#anxiety

I'm thinking we're getting closer to the AI bubble pop, and once it happens, the layoffs will be brutal. Or am I overthinking it?

Lake Mary

I have a bad feeling 3-4000 minimum will be let go :(

hi,
Hoping anyone impacted today might find this thread and post whatever info they can for the rest of us anxious souls.
Good luck everyone! ❤️

The rumor-mill has been surging - lots of people in Santa Rosa and one of the Galway sites (not Parkmore) are having a lot of anxiety. Everyone is talking about it, but no confirmed sources. Speculation is some announcement May 4th-6th.

Did anyone else just basically shut down mentally with the news today?
Really struggling and doomscrolling. This is going to su-k.
Did any work get done today or did we all just fall into a mental void.

Thanks to shares and bonus, my Box 5 comp went up over 50% last year. Yet, I still want to escape. wtf is wrong with me? Am I a spoiled little sh-t or what?

My CL says the job market is bad right now. I've been at Fidelity a long time and feel anxiety about my comfort zone being so narrow. Especially in light of the pending org changes. I don't have a graduate degree. I am young-ish and nearly saved $1mm nw thanks to this place. I am spending exorbitant time outside working hours to secure my financial future but the pressure is about to make me crack.

I feel like i would be totally lost if I quit or got layoff. But some days, I feel tempted to say phuket and make a scene at the office....

I'm still trying to figure out what I did wrong.

Curious how it works if you get laid off while you’re out on PTO. My manager has been very distant for a number of weeks now so I can only assume I’ll be part of the April 30 cut. I took this week off so they don’t lose my PTO but I’m curious would they still call me on Thursday? What if I don’t answer 😅

With all the rumors, I'm under stress if more invites are gonna be sent or invites have already been sent. Any concrete information might help me prepare or destress myself. Thanks!

Given the bloodbath today, can’t imagine tomorrow will be any better, but a lot worse :(

First, I understand your feelings. I got let go from a different company several years ago and it never feels good. Even though it's usually not personal it always FEELS personal. Especially when you think about all your contributions over the years. Feelings like, "How could they let ME go after everything I've done, all the long work days, all the good performance evals and kudos, etc.!" Being upset is a normal reaction and no one should attempt to invalidate such feelings.

With all that being true, it's also important to not lose sight of the big picture. What's that big picture? All of us are on this planet for - in the span of human existence - no more than a micro-second. And unless you're very famous when you depart this planet, within just three generations almost no one is likely to remember you ever existed. The point? In the grand scheme of things...none of it really matters.

This short, <5 minute video sums it up nicely:

"A Reason To Stop Worrying: Watch This Whenever You're Stressed or Anxious"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tm6Z1y3h94

And the weird thing is, I'm relatively insulated. I have low expenses, and have built up oversize savings after several years working for a company doing layoffs all the time. I think even if I was somehow fired without severance, I'd probably be fine. But living with the constant uncertainty is ki-ling me. This kind of low-level, continuous underlying stress cannot be healthy. I don't know how people with kids or just less of a financial cushion are doing it.

I'm sure I'll get some trolls in the replies but just curious if anyone can relate.

It's just survival mode at Optum now, constantly restless, constantly anxious. This weekend was especially bad because I know what's coming this week. So damn exhausting.

This week Microsoft announced a voluntary retirement program. While details of the offer have yet to be released, the gist of the offer is that if your physical age and your years of service add up to 70, then you qualify. At the ripe old retirement age of 47, after 24 years of service I qualify. The program is being pitched as “optional” meaning I can choose to take it or not; however, it’s unclear what happens if I choose the “not” option.

I would be lying if I didn’t say that I've lost some sleep over the last day since this was announced. Not out of excitement, but dread. I tossed and turned, questions churning in my mind…."have I aged out of tech"…."do my contributions matter"…."do they think I get paid too much for the work I do"…."will I be able to find another job"…."will I have to sell my house"…"can I afford college for my kids"…..Ahhhhh.

I had always imagined leaving Microsoft on my own terms. Funny enough, this was the language they put in the email they sent, they positioned it as an opportunity to leave on my own terms, but it sure doesn’t feel that way.

I don’t know yet what I’m going to decide, but if you feel like me at all, let’s connect, get organized and figure how to support each other and how to best respond to this unprecedented moment. One thing I know won’t work, trying to take this all on alone, staying silent, and trying to negotiate individually vs collectively. Stay strong, you aren’t alone and there are always other options.

Super ready for this nightmare to be over

Meta just offered a glimpse at what it thinks the future of work looks like: training and supervising artificial-intelligence systems to do what used to be your job. And that’s if you still have a job at all.

The social-media company has been unusually aggressive, even by the standards of Silicon Valley, at pushing to incorporate AI into its employees’ workflows and using it to streamline and accelerate its operations. https://on.wsj.com/4sY3ovU

Already this year, it has started grading employees in performance reviews on their AI use; created ultra flat teams with almost no managers; and begun to develop a so-called CEO agent to assist Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg in performing his job.

On Thursday, the company said it planned to lay off 10% of its workforce, or about 8,000 people, on May 20.

Earlier in the week, an internal memo notified employees of a new software tool that would record their keystrokes, mouse movements and click locations to teach “the next generation of our AI models to use computers.”

It is all part of the tech company’s plans to become “AI native” and transform the way its teams and employees do their jobs as it seeks to spend up to $135 billion on AI infrastructure this year and build what it calls personal superintelligence for its 3.5 billion daily users.

The moves have left some staff filled with anxiety and wondering: Am I helping automate my own job away?

https://on.wsj.com/4sY3ovU

The Insider: The one who actually knows what’s going on behind closed doors. We’re all just here for your leaks. Keep the scoop coming.

The Doom-Scroller: The person paralyzed by layoff anxiety. If you’re this stressed, just close the tab. The cuts are coming whether you read about them or not.

The Lifer: The employee who’s been at AIG too long and doesn’t know what to do. You can Leave. Just Walk Out! If it su-ks, hit da bricks!

The Rookie: The wide-eyed new hire. Do yourself a favour and read the archives. You’re looking at your future. Get out before you become a permanent fixture here.

The Alumnus: The former employee who can’t stop checking the ex-girlfriend’s Instagram. You made it out! Go enjoy your freedom and stop posting here.

The Grudge-Holder: The one who really hates the Retail Casualty CFO. You’re shouting into a void because they aren't reading this. It’s time to drop the vendetta.

The Offshored: The one venting about their role moving overseas (and is a bit racist about it too). We hear you, but there’s nothing you can do. No one is safe from the pivot.

The Speculator: The "Any rumors?" guy. Yes, there are always rumors. It’s either layoffs or a buyout, but it’s all noise until the checks stop clearing.

The "Wait for the Severance" Strategist: The veteran who actually wants to be laid off. They’ve crunched the numbers and are actively rooting for their own department to be laid off. Good luck, we’re rooting for you too.

The Ghost of Corebridge: The person who still hasn't figured out they're no longer part of AIG. You really need your own forum.

The HR Plant: We see you.

The Remote Work Zealot: Regardless of the thread topic: Layoffs, earnings, whatever. They will find a way to argue that forcing people back to the office is the root of all evil.

The Pension Clock-Watcher: The person who has been there 25+ years and wants another round of VERP. Good luck but it’s not happening anytime soon.

Who did I miss?

Is the AI hype just a bubble, or is it a legitimate threat to our jobs? Curious to hear if you think it’s just a proof of concept or if we should actually be worried about workforce disruption.

How sure are you guys about the layoffs happening in May? Hearing a lot of mixed things and trying to figure out what’s actually credible vs just rumors. If you’re a troll pls gtfo, some are on anxiety prescriptions due to this.

We used to have job security. No matter what, I knew I had some stability. I could buy a house or a car because I felt safe. Now my mortgage feels like a noose around my neck since I can't tell anymore if I'll have my job from day to day. It's really sad how much things have changed for the worse.

My wife lost her job three months ago. She worked there nine years. We have four kids. If I get laid off, we're ruined. Please share real information. I just want to provide for my family.

Not something you fear or overthink, just a regular workday like it used to be?

the volume of posts and replies on here rises like a tsunami

What did they think would happen? That we'd go above and beyond for a job that might be gone in a month, or two, or three? We still don't even know when the layoffs are actually coming.

I just got my Monday morning 'business update' meeting invite. Should I be worried....yikes. I'm a remote employee too.

So, here’s the situation: Other teams have actually been pulling work away from us, thanks to all the AI fears, restructuring, and process simplifications. Our MD is super hands-off, and now we’re averaging under two hours of work a day. I have no idea when layoffs might come, and I’m torn: Should I start job hunting now or wait for a package? I’ve been here long enough that if they let me go, I’d get about six months of severance. Maybe I’ll do both—keep an eye out but hang tight. Honestly, the light workload is kind of nice, but it’s also making me anxious—I haven’t been sleeping well at all.

When there are posts of people claiming to be let go, their friend was let go, they know of a team that was let go etc, but they can’t answer when people ask WHERE or WHO even though this is anonymous, it leads me to believe these people are lying. They’re just trying to cause excitement and anxiety and stress.

Given that this site is anonymous, isn’t it kind of crazy the amount of speculation that occurs on here? Meaning…no one with information actually posts on here. Incentive being, you can see all these posts of people freaking out, toxicity, anxiety, etc…wouldn’t you think if you had information to share, you’d share it? Like what is the downside? That people hate this place even more? People are more anxious? People stop working? Lol.
It’s already happening. We are the number 1 company on this site. I can’t see things getting much worse. The views per post are insane, given they aren’t bots. People look, but just scroll on by. It’s extremely weird, and asocial. The effort it takes to share info on here is so low…the asymmetrical upside makes it so odd to me that not one person ever shares anything. It makes you realize these people we call “leaders” are some of the most self-centered people we come across in society. Like can you imagine seeing hundreds of people in distress and you SEE IT and had the power to help, and you’re like nah. Everyone at this company goes on this site, VP to analyst, so none of this bs that the plebes are the only people on here. Just so weird. This place is f’d man. Or maybe I’m the odd one out that if I were a VP or above I’d share what I could to help my fellow man/woman.

I'm always worried about going back to work on Monday. Always wonder if this is the RIF week. I can't be the only person feeling this way.
Comments

I’ve noticed a lot of posts from employees who are feeling anxious, especially those with longer tenure. But if you look at the RTO and data science groups, most of the people who ended up on PIPs were actually under 40.
When a manager isn’t technical, they often rely heavily on the more experienced people in the team. Those employees frequently position themselves as “mentors” or “coaches” to younger staff — sometimes as a way to stay relevant. The reality is that in the age of AI and rapidly evolving tools, not everyone keeps their skills current, and performance gaps can show up. In some cases, that wrong team dynamic ends up putting younger employees at a disadvantage.
A big part of the issue is XOM’s structural design. Opportunities aren’t distributed evenly, and we end up having some people doing tasks for years.

My manager cancelled our last two one on ones with no reason. Today I realized my manager cancelled the entire series. With the impending layoffs, should I be concerned I’m on the list?

After over 20 years of being loyal to this — barely recognizable firm — the writing is on the wall for me. My leader couldn’t make it any more obvious he is trying to make me quit. I’ve given this firm so much of myself. There were times when I was a salaried pay grade 6 and was “as part of my leadership development”, leading over 10 CW members, while also having a bunch of other cr-p the leaders didn’t want to do (disguised as development), while also essentially handcuffed to my phone taking back-to-back calls for 8 hours a day. Oh, and did I mention also studying for my 7 and 66 off the clock? I was so burnt out; but I pushed through those long (often close to 60 hrs a week) because I never imagined this firm would be in this state of complete and utter disrepair. I wanted to be a lifer, wanted to retire here. I gave this firm my sanity for more years than I’d like to admit. Taken time away from my wife and kids to keep chasing the dream for what should never have even been allowed pay. I hustled. Have had horrible leaders who couldn’t care less about my development. My family. My well-being. But still, I stayed. And mostly as the years went on, I stayed because I had finally made it to the goal pay grade. Was full-time HBA and with 4 kids, that flexibility had been invaluable.

Now? Well, now I think I cost too much money to keep on payroll. I should mention I’m absolutely kicking myself for finding another role here when I was “reimagined” in Aug. I panicked. The job market is trash. After over 2 decades here, I was devastated, honestly . I’m the bread winner. I knew almost immediately after starting this new role I had made a grave mistake in not following my gut feeling of what an absolute nightmare this new micromanager of a TL would be. And she’s worse than I could have ever imagined. I don’t work on a team. I’m an individual contributor and my “performance” is based on her opinion alone. I’ve already been put on a PIP and now a written warning. I’ve been told she, along with AR, have been “investigating” my computer activity and any periods of more than 5 mins “idle time”. I’ve been an HBA FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER ONCE had my integrity questioned. Felt like the associate from AR was interrogating me, as I was completely blindsided by the whole thing. Essentially I was told that my activity on the system should at minimum be 8 hours/day. I called several things into question and was denied access to these activity reports in order to try to prove their allegations wrong. I’m now being required to essentially log every hour of work a day for 8 hours. I’m absolutely certain they’re going to terminate me. I’ve never met two more cold-hearted people at this firm and have no intention of staying here any longer than I have to.

I’m sick with anxiety every day. I’ve lost over 15 lbs since in 5 weeks since I was out on a PIP. Worst decision of my life was not taking that BS severance package when it as offered and telling this place to F right the F off and never look back.

Now to my questions:

1) Due to my blind stupid loyalty to this firm, and being HBA, I have banked almost 300 hours on sick time. I know regardless of how employment is ended her that the sick time is never paid off. You just lose it. I have over 30 something days of pay I could’ve used as time off and didn’t. Should I just start burning those days?? I’ve earned them. Could they potentially penalize me for using too many?

2) With almost 20 years here, WHEN they finally terminate me (which will be completely made up or highly exaggerated “performance” issues), will they offer me severance? I’ve been told by several friends that don’t work here that it’s likely they would due to my tenure, the inside knowledge I’ve acquired over all the years and to prevent any chance of a lawsuit (make me sign an NDA or something)

Thanks! This page has been my only source of sanity to see I’m not the only one being completely sc--wed. After the latest round of GPs took off for India last week, I know it’s just a matter of time for so many of us. ELT has burned this once beloved company to the ground while padding their pockets and ruining the lives of associates and their families.

I can't afford to be laid off so I'm doing all I can to improve myself, but the feedback I get changes depending on who I talk to or even what day it is. Something that’s fine one week suddenly isn’t the next. It makes it really hard to know where I stand. I feel like I’m constantly adjusting without ever actually feeling confident in what I’m doing. This is just worsening my anxiety, to say the least.

I'm lost. BD is lost. Can someone tell me what's really going on here?!

This is the worst I've seen it since I started 16 years ago. There is no one steering the ship anymore. If there's still a captain, no one's listening to them. The norm is hurry up and wait. The culture is lies, fear, anxiety, confusion, frustration, and baffling. One good thing I recently heard is that a bunch of higher ups were let go, so someone up top is keen on trimming some of the upper fat. Maybe we will be lucky enough to get more DEI hires to replace them!

Its awfully quiet on here. . . . where did everyone go? Is everyone emotionally exhausted from last year?

The liars are at it again. I heard from my manager that another big round will happen on 4/16 and this one will wipe out several organizations. What is the point of doing all of this in phases instead of just one big change? We were told that all the "large scale" layoffs are done but now this one is here. It seems like it is every week even though new people keep coming in. All it is doing is making people like me anxious and its tough to keep doing my job.

I dipped my toes into the job search pool and things are not just bad, but awful. I'm genuinely worried that if I'm cut, I'll either have to accept half the pay I'm getting now or just stay unemployed for who knows how long. Neither option will work for me and my family.

Even new hires are already questioning how stable things are and whether they made a mistake coming here. When it’s that obvious that early on, it pretty much says it all.

I don't even care what happens next. I just can't keep stressing like this. The whole Cognizant situation has been its own special he-l. And now there's talk of more layoffs this summer? Why am I bothering with this job? We're just circling the drain.