LPT stands for “Life Pro Tips,” which is a popular online platform where users seek advice or share useful tips on various topics. In this LPT request, the individual is seeking advice on whether they should try to get fired from their current job in order to take advantage of the generous compensation being offered to underperforming employees, or if they should resign on good terms. The person providing advice should consider the context of the individual’s situation, such as their current financial situation and their long-term career goals. Additionally, since the individual is working in West Africa and has received a job offer in Europe, the advice should also take into account any implications of relocating to a new country and the process of obtaining a visa.
Before providing advice on the specific situation, it is essential to carefully evaluate the options and factors at play. Here are some points to consider:
1. Financial benefits and future prospects: The generous compensation being offered by the current company is undoubtedly attractive, especially considering the potential financial opportunities it presents. It is vital to assess whether the financial benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks and any long-term implications.
2. Career growth and development: Resigning on good terms from the current job might allow for a more positive professional reference and maintain a good reputation in the industry. However, one must evaluate if the new job offer in Europe aligns with their long-term career goals and provides better prospects for growth and learning.
3. Legal implications: It is important to thoroughly understand the labor laws and regulations in both the individual’s current country and the prospective European country. Specifically, they should familiarize themselves with the laws regarding severance packages, compensation, and benefits for underperforming employees, as well as any potential repercussions for intentionally seeking termination.
Based on the context provided, the following advice could be considered:
1. Evaluate your long-term goals: Consider your career aspirations and how the new job offer aligns with them. Is it an opportunity for growth, learning, and a better professional environment? Assess if the potential financial benefits of getting fired from your current job outweigh the career prospects offered by the new opportunity.
2. Understand the legal and visa requirements: Ensure you are well-versed in both the labor laws of your current country and the visa requirements for relocating to Europe. Seek professional advice if necessary to understand the implications of seeking termination or resigning on good terms. Consider the potential consequences, such as visa application rejections or any impact on your future employability.
3. Financial considerations: Assess your current financial situation and the value of the compensation being offered. While the generous compensation may be tempting, consider its long-term impact and potential limitations. Evaluate whether the compensation outweighs the potential benefits of resigning on good terms and exploring new professional opportunities.
4. Communication with your current employer: If you decide to pursue the option of getting fired to obtain the compensation, it is essential to communicate openly and honestly with your current employer. Discuss your intentions and reasons for seeking termination, emphasizing your gratitude for the opportunities and experience gained during your time with the company.
5. Consider your reputation: While financial benefits can be attractive, maintaining a positive professional reputation is equally important for long-term success. Resigning on good terms ensures a smooth transition and positive recommendations for future job opportunities.
Ultimately, the decision rests with you. However, it is recommended to thoroughly analyze and consider the factors mentioned above before making a decision. Seeking advice from trusted mentors, industry professionals, or legal experts in labor and immigration laws can also provide valuable insights.
Walk into your bosses office. Jump on top of his desk. Drop your pants and lay a hot steaming turd right on his desk. Wipe yourself with some document on his desk. Pull up your pants, turn to him, smile, then ask him how his day is going.
Just slowly do less and perform worse until they fire you.
Take the $ and move on. You don’t owe them anything.
You could say you’ve noticed the layoffs and would like to volunteer if additional layoffs are needed. If they want a reason tell them you’re considering a career change and the severance would allow you to pursue your new goals. I wouldn’t mention the new job already lined up.
If you get fired (especially for poor performance), and the new job falls through, you could have a real problem. Is it worth the risk? Only you can answer that.
Edit: typo.
When you say x10 salary, what does this mean? 10 years of salary? Surely not, right? I would be so jealous of my underperforming coworkers who walk away with an amount of money that would take me ten years of toiling just because they suck at their job by comparison, lol. How is that fair?
Make sure you secure your visa before you drop your productivity. There are people who have been given jobs in my country who are finding out they can’t take the jobs they have been offered because they don’t meet the visa requirements.
Absolutely volunteer yourself if this is your plan, and if the job that you have lined up is a sure thing. This seems like a no-brainer
Take the money and run
Stop showing up? Is that an option and then they for you?
The problem I see with the “intentionally do bad and get fired” approach is that it could easily take *more* than 3 months to get fired that way. If you have a history of performing at a certain level (especially a level they appreciate) then they aren’t going to kick you out the door for a few slow weeks. When a company tries to determine who’s “underperforming” they’re generally looking at a year or more of consistently bad performance. They’re going back over those performance reviews they have on file.
They might try talking to you, suggesting ways you can improve, maybe even offer you some kind of support system to work through your “depression.” And then they’re going to be pissed when you turn around and resign because you’ve run out of time and need to get off to the new job.
I think WizardOfIF’s approach is more likely to work than a lot of the responders are giving him credit for. Plus, it’s the honest approach. If the company is looking to get rid of X employees, you stepping forward and saying you’d like to volunteer makes HR’s job of picking people to let go easier. It makes the conversation about why the person is being let go easier. At least for *one* of the people they need to cut. Just be clear that your volunteering is contingent upon being given the promised payout.
Take a dump in the paper shredder
This was an episode of Seinfeld. Perhaps watching how George left his job with the Yankees can provide some insight.
I would not let them fire me. My character and integrity are more important than money.
How sure are you the new job is secure? Have you signed a contract? What if you don’t get the visa? A lot can change in the world in 3 months. They may pull the offer if something changes. Not sure if it’s contingent on you getting a visa or anything else.
If it is 100% secure, you could ask nicely to be let go to pursue a new career but not mention the new job.
Basically try to leave on good terms. There’s little to gain by giving everyone the finger on your last day.
If you take the new job and things don’t work out, will potential future employers be able to find out you were terminated for underperformance?
Don’t burn any bridges at your current company. All of those people are future resources for networking, recommendations, etc. Your long-term integrity and self respect is worth more.
Guess it depends on your integrity, and work ethic.
Ahh good, I always love posts where people ask whether they should be dishonest or not.
I hope your offer is relinquished.
Just be careful not every round of layoffs has the same compensation package.
Do not take any action until your visa is confirmed. After your visa is confirmed only then you should give resignation notice or volunteer for layoff. I have seen quite a few cases where visas were not approved in multiple countries. I hope everything goes well for you. But it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I’d be amazed if being fired with cause leads to you getting any compensation at all. Bad idea.
I don’t have any advice but I just want to say, congratulations. It must have been a pain in the ass getting all the paperwork. And with all the instability in your country I wouldn’t want to stay. Hope you make a ton of money in Europe and have a good life.
I know everyone likes to take advantage of the system or their employer, but I honestly they feel that it is a shitty thing to do. It is different if the company treats you poorly but if they didn’t then you risk losing out. If you are not on the plane to your next job then you are not sure you have a job waiting. If you have to stay where you are then your reputation gets damaged. Word could get around that you are not good anymore. No one wants to pay much for someone who can’t perform their job and that is what people will see when you try to get a new job. Leave on good terms if the company you currently work for is a decent one.
Follow your heart.
Short term obviously getting fired. Long term consider potential damage to your reputation
If things were reversed, and the company had a new, cheaper worker lined up, make no mistake, they would do everything in their power to make you resign so they didn’t have to pay you that severance and got their new, cheaper worker. Why be better to them than they would be to you? Get that money.
Letting go of underperforming employees and given them a generous severance package is generally seen as “leaving on good terms”. That’s because underperforming doesn’t generally mean a bad employee. If the company has 100 employees and needs to lay off 10, the 10 lowest performing employees might still be “good employees”, but they’re still the 10 lowest.
If you suddenly stop doing your work to get them to lay you off, they might just fire you instead with no severance, because being a bad employee isn’t the same as underperforming and suddenly going from being a high performer to a low performer is also odd.
Either volunteer to be laid off like others have suggested, or just keep working until your new job starts.
Ask your boss to put you on termination list asap. He will be asked by his boss to pick someone to let go and I’m betting he wouldn’t enjoy letting people go and if you ask him to let you go so help him relieve him of the guilt, he will be grateful.
It’s a win win situation.
Having said that, I think it’s a mistake.
Why?
Are you sure your visa will be ready soon in 3 months and the job offer will still be there?
If it fell through, would you find another job easily?
If you feel confident, ask to be let go. Don’t resign and leave all that money, job loss insurance benefits on the table.
As a general life advice, I would tell you to avoid burning bridges whenever you can. You never know if you will need to cross it again in the future.
No. It’s a small world and people remember the bad more than the good.