The great resignation gives me hope things will improve and people will be treated fairly. My story is one of the unfortunate ones. Like some of the other reported layoffs (firings), former employer (IT) got us all in a video meeting and let it rip claiming the pandemic forced the change. My access to the network was immediately cutoff. So, no good-byes or anything to the people I worked with for years. They gave severance (if you signed papers) and claimed we could come back.
Not too long after, news pieces (Internet) and posts (LinkedIn) announcing various mergers (at least 4), transforming the company into an international one. Another interesting twist, this company started posting a lot of vacancies for positions they just eliminated. Of course, they never contacted me (doubt anyone else they canned too). Probably the best outcome though, because they totally f**ked it up and who would want to subject themselves to it again?
I know one of the executives, we previously worked together for a different company. I did not think they would ever do something like this. After the termination (I should have done this before working there), I started looking into the background. There have been layoffs in the past and some not so flattering reviews by former employees (take those with a grain of salt). I learned to never let your guard down.
/vent off
I am currently employed in a new position with a new company.