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got laid off bah
- Thread starter Rotary8
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Actually, that is an "employment-at-will" State. Most States have adopted the "at-will" doctrine in one form or another. There are common law exceptions to this doctrine as well as State specific exceptions that have been adopted in many States. The age, race, sex, religion, national origin comment refers to discrimination and Constitutionally protected classes. But none of that helps the OP, so......nevermind. Sorry about your job.
His response doesn't have anything to do with what I was saying. I have seen several people get fired recently and be treated in the exact manner I described.
Besides, we're talking about a design, not something that requires high-level security clearance. Anyone who would treat an employee like a criminal because they can no longer afford to pay them is pathetic.
The OP will be better off in the long run. And all you people who think that his company's behavior was acceptable are clueless.
Sorry to hear about the layoff - happened to me during the dot-com crash so I know how you feel.
Here's a tip I learned. Carry a USB drive in your pocket. Biggest one you can buy. Use it to sync all your files to each day*. It serves two purposes - saves your ass in case you accidentally delete something, or your PC crashes or whatever. But it also provides you with personal access to all your saved work, you know, just in case you get laid off and ninjas steal your computer.
* Obviously you don't want to do this if you work for Uncle Sam. He frowns upon that sort of thing, particularly if it's classified data.
Here's a tip I learned. Carry a USB drive in your pocket. Biggest one you can buy. Use it to sync all your files to each day*. It serves two purposes - saves your ass in case you accidentally delete something, or your PC crashes or whatever. But it also provides you with personal access to all your saved work, you know, just in case you get laid off and ninjas steal your computer.
* Obviously you don't want to do this if you work for Uncle Sam. He frowns upon that sort of thing, particularly if it's classified data.
Sorry to hear about the layoff - happened to me during the dot-com crash so I know how you feel.
Here's a tip I learned. Carry a USB drive in your pocket. Biggest one you can buy. Use it to sync all your files to each day*. It serves two purposes - saves your ass in case you accidentally delete something, or your PC crashes or whatever. But it also provides you with personal access to all your saved work, you know, just in case you get laid off and ninjas steal your computer.
* Obviously you don't want to do this if you work for Uncle Sam. He frowns upon that sort of thing, particularly if it's classified data.
Some places disable the mounting of personal hard drives and usb sticks unfortunately, though of course we should all be backing up all the time.
alas, see, they can.
In the "real world", this is how it's done. You work for me, I own everything you make. If you make something important enough, you're even going to be signing a non-compete agreement just in case you might quit for greener pastures, and so on & so forth.
If you quit, or get fired, why would I give you anything that I, the employer, have essentially purchased from you (the employee)? You give me art/concepts/inventions, I give you money & benefits in exchange.
As far as whether or not this is ethically proper, or cool, well....It is. Why? Because whenever I (or anyone) choose(s) to work for someone else, it is incumbent upon myself to understand the conditions (limits, benefits & the like) of my employment.
So, in summation, I feel for the OP - but, folks, let this be a lesson to you all - especially in this drifting economy. If you have a creative position of any type, take copies of what you make to whatever degree you feasibly can.
Damn that's rough, my last employer said I could grab whatever I wanted off the computer and said I was welcome back anytime if I forgot anything on it.
Not quite true. Unless it's part of the employee agreement, "ownership" (especially when it's solely for a portfolio) is not so cut-and-dry. If you really have employees, I wonder how react knowing how you would treat them if the whim took you.
Actually, just the opposite is true. If the creator of a work is an employee then the publisher of the content automatically has a copyright and ownership of the content or created work. Written agreeements and exceptions come into play where the creator of the work is a feelancer or independent contractor. The "work-for-hire" doctrine and its exceptions become applicable here. Once again, not helpful to the OP as it sounds like he was an employee. So again... nevermind.
Sorry to hear about the layoff - happened to me during the dot-com crash so I know how you feel.
Here's a tip I learned. Carry a USB drive in your pocket. Biggest one you can buy. Use it to sync all your files to each day*. It serves two purposes - saves your ass in case you accidentally delete something, or your PC crashes or whatever. But it also provides you with personal access to all your saved work, you know, just in case you get laid off and ninjas steal your computer.
* Obviously you don't want to do this if you work for Uncle Sam. He frowns upon that sort of thing, particularly if it's classified data.
yeah, I carry a patriot X 32gb drive with me. Not all was lost, I did manage to bring home past work, it was just the more recent stuff I worked on ON the day of my being laid off.
Since then I've been doing a lot of photography and small design gigs at home.
There's a different between letting someone trash files / steal corporate copyright, and just treating them with dignity. I don't mean let them copy whatever. Sure, unplug the computer, but give them time to pick up stuff, say bye to people and so on.
Once someone gets to the professional level, there's only a few companies in town that hires people like them, and you may well have dealings with them several years down the line.
Best to have them leave with good memories, not feeling like ****.
Can someone clarify - if you're sacked in the USA under one of these 'at will' laws, do you still get a notice period? (to help with keeping up mortgage payments and planning your future/ looking for a new job)
Once someone gets to the professional level, there's only a few companies in town that hires people like them, and you may well have dealings with them several years down the line.
Best to have them leave with good memories, not feeling like ****.
Can someone clarify - if you're sacked in the USA under one of these 'at will' laws, do you still get a notice period? (to help with keeping up mortgage payments and planning your future/ looking for a new job)
i don't know about a notice period per say, but in Canada, you're entitled to x amount of severance pay* - usually 2 wks per every year. it doesn't help unless you've been there a long time and unless *, you work for Nortel which is under bankruptcy protection and isn't going to pay any severance which is just downright terrible imho. some of those guys are close to retirement, but that is an entirely different discussion.
cheers,
keebler
Wow, sucks to be laid off. I'm glad I'm just working as a freelancer right now. It's actually been a steady flow of work, not to mention I can price everything according to what people want.
By the way, noticed that your name is "Rotary8". You may be an RX-8 lover?
By the way, noticed that your name is "Rotary8". You may be an RX-8 lover?
To the OP, what a crappy thing to have happened to you. Within the last year I've made sure to copy, back up and bring home my work in print and all the electronic files I think I would ever need to build up a current portfolio. I have no doubt that if I were to be cut here, the computer would be the first to be grabbed by them, then the badge and then the quiet escort out of the building. Scary times in this field right now.
Sounds like they laid you off just because everyone else was laying off. If they hire for your position in the future take em to court.
Very well put.
Nope. When a company decides to let you go, you're out the door that day (even that minute, in some cases).
Sorry to hear about the layoff - happened to me during the dot-com crash so I know how you feel.
Here's a tip I learned. Carry a USB drive in your pocket. Biggest one you can buy. Use it to sync all your files to each day*. It serves two purposes - saves your ass in case you accidentally delete something, or your PC crashes or whatever. But it also provides you with personal access to all your saved work, you know, just in case you get laid off and ninjas steal your computer.
* Obviously you don't want to do this if you work for Uncle Sam. He frowns upon that sort of thing, particularly if it's classified data.
Sorry to hear you got laid (off). Hope you find new opportunities soon!
An addition to the tip given about sync-ing. You could also install a sync service (program). Like Dropbox.
I got laid off Friday the 13th. Been slow, only working half the hours.
Some freelance stuff, so I am not totally screwed, but it blows!
Took all the samples I needed as I did them as I got bum rushed by a newspaper I worked at sorta like the OP.
Learned my lesson.
Some freelance stuff, so I am not totally screwed, but it blows!
Took all the samples I needed as I did them as I got bum rushed by a newspaper I worked at sorta like the OP.
Learned my lesson.
Missing from this discussion is the obvious: If you were let go for reasons other than performance and conducted yourself professionally during the layoff, contact your manager and ask if you can get samples of your work for your portfolio. It's a reasonable request, one that many people would be happy to grant. A) You were a valued employee and B) They don't like the HR layoff process any more than you do.
If not, then you have a story for your next employer: "Here's what I was working on prior to the layoff. Sadly, my company asked that I not share samples from projects that were in the pipeline at the time of my departure."
You demonstrate your professionalism without positioning yourself to complain about how you were treated.
BTW -- You've got some excellent-looking pieces in your portfolio. I'd think your services will quickly be in demand.
If not, then you have a story for your next employer: "Here's what I was working on prior to the layoff. Sadly, my company asked that I not share samples from projects that were in the pipeline at the time of my departure."
You demonstrate your professionalism without positioning yourself to complain about how you were treated.
BTW -- You've got some excellent-looking pieces in your portfolio. I'd think your services will quickly be in demand.
That can vary. I was laid off from my last two jobs, both in marketing roles for technology companies. Each kept me on for several weeks because they needed my services and we agreed that I could professionally conduct myself in the meantime. In the last go-round, my HR manager who notified me of my layoff was invited to my going away party, and we remain friends to this day.
With IT jobs, however, the last company typically made the separation effective immediately. After your HR "interview," you were taken to your desk for essential personal effects (e.g., keys, cellphone and coat) and escorted out of the building by security. You then arranged with HR to come back after hours for your other belongings. The fear of injury to other employees and destruction of proprietary data has simply become too great for companies not to intervene in "avoidable" situations.
That said, your mileage and experience may vary. I don't pretend to speak for all employees/employers.
Of course it can vary, as can (obviously) the treatment fired employees get. But the law does not force employers to provide a notice period. That was the question I was answering.