#CareerAdvice #NegotiationSkills #LaidOffEmployee #SalaryNegotiation #GoingBacktoWork
Are you finding yourself in a tricky situation where you were laid off, but now your boss wants you back? It can be a confusing and overwhelming time, but don’t worry – I’m here to offer some advice on how to handle this delicate situation.
###Evaluate Your Position
Before making any decisions, take a moment to evaluate your current position and the offer to come back. Consider factors such as your value to the company, the reasons for your layoff, and the potential for growth and advancement in your role.
###Leverage Your Position
It’s clear that your boss really wants you back and believes that laying you off was a mistake. This gives you some leverage when it comes to negotiating your return. Here are some steps you can take to leverage your position effectively:
1. **Know Your Worth**: Research the market rate for your position and experience level to have a clear understanding of your value.
2. **Highlight Your Value**: Remind your boss of your contributions to the company and how your skills and experience have positively impacted projects in the past.
3. **Negotiate Your Salary**: Given that a coworker who quit was making 20% more than you, this could be an opportunity to negotiate a higher salary. You can consider asking for a 15-20% raise based on this information.
###Approach the Conversation
When approaching the conversation about your return and potential salary negotiation, keep these tips in mind:
– Be confident and assertive in your communication.
– Present your case logically and provide evidence to support your request.
– Express gratitude for the opportunity to come back while also advocating for your worth.
###Final Thoughts
Navigating the transition from being laid off to potentially returning to work can be challenging, but with the right approach and mindset, you can turn this situation into an opportunity to secure a better position for yourself. Use the leverage you have to negotiate a fair salary that reflects your value and contributions to the company. Good luck on your journey back to work! 👩💼📈
In conclusion, the key to handling being laid off and then asked to return is to assess your position, leverage your value, negotiate your salary effectively, and approach the conversation with confidence and gratitude. By following these steps, you can make the most of this situation and secure a favorable outcome for yourself. Don’t hesitate to advocate for your worth and strive for a successful return to work. #CareerSuccess #SalaryIncrease #WorkNegotiation #CareerGrowth.
Don’t just ask for a 20% raise, ask them to double your salary. If they need you back so badly, let them pay out the ass. They need you a lot more than you need them.
if they are wanting to nullify your termination agreement… dont forget to get your back pay.
How desparate for work are you? If you go back, def demand more money, but I’d be actively searching for a new job from now until you find one. This company doesn’t sound like a place you want to be long-term.
I’d tell them I want the severance package and to be rehired. 😉
Realistically though,
Ask for a 30-40% raise and a contract with explicit terms that provide for at least a 30+ day notice (for layoffs) and a better severance package. Don’t forget to consider things like non-disparagement clauses, non compete clauses etc. Also ask for anything else you may want like more time off, cheaper benefits, 401k matching etc.
Don’t ask for so much that they won’t take it, just ask for enough that they know you’re serious.
Your boss is made an active decision to lay you off leaving you with no income. Drive a very hard bargain!
i would think twice before going back. by laying you off, it shows that your management initially thought you were expendable. The employee who quit created a vacancy they needed to back fill, so they decided to call you back. Else, you would be still be out. They didn’t value you enough to keep you the first time. When times get tight again, will that view change or will it be the same? So, if you absolutely need to keep a job, perhaps go back to keep the paycheck, but then start looking for other opportunities.
Ask for the 20%, but also negotiate your severance package now. Basically, you get a raise to come back, I’d go for a title bump too if that’s your thing, and negotiate a solid severance package as well.
Whatever they offered you, sweeten it, and that way if they try to lay you off again, you know what you’re getting. Lastly, think about things like WFH and PTO. This is your chance to get what you deserve based on your posts.
Show me the money fam 🚚
Depends on what you do, how much you love your job, and how hard it is to find another job.
If anything, you should ask them how they should make things right. Counter if you think their offer isn’t reasonable. Keep it professional. Remember, if you counter, they can always rescind the offer.
If you did go back, them firing you is probably not the best for you in the long run. I will be nervous they will do it again. You should work on an exit plan – savings, update resume, get as much training and network as possible, and the bounce when the right opportunity comes around. You owe them nothing.
Do you *want* to go back? How badly?
I don’t think it’s out of line to ask for a salary increase as a condition of return, but beyond that, it’s really up to you.
Keep in mind that a layoff isn’t usually personal. Someone, somewhere just did the numbers and you lost that lottery. Sure you feel vindicated now that they’re asking you back, but let it remind you that everyone is expendable.
You’ll be used, chewed up and spat out as soon as you meet their need. They realized they spit you out too soon. If you go back – bc you need income – don’t be committed to that company. Keep, in the least, soft searching for a better more secure job.
Ask for raise target the the 20% already in budget so open with something higher than that because they will undoubtedly negotiate you down.
Also not unreasonable to ask for a severance in writing if they let you go again as it is easily defensible that you have no security if they decide to let you go again in 30 days, they’ve proven themselves to have no qualms doing so.
First, take care of yourself (and family) to ensure you have a job. Evaluate the risk of asking for more money vs. being unemployed, how long it will take to find another gig, and your needs – it matters.
The main reason it matters is your direct manager (unless VP or higher) may not have the organizational influence just after a layoff that had financial reasons – those financial goals are what is going to matter most. If bringing you back is not accretive to those goals, your boss may not be able to get it done.
Otherwise, I’d have an attitude of “I liked my job, you guys laid me off, and its opened my eyes. I’m talking with people and I think if I were to consider it, I’d need to have a salary increase of at least x% – plus with Mike leaving, I know I’m going to have more work to do. So, not only does this compensation align more closely with market, you and I don’t have a great relationship right. now – you fired me. I’m not in a hurry to come running back without re-evaluating my compensation. Further, I want to know why in the world you picked me to layoff. I need to feel like I have some job security going forward. I don’t feel particularly respected right now and I have no idea what you guys were thinking. I am willing to consider an offer to come back, and if I accept it, I’ll work hard, as I always did, but we have some bridge mending to do, and I need to trust that the company isn’t going to turn around and do this again in 3 months. Why is it, exactly that you want to bring me back all of the sudden?”
Personally I would just move on. There are plenty of job fish in the sea. There will always be awkwardness, resentment, and distrust beneath the surface in these kinds of situations. If you ask for more money using your leverage, they may give it to you now, but they will also resent you for it. They will be looking for your replacement and you may find yourself jobless again in a couple of months, perhaps in a less favorable situation or at a time you don’t expect.
If you are really keen on going back, I would be looking at negotiating a fixed term contract. Tell them you will come back for X amount of time, in exchange for a fixed sum of cash, to cover the gap until they find and train someone new. Ask for a lot more money then a normal salary would amount to in the same period.
This way there is a clear understanding on both sides of what’s going on, how long you will be there, and how much you will make. In that time look for new employment as well.
Ask for a 20-30 percent raise plus back pay. Don’t worry about the severance because it’s a one time payout. The raise will quickly make up for that.
You’re a stop gap. They wanted the other guy. Clearly the company has poor management and has already decided you aren’t a long term solution.
Ask for whatever you want but be advised if you return you’re gonna be next up for replacement so look for another opportunity
Absolutely ask for a 25% pay increase
Tell them you want:
30% raise retroactive to your layoff date
Title promotion retroactive to your layoff date
Full vesting of anything that requires it (equity, retirement match, etc) retroactive to your layoff date
Pay retroactive to your layoff date
$5,000 nonrecoverable sign-on bonus
Guarantee of employment for minimum one year. If there is a separation for any reason initiated by them within that year, automatic one year severance at your 30% higher wage is triggered. From one year to two years, any separation they initiate triggers a six month severance.
Talk track is this. “I learned on severance date that company is unreliable for me to plan on as a partner in my career. I subsequently learned that the allocation for my role was 20% higher than I was being compensated at my time of separation. If company needs me to return, it is asking me to wager my career for its benefit when it has shown that I am disposable to it. I’m amenable to return, but need to account for the volatility company has now introduced. Which includes fair pay, accounting for career and financial growth, and meaningful assurances of good faith employment for a meaningful term – as memorialized by a binding agreement guaranteeing a reliable wage. I am not open to negotiation on the points I’ve specified. If company is interested, please forward agreement as specified to me within seven days. If not I will wish company the best and continue my current conversations with prospective employers.”
You have no leverage unless you have another job lined up
Depends on your situation. Startup connects can be pretty valuable as time passes, so I’d be hesitant to burn a bridge. You could always take the job back & then keep looking elsewhere. When you get an offer you can either leave or negotiate more money/etc. you can always claim it was a company you’d applied to after the ‘layoff’ so they own their mistake again.
Why did you not sign your severance doc…?
Take the job back ask for 20% and in the event they let you go within the next 90 days a $15,000 payment for any reason
Do you want to go back? Do you have a chance to make more elsewhere? If you really want to go back and have no other great choices, ask for more, but don’t be too greedy. If you ask for 40% as some suggest, they will probably rescind the offer and find another way to solve their problems.
If you sign a document to nullify the termination, you should get that backpay. I’d also ask for a 10% raise, rather than 20%. I bet they will accept your offer.
Reasonable to ask for a bump but don’t push it too far if you want to stay after you return. Your leverage has limits, plus you said you don’t actually have a severance package right? If you want to return don’t lose the opportunity over big demands. Good luck.
I think long term you probably want to accept it so you have employment but I’d start looking for a better job today. Also when you leave don’t give your 2 weeks. They didn’t give you 2 weeks.
As far as negotiation these other comments probably know much more than me so I’d listen to those. When you come back just know you’re first on the chopping block.
Go back and look for another job while you have one. It’s always way easier to get a job when you have one because hiring managers aren’t trying to figure out what’s wrong with you the whole time.
Can you bring in an employment lawyer? I think you should get the job back but still get severance.
I am asking for atleast 20% – 30% in raise. Especially if your last co-worker was making that much over you. I would even bluff and say that you already applied at another company which is giving you 20% raise. See how they respond.
Take the job back if you need it and know you hold all the cards. Then, start applying and leave asap because fuck them.
Any smart boss would realize without a raise you’re just going to keep looking for something else.
This isn’t a long term play for you. I would demand written letters of recommendation/LinkedIn recommendations, I would forego salary negotiations. You are not going to be around long enough to worry about that.
Continue looking for a new job. Let them find your job search. You cannot trust these people and the relationship will not be normal.
Ask for 30, never take what they offer you. You could be fired in 1 week after accepting.
Not sure I’d even consider going back. They obviously don’t value you, they just need your experience right now because they lost another employee. You’re obviously going to be the first to go the next budget crunch. No thanks. If they wanted you they would never have laid you off. Now they need you because they’re in a crunch.
I would ask for 50% over what the other employee was making. They know they screwed up. If they come back with a counter offer, it would still be well over what you were making.
As far as signing any documents, I would read them thoroughly at least twice. If you have an attorney that could read them even better. They may have realized something you have in a contract, or information you have, is necessary or could come back to bite them in a big way.
Get rehired with better terms. Then, spend the entire time looking for a better job.