Have you ever been laid off? How do El Paso companies handle layoffs? (Houston: home)

[HookTheBrotherUp]

I hope I don't ruffle any feathers here, this is a touchy subject, but in general, how have El Paso companies handled layoffs? I have only known people who have been laid off in Houston, and the layoffs have usually been generous. For example, if an oil company, a severance package of 2-3 weeks pay per every year worked, full medical for a year, an office with a receptionist and career counselors for six months, plus 10-20K for training/education in order to land another job is common. Mangers get even better packages.

With the exception of a relative who worked at El Paso before the company relocated to Houston, most other family members of mine in El Paso have not elaborated on the method used when they were laid off.

The one relative with El Paso said one day all employees were told to go downstairs, once there, they were to go into one of two rooms, those who went to room 'A' were told they had a job, room 'B' were not so fortunate. The one relative I had was valued at El Paso and was able to keep the job and currently still works for El Paso in El Paso in a management position.

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

I hope I don't ruffle any feathers here, this is a touchy subject, but in general, how have El Paso companies handled layoffs? I have only known people who have been laid off in Houston, and the layoffs have usually been generous. For example, if an oil company, a severance package of 2-3 weeks pay per every year worked, full medical for a year, an office with a receptionist and career counselors for six months, plus 10-20K for training/education in order to land another job is common. Mangers get even better packages.

With the exception of a relative who worked at El Paso before the company relocated to Houston, most other family members of mine in El Paso have not elaborated on the method used when they were laid off.

The one relative with El Paso said one day all employees were told to go downstairs, once there, they were to go into one of two rooms, those who went to room 'A' were told they had a job, room 'B' were not so fortunate. The one relative I had was valued at El Paso and was able to keep the job and currently still works for El Paso in El Paso in a management position.

I have not once in my many years of working in El Paso ever seen a severance package. I have been business based, I have seen whole companies go out of business, show up for worn and they are gone.. 2 examples... QZAR, and MURRAY GUARD. Never got paid for the last weeks of work. Most of the time when I see layoffs in EL Paso, it has been one of two scenarios. A Pink Slip, or you show up and the doors are locked if your lucky with a sign that explains whats going, most of the time its just something like out of business, or will reopen soon.. and you have no clue. Many of the Plastic Plants pulled the later.. show up and the gate is locked no guard, nothing.

[southernbliss]

Is that legal?

[Muhnay]

There were law suits to get paid, but seems bankruptcy protects these companies.

[malamute]

Maybe severance packages are a thing of the past -- I've heard of them but I wonder how many businesses here would give those. What's the point in paying someone over a years wages and have them gone?

I've heard of people being called together and then the pink slips handed out and anyone supervisor and above escorted to their desks by security and escorted out the door. It pays to have everything you need to take home easily and quickly accessible.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by malamute

Maybe severance packages are a thing of the past -- I've heard of them but I wonder how many businesses here would give those. What's the point in paying someone over a years wages and have them gone?

Fairness, loyalty come to mind. At least in my industry. A company cannot afford to burn bridges, especially in the oil industry, and I'll tell you why.

Back in the 80s and 90s, when oil was trading at less than $20.00 p/b, the oil companies laid off thousands of employees. This did not happen all at once, it was hundreds here, and there, spread out over a decade. In all cases, I had friends who lost their jobs, and they all had the 3 week severance package. In fact, my best friend was laid off this way, and the company (Shell Oil Company) paid for his tuition and he finished his college degree. Another friend was given full tuition to attend MIT, and he graduated and later came back to the company.

So what happened because of the layoffs was that many young students who remember their parents, or relatives being laid off, did not follow the parent's career path, they turned away from the degrees that oil companies depend on, geologists, geophysicists, chemical engineers, mechanical engineers, etc. This created a shortage of talent.

Fast forward to recent times, the last few years and now. There is a HUGE demand for these people. My company offers me 15K cash for any geologist, or geophysicist, drilling, or petroleum engineer that I refer, and are hired! These people write their own tickets, work in any country of their choosing (where an oil company is based).

Had the oil companies treated them in a negative way, pink slip and nothing else, they would not come back. Many were re-hired, given their seniority back, and years accrued as if they never left, sweet deal. In my company, whole divisions were given retention bonuses of one year salary to stay on for two years, that's how competitive it is.

So that is why companies are generous with their severance packages. If the company is going out of business as Muhnay pointed out, then I can see where it does them no good. However, an honest, respected employer will give something to the employee for enriching the company to some degree in the past. If a company will not do this, it speaks volumes about the company.

[Smooth from ELP]

I only got two weeks severence pay and a pep talk about how great of an employee I was in my experience getting laid off in ELP. But then again that was back in 1997.

When I got laid off from IBM back 2001 in ATX I got three months severance pay and a resume training course (paid for by IBM).

[southernbliss]

I also got 3 months severance pay and the company pays us for our vacation days.

[mistabinks]

Off the top of my head, I know for a fact that Levi offered a severance package to the El Paso workers that were layed off.