Headliner III

Sonos employees getting let go….

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So looks like bad things are happening at Sonos with its wonderful new app..

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melvimbe

Some C-level types believe that there is always x% of under preforming employees at each level who should be pruned and replaced with better performers. Lower level managers will receive a simple order to prune ‘y’ staff members. A manager can attempt to justify not pruning, but this risks being put on a prune list.

This is what I’ve seen. Luckly, the last round of layoffs that occurred at a company I was employed in had an aging work staff (within a year of planned retirement) and nice severance package. There were plenty of volunteers.

On to the topic though, I also agree that other tech companies are going through lots of layoffs these. I actually am a little surprised that Sonos didn’t have layoffs earlier this year before the new app was released, just due to market conditions. I’m not saying the app issue isn’t related at all, just that it likely isn’t the only catalyst.

I wonder how many are from the same office.

Sonos have be doing building shuffles. Closing or downsizing to a different office often revolves around building leases either having a “break point” where it can be renegotiated or reaching its expiry and not being renewed to avoid penalty clauses.

Keeping staff around until after the release could have been a just in case we need extra hands, we’ll keep them until after which fitted with building leases and still occurs before the end of financial year.

I doubt this is the case here, as there were not any notice of buildings shutting down. Besides, you can shot down a build and still keep employees working from home these days.

I looked at Sonos job listing, and there are just 12 spots available. This doesn’t look like they are just shuffling the skill set around.

While the American employment laws often seem to favour the employer and have very short notice tough luck attitudes, in Europe employees usually have better protection for notice periods. Depending on numbers and country it involves some very surprising employee protections.

In the Netherlands for instance, which was a mentioned location

for economic reasons, such as bankruptcy or restructuring. You must request a dismissal permit for economic reasons

Do you want to dismiss more than 20 employees for economic reasons within a 3-month period and within 1 geographical work area? This is called collective redundancy. You have to report a collective redundancy with the UWV.

https://business.gov.nl/regulation/dismissal-procedures/
One company I worked, with a Dutch parent, had to keep paying the salary of the staff they dismissed for 3 months (I think) after they were made redundant. The Dutch company found them roles at another company as part of the dismissal.

I have no idea if severance pay was offered here, but 3-6 months is fairly common. There is also unemployment benefits and cobra, which allows you to keep medical insurance at a reasonable rate. None of that is as good as keeping your job, but it also means you likely aren’t homeless.

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Danny

Airgetlam

You’ve never been on COBRA, I’d take it. Affordable is not something I’d assign to it. ;)

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Bruce

AlexPermit

Prodigy I

You’ve never been on COBRA, I’d take it. Affordable is not something I’d assign to it. ;)

My impression was market rates can be cheaper only if you qualify for ACA subsidies or choose a less comprehensive plan. Am I mistaken? Never been on COBRA, curious to know.

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Airgetlam

No one ever discussed ACA with me, I’m afraid. I was given a single choice on coverage. YMMV, I’ve never been in HR.

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Bruce

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