Comments on: Would you prefer a layoff or a demotion?

By: The Week in Recruiting (Reading the blogs so you don’t have to…)

The Week in Recruiting (Reading the blogs so you don’t have to…) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:57:27 +0000

[...] 11. Okay, the winner of the Christmas Tree lights contest is… 12. How Much Severance Is Enough? 13. The Most Overrated Careers 14. PR is your friend 15. Would you prefer a layoff or a demotion? [...]

By: ashleyrd1977

ashleyrd1977 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:01:46 +0000

I went through this exact scenario. I was offered an extreme demotion with a large cut in pay or a layoff. I took the demotion and within 2 months found a position with a direct competitor and make more than 20K more than I did before my demotion. Sometimes people have to swallow their pride and do what they can to keep a paycheck coming in while looking for a better opportunity.

By: Andy from MA

Andy from MA — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:02:11 +0000

I think the demotion is good strategy that enables you to look for work while still employed. Call me old fashioned but the now hyper competitive job market may be such that it makes sense to keep a lower level postion while you seek your escape hatch.
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Employers may be more sympathetic about allow you some flex time to interview since your former role has been diminished.

By: wrangler4x4

wrangler4x4 — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:09:12 +0000

What I meant was that hanging on to a job, in the vast majority of cases, is not advantageous.

By: wrangler4x4

wrangler4x4 — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 23:56:40 +0000

I'd rather get laid off and a severance package. Maybe I can do something with that.
Although the great social scientist, Hugh Hefner, never got laid off, he did not get the minimal raise he asked for working for Esquire, and thus he left the magazine to start his own business, which you have probably heard of.

By: mimsyborogoves

mimsyborogoves — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:46:49 +0000

If I do work that I enjoy for a company that I like and this company experiences hard times, would I be willing to pitch in for a time to do whatever work is necessary to keep that company afloat? Of course. However I am puzzled by the specific example cited. What is a "mail room"? Is that where the e-mail server lives? I am aware of a "Postal Service" that delivers credit-card applications, LL Bean catalogs and Netflix DVDs to my home, but I can't see how that's relevant to a modern business.

By: edougherty

edougherty — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:33:47 +0000

In this economy, I think it's wise to take what you can get. But you can bet that if this happened to me, I'd be on the lookout for another opening where I could be better using my skills (all while handing out the mail, of course).

By: ladawncp

ladawncp — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:47:57 +0000

It would depend on what my other responsibilities and obligations are. If I gotta feed my family and keep a warm safe roof over their heads and I am the only one doing it, I might do just about anything. At that point my "career" don't matter too much. If I got a big fat pension coming and I need just 2 more years of service, I'd work in the kitchen or park the cars. Sometimes it's not just about me. although not very often. LOL! Welcome back from mat leave. Only just realised you were back. Will try to read the previous posts.....

By: Lulu Lulu

Lulu Lulu — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:38:34 +0000

That sounds like an exaggeration. It's more likely that the journalists' duties now include sorting the mail. That's more along the lines with what happens during layoffs--an ever-growing list of duties that you thought you outgrew.