoting see if I care.

Are groups of men in suits ever up to anything good?

At a funeral helping to carrying the coffin.

At wedding celebrating the new couple.

"Do these people come with?"

Exactly that. Also management suddenly asking developpers to document source code when they never cared before, or new organization with business people being put in charge of the developpers.

This.

After being sold and resold, aqui-hired etc, I can attest to the accuracy of these observations. You'd do well to remember this post.

If you were caught off guard (and wouldn't mind sharing) what was an anecdote that in retrospect you realized was an obvious red flag?

5 months prior being offered to relo to another city within the same company - and nobody else was. At the time, I was looking after my mom who had cancer. My manager, without saying anything, was trying to help me.

I declined as moving her would have meant undo hardship (doctors etc). He pressured me hard to take it though.

I went on vacation for a two week motorcycle trip (my gf was looking after mom, giving me a break, god bless her!) and logged into FB to find all my co-workers had been terminated. I received no notice, so I continued on my vacation. Upon return, I went to work as expected only to find myself locked out.

Hindsight. My manager was a class guy and knew what I was going through and tried his best to help me while honouring his commitments to the company.

Thanks that's I interesting. A manager pushing some odd agenda w/o much reason is expected; but if you respect him/her and observe a few other signs then it might be a life boat in disguise.

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