Ask HN: Way to Get Laid Off | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Way to Get Laid Off

10 pointsfeeldasong11 comments

No judgement here. Just want to get laid off from my company as quickly as possible.

Explain why it would cost more money to keep you than it would to have you stay.

For example, you make $100 doing the work that a $40 person could do. Plus, your bonus is 20% of your salary and comes due in 4 months. Then, performance reviews are coming and if your annual adjustment kicks in, based on performance, your cost is only going up. Additionally, you've been in role for 3 years and are looking for a path to the next level, because you've topped out in your role and pay grade. Also, if you're aware of any impending headwinds, site the mutual.benefit of said solution (cash flow is tight, the last several quarters were soft, etc.)

Do all the math and then ask if there's a better way to part on good terms, at a specified time, for an agreed upon rate. However, before having a conversation like that, realize it might just be the fast track to getting fired.

That’s not... really how it works.

You can succeed in getting yourself fired, but laid off has more to do with overall company situation and very little to do with you.

I guess if you think a layoff is coming, try to get reassigned to a project that’s clearly failing and likely to get cut?

Honestly, if you’re asking this question you should stop wasting your time and just quit. There’s plenty of opportunity out there.

That can be how it works. I know someone who engineered their own layoff, by asking for it, to get a year's salary and tax benefits of doing so. It is possible but it depends on a lot of factors.

If you live in SV and the next job is paying crazy money it might not be worth it, as hanging around trying to get a payout is an opportunity cost. But in some circumstances it is worth considering.

So then the OP should ask.

I think they will find the company situation does matter, as does their relationship with them.

The only voluntary layoffs I have seen was when the company was already committed to doing some layoffs.

Generally this is not a thing you get to choose nor something you can engineer.

To get laid off and not fired the company usually has to be performing badly and closing offices, downsizing or something along those lines. For you to be laid off you personally have to be seen expendable in whatever spreadsheet the higher ups are looking at.

Getting fired is much easier, but depending on where and how you get fired there could be some lost benefits like holiday pay, long service leave, etc.

If there's a layoff coming, usually they have a target number of people (or total salary) that they want to get rid of. The staff doesn't really enjoy having to pick who will lose their job. You can go to your boss and say "Hey, I hear that layoffs are coming. If so, you can feel free to pick me to be one of the ones laid off. I'll be fine with it." This gives management one less hard decision to have to make.

As has been mentioned before, that's not how it works. Your desire to be laid off is (often) an incentive for the company to keep you on. Eventually, you'll tire of waiting and do the reasonably thing (financially speaking, from the company's perspective) and resign.

If you're unhappy, develop your exit strategy. Do not dally, do not add to your discontent, do not make your own life more miserable in hopes of some payout, or favorable employment status, or some sort of guilt free closure. Go for what you want and accept the consequences.

FYI - mainly sharing based on my personal experiences. I do not know your situation nor the source of your desire...

You should just resign. If you really want to do this, I'm sure there are ways and means but at the expense of your reputation, references and professional contacts.

They want unemployment obviously.

Do you specifically want to get laid off?

Have a good relationship with your MD/GM and ask them.

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