this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2025
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[–] GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 115 points 6 days ago (2 children)

This is the best way to do headcount reductions imo. In large organisations there's always someone who's been there for a long time and gotten tired of the work, and that would gladly take this type of offer if it's lucrative enough.

To demonstrate - imagine that you've been considering quitting your job for a while. Then someone comes along and says that if you do that, you also get some additional cash for free. You'd probably take it, right?

And if you necessarily need to reduce headcount, then there's also the argument that if someone leaves voluntarily, then someone who wants to stay doesn't have to get pushed out.

So yeah, I'm not against this

[–] idefix@sh.itjust.works 45 points 6 days ago (3 children)

In my experience with this format, only the good ones are leaving and you're stuck with the rest.

[–] Buckshot@programming.dev 35 points 6 days ago

My last job did this. They offered more for those who had worked there longer. People with over 15 years got about a years pay and they all took it. People who had been there under a year got nothing so they all stayed.

I was going to take then they withdrew the offer for all devs. I think a lot tried to take it and they realised no one would be left. I would have got 3-4 months pay. Loads of institutional knowledge lost though, i left anyway a few months later.

[–] Ibuthyr@lemmy.wtf 13 points 6 days ago

Absolutely. The ones who've resigned mentally are fine within their positions. The people with all the business connections and references will be the ones to grab the money and simply start something new. It happened at my company. I was only 3 years in, so it wasn't enough money for me to quit. But loads of good people left the company.

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[–] noxypaws@pawb.social 39 points 6 days ago (4 children)

Neither pixel nor android teams should need reductions, this is Google being cheap and fucking with employees' income for no reason other than blind greed.

[–] GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 41 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I mean, you're probably right, but between this and regular layoffs? This every day of the week

[–] noxypaws@pawb.social 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Well yeah, being given the option is better than the alternative. I just wish folks wouldn't accept the premise that Google has any legitimate reason to lay anyone off from Android or Pixel teams. Android, of all things, one of the most widely used operating systems on the planet.

[–] GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)

It's not to say I accept it, but I also know that I don't exactly have a choice in the matter.

This has been the worst part about working in tech since the big layoff period from about the beginning of 2023 - unthinkable levels of uncertainty in your life.

Still definitely got a better deal than most in life, but damn if it hasn't been mentally taxing

[–] noxypaws@pawb.social 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I feel it. My company thankfully hasn't done any layoffs, but I still don't feel very secure, and I no longer feel like I'll be able to easily find another job that pays enough if something does happen.

And that's without all the rest of the uncertainty going on right now..

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[–] DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 32 points 6 days ago (4 children)

Fuck is Pixel going to go away? Apparently the pixel 9 sold well

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 12 points 6 days ago (4 children)

The Pixel 9 Pro is incredible. Writing this on it right now. I love it. Previously had the 6. I'll be sad if they go away, for real.

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[–] designated_fridge@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Maybe they just want to downsize cause there isn't as much to do nowadays when the OS is so mature?

[–] buddascrayon@lemmy.world 11 points 5 days ago (1 children)

This is not the way to do that. This is a way to get rid of your best people because, as the United States government is about to find out, when you offer a voluntary exit to people with a severance package the ones who know they have ability and are competent will take that package and leave and get better jobs. And the ones that know they suck or are too lazy are going to stay. There's actually a list somewhere of companies that have done this and have gone under because of it.

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[–] Dlayknee@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I can't imagine so, they're only just now prepping the first pixel phone on their own in-house CPU (pixel 10) and development is underway for the following generation (pixel 11). To axe the line now would be crazy.

[–] Benaaasaaas@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

To be fair, to axe that would be a very Google thing to do.

First, we'll take away the headphone jack.

Then, we'll remove everything else!

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 32 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Can Sundar Pichai please take the offer?

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

And Prabhakar Raghavan aka worsener of search

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[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 29 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Hilarious, I just got a reach out for working on the Pixel camera

[–] kelargo@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Are you sure that wasn't a reach around, instead of reach out?

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[–] interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml 35 points 6 days ago (7 children)

Verizon let me root my 2018 phone and stop installing candycrush on it you fucking pieces of shit!!!!

[–] icedterminal@lemmy.world 25 points 6 days ago (1 children)

If you have any intent to play with Android OS variants or the stock OS, don't buy Verizon devices. Ever. They will not give you the decryption key or unlock key.

Apple, Google, Samsung and Motorola all sell devices on their websites as full price or up to 36 month financing. You can get them carrier unlocked. Motorola and Google offer bootloader unlocking should you want to.

[–] interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

No, they will give me root access to the devices that I own. Or they will cease operations on this planet.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 17 points 6 days ago (2 children)
[–] UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml 7 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)
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[–] wurstgulasch3000@feddit.org 36 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Have you considered voluntary redundancy?

No.

Have you considered involuntary redundancy?

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 17 points 6 days ago (3 children)

So you're being "voluntary" fired? You can't quit when you want?

[–] hayes_@sh.itjust.works 14 points 5 days ago

You don’t get severance when you quit.

Severance is usually worse if you wait to get fired rather than taking a voluntary exit.

If you aren’t happy at a job, taking an offered exit is often a good decision.

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[–] MITM0@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago

I hope they join Mozilla 😏

[–] MetalMachine@feddit.nl 7 points 6 days ago

Ah yes, we need more laid off tech workers in the sector. We nearly don't have enough!

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