I worked for a popular exercise company. I was in the technical support side of the business, enjoying the “permanent” work from home contract I signed. I made it through multiple lay offs, and thought I was safe, but was actively updating and sending out my resume/filling out application.
The biggest thing keeping me at this job was an 18 week paid paternity leave, along with great medical benefits.
I got “promoted” into a new role, after applying and working for this company for 1 1/2 years, only to find out it was a horizontal “promotion”. So I was doing 3x the work as before, for the same amount of money.
I continued to grind it out, even though I continually butted heads with my 2 overbearing, and under qualified supervisors (neither knew how to run a spreadsheet, which was 99% of this new position). One of the 2 supervisors they promoted 3 months after my team was created, and then they expected us to train then on the projects we were working. The supervisor was also given a real promotion from hourly to salary, and took advantage of not having a “set schedule”.
I finally made it to the birth of my son, and started to settle in for 18 weeks of paid leave.
Exactly 1 week into my leave, I was told my entire team, including myself, was being laid off. They laid off other whole teams and supervisors that they had just made/promoted in the last 6 months.
The rest of the department was told to return to office or be part of the lay off.
I had a coworker from another department, that was laid off, while 7 months pregnant. But another coworker that was hired at our 2nd location, 4 states away, told to relocate or be laid off.
I’ve been told 40% of the staff was laid off, and now of the 60% left, only 10% would be returning to office.
Always be looking for another job, don’t be complacent. You don’t matter to your company, no matter what they say/do.
TLDR The company I worked for laid me off in my first week of leave after not giving me a raise after promotions/being there for 2 years.