Miscellaneous

I work at a small startup and things have taken a turn for the worse. My salary is now a week overdue, and when I first brought it up to management, they promised an update that never came. After four days of waiting, I contacted the Department of Labor for advice, and they suggested I keep working while giving my employer a deadline to pay me. I've been doing my job as usual, but I haven't resigned or agreed to postpone my pay. Recently, we had a staff meeting where management informed us that the company might shut down due to a lack of funding. They mentioned that assets might need to be sold to cover employee salaries and other debts. However, when I spoke with my boss afterward, the message shifted. I was told to continue working normally because there might still be options available, and we would receive another update soon. Some of my coworkers have even offered to forgo their salaries temporarily to help the company survive, but I've chosen to stay out of that discussion. I'm still owed money for the work I've done, and the DOL has told me I can formally file a complaint about the situation. On top of all this, I feel terrible for my boss who recently lost his oldest daughter. It's a tough situation, and I feel completely in the dark about what will happen next. I’m considering my options and would appreciate any advice on how to protect myself during this uncertain time.

I recently applied for a University IT position based on a friend's recommendation. With a bachelor's degree, 25 years of business and retail experience, 15 years in leadership and management, and three years in corporate IT, I felt confident. I also hold multiple certifications in data management, project management, ERPS, and AI integration. The interview went well; it was a Teams meeting with five top managers from the IT team. The CIO mentioned flexible onboarding, benefits, and our shared interests in local culture and education. He said they would decide by the end of the week. However, I received an email from HR today stating they chose another candidate. I'm really crushed, especially since I'm an alumnus of that university. I believe I am highly qualified and genuinely care for my team, the community, and the future. After being laid off in April due to downsizing, this is the third rejection I've faced after feeling like I nailed the interview. Like many others, I've applied to hundreds of jobs with tailored resumes and attended numerous interviews. I'm honestly at a loss for what to do next in this job market.

I was recently let go from a small Managed Service Provider (MSP) after only about six weeks on the job. My background is primarily in internal IT and security, and I had no prior experience with the dental software or equipment that most of the company's clients used, which are mainly dental offices. From the start, the expectations felt unreasonable; I was expected to resolve or escalate tickets within about 30 minutes of receiving them. As a new technician, the first 10 to 15 minutes were often spent just understanding the software, the client's setup, and reviewing previous notes. It became frustrating because if I took too long troubleshooting without asking for help, I was criticized for not asking sooner. However, if I did ask for assistance, I sometimes wouldn't get a timely response, leading to further questioning about the ticket resolution time. The owner of the MSP, who had years of experience with these clients, could often solve issues in just minutes, while I was still learning the ropes. Documentation was another challenge. I kept records of my work, but it seemed my documentation style didn't align with what the owner expected. There was consistent feedback about communication and response times, but I was never placed on a Performance Improvement Plan or warned that my job was at risk. The workplace culture was also uncomfortable. During a Teams meeting, the owner insisted on everyone having their cameras on. I tried to turn mine on, but it malfunctioned. Later, I witnessed him rewarding a coworker with cash for having their camera on, which felt humiliating given my situation. The way I was terminated was unexpected and unprofessional. On my scheduled day off, I noticed my administrative permissions were being revoked, and soon after, all my work accounts were disabled without any prior communication. I had to reach out to HR myself to confirm my employment status, and it wasn't until I called the owner that I learned I was being let go. He mentioned issues with documentation and a client complaint as reasons for my termination, but it was strange that he had forgotten it was my day off and assumed I had quit because my personal belongings weren't at my desk. I acknowledge that I made mistakes and had a lot to learn, but I felt the expectations were set too high for someone who was still acclimating to a new environment. The technical work itself wasn’t the issue; it was the constant pressure and mixed signals that led to my burnout. I'm left wondering if this is typical for small MSPs or if it was just a poorly managed situation.

I recently experienced a layoff that hit me hard. It was a sudden decision from the company, and while I understand that it was a business move, it felt incredibly personal. I found myself grappling with the reality of not knowing how long I could keep my home or how to provide for my family. The calculations of my savings and the looming uncertainty about paying for essentials like food and health insurance became overwhelming. I had dedicated years to my role, contributing to the company's success, only to be told that my position was eliminated. It’s easy for the company to view this as just numbers on a spreadsheet, but there’s a human being behind each of those numbers. People often say, "It's not personal, it's business," but that dismisses the very real impact on our lives. For me, this layoff was not just a career setback; it was a life-altering event that has left me questioning everything. I wish more people understood that while companies make these decisions for financial reasons, the consequences are deeply personal for those affected.

I've been noticing some changes at my company regarding remote job postings. I work in California and recently checked our job listings, only to find that all remote positions now have a "no CA" restriction. This has got me wondering why the company is no longer authorized to hire in my state. I know there are still many employees based in California, so I'm curious if this change could impact us in any way. It seems like it might be related to state registration or compliance issues, which could explain the shift. I've heard that companies often face challenges in California due to its strict employment laws, and it’s possible that this is affecting our hiring practices. I'm just trying to understand the implications for current employees like myself.

I started my first job at a fast food restaurant about a month ago, expecting to work a standard 40-hour week. However, after my first day, I was left in the dark about my schedule. The owner initially told me I would work Wednesdays and Fridays, but when I showed up, I learned I had missed a day because my name wasn't entered into the system. I tried reaching out to the owner multiple times, but I received no response. The managers directed me back to the owner, and despite my efforts—calling, texting, and even visiting the store—I was met with silence. After two weeks of uncertainty, I inquired about my paycheck, only to find out that I would have to wait due to a franchise issue. When checks were finally issued, I was not informed to pick mine up, and when I went to the store, they didn’t have a check for me. Now, I'm left waiting for updates on my pay while already searching for a new job. I'm starting to wonder if I did something wrong or if this situation is typical in the fast food industry. It seems like the owner may have over-hired, as there were often 6-7 people in the kitchen when only a few were needed.

I recently came across news that Amazon is attempting to rehire employees it previously let go, particularly in AI and cloud computing roles. It seems like the company is realizing the importance of these positions as they continue to evolve in the tech landscape. I can't help but find it ironic that they are now trying to lure back individuals they deemed expendable not too long ago. It's a reminder of how quickly things can change in the tech industry.

I work as an account merchandiser for a soda company, where my job involves physically demanding tasks like stocking shelves across various stores. Recently, I've faced harassment from some store managers, which has made my work environment unbearable. After discussing these issues with my boss, I decided to take a leave of absence to manage my situation better. However, due to a mix-up with our external third party, I never officially went on leave in mid-August. I had also applied for a sales position that would transition me away from large format merchandising, but I was informed that I didn't get the job. My boss's boss implied that my potential attendance issues, stemming from my need for a leave, were a concern for them. Despite an email stating that my leave wouldn't disqualify me from the position, I felt discouraged. Shortly after, I did take my leave, but then I received an email about an HR investigation regarding false allegations made against me by a coworker. I initially ignored the email since I was on leave, but my boss later called me for a meeting with HR, where the atmosphere felt hostile. It's been nine days since that meeting, and I haven't heard back from either my boss or HR, although I'm still on the schedule marked as on leave. I've reached out to a few employment attorneys for advice, but none seem interested in taking my case. I'm feeling quite lost and would appreciate any guidance.

I’ve been struggling with severe corporate burnout for a while now. I quit my job in April after feeling overwhelmed by an increasing workload and my requests for a raise being ignored. They convinced me to stay with a promotion, but the reality has been far from what I was promised. My responsibilities are set to triple, and the changes are expected to take effect in November, but I’m already feeling the strain. The pressure to generate revenue has been frustrating, especially since some of our work is being handed off to other business units without any replacement coming in from sales. My boss has been unsupportive, which adds to my stress, and I find myself constantly taking on more tasks. I feel like I’m at my breaking point and often contemplate quitting again. I’m also a mom of four, so my responsibilities don’t end when I leave work. My husband has been helping out more, but I still feel completely burnt out. I’m not sure how to recover from this exhaustion, especially since I don’t see my company making any improvements. I know I’m a valuable employee, but I can’t continue feeling this way. I’ve thought about taking a week off to destress, but I worry about the mess I’ll come back to since my coworker who covers for me isn’t reliable. I’m at a loss for what to do next. Quitting wouldn’t hurt us financially, but it would impact my self-worth significantly.

I work at a global company in a role where I heavily rely on HR support for my team and personal circumstances. About a year and a half ago, I had to take a week off due to my son contracting Hand Foot Mouth disease, which led to me depleting my PTO by 40 hours. When I returned, I sought a conversation with our HR representative to discuss options like FMLA or leave of absence in case of future incidents. During our Zoom meeting, which included my manager, the HR lady immediately criticized my attendance record due to my child's illness, threatening my job if I missed more work. She dismissed my concerns about needing support for FMLA and told my manager to 'look it up yourself' when he asked for guidance. Since then, I've been managing my department alone after two coworkers quit. Given the increased workload, I requested a raise, which my GM and manager approved months ago, but HR has yet to process it despite my repeated follow-ups. I've noticed that this same HR representative has approved raises for others while ignoring my request. Additionally, I had an injury at work last year, and after sending her the hospital bill for processing, she failed to handle it, leading to continued billing issues for me. This has made me feel like there’s a personal bias against me. Now, I'm considering escalating my concerns to her manager or even higher. My manager has offered his support if I decide to file a complaint. I’m just unsure of the best course of action to take next.

I was laid off after 2.5 years as a Cloud Engineer in Canada, specifically in Mississauga, where I started my role in August 2023 after graduating with a Bachelor's in Computer Science. This was my first job post-university, and I was let go in December 2025. My experience includes working with AWS and Azure, utilizing tools like AWS CDK (Python), CloudFormation, and CI/CD practices, as well as skills in IAM, infrastructure automation, cost optimization, monitoring, and troubleshooting. Now, I'm contemplating my next steps. I'm targeting roles in Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Operations, cloud/platform engineering, DevOps, SRE, and even Linux/sysadmin/help desk positions if they are feasible. I also speak French and am open to bilingual roles or relocation opportunities. I've been actively networking, seeking referrals, and enhancing my resume, but unfortunately, referrals haven't led to any technical interviews yet. I've faced rejections even when my resume closely matched job requirements, and I've noticed many job postings are being reposted for months, which feels discouraging. I'm receiving mixed advice on how to proceed: some suggest I learn Java or full-stack development, dive into AI, get familiar with Kubernetes, pursue AWS certifications, or even consider starting over in help desk/sysadmin roles. I'm hesitant to spend time on unrelated skills without knowing if they'll actually boost my job prospects. I'm seeking guidance on a few key questions: Is pursuing a career in Cloud still viable in Canada with my experience? What adjacent roles could I consider? And would obtaining AWS certifications significantly help given my 2.5 years of experience, or should I focus on projects related to AWS, Terraform, Linux, or DevOps instead? I'm committed to putting in the effort; I just need realistic direction based on my current background.

I got laid off from Extreme Networks in July 2026, where I worked as a Staff Software Engineer. Since then, I've been following how other companies are adapting to AI technology, particularly in customer service roles. I recently learned about Ingka Group, which operates most IKEA stores, and their implementation of an AI customer service bot named Billie, after the iconic Billy bookcase. Billie has taken over a significant portion of simple customer inquiries, which could have led to layoffs. However, instead of cutting jobs, Ingka reskilled around 8,500 call center employees to take on more complex support cases, as well as roles in remote interior design and sales. This reskilling process took about two years to fully integrate, while new hires in this area now receive around five to six weeks of training. It's impressive to see such a large-scale effort to adapt and retain employees rather than resorting to layoffs, although I understand that layoffs have occurred elsewhere in the company unrelated to the bot's impact.

I recently found myself reflecting on the severance package offered by my company after a round of layoffs. I received one month of salary and health insurance for every year I worked there, with a minimum of one month, and they round down the years of service. It feels like a decent package, but I can't help but wonder how it compares to others in the tech industry. I came across a post where someone mentioned their company offering four months of salary, six months of health insurance, and three months of coaching or headhunter support, which seems incredibly generous. They also received $1,500 for professional training or certification, which they fully utilized. I'm curious if there are caps on these packages, as it sounds like a great safety net during such a challenging time.

I’ve been thinking about my job search lately and how overwhelming it can be. I currently work a busy job, but I’m trying to explore other opportunities and see what compensation offers are out there. The problem is, applying for jobs feels like a full-time job in itself. I have to create accounts on various job sites, fill out endless forms, tweak my resume for each position, and then keep track of all my applications. It’s exhausting, especially since I have to do this on my own time, which is often limited. I was wondering if there’s a service that could help streamline this process. Something where I could provide my resume and relevant information, and they would apply for jobs on my behalf, maybe even using my LinkedIn or Indeed accounts. It would be great to have someone handle the back-and-forth communication with employers and schedule interviews, especially since many of them want to talk during my work hours. I know there are concerns about personal data security with such services, but I’m curious if anything like this exists or if there are alternatives that could make my job search more manageable.

I recently started as an IT specialist at a large corporation and I'm currently in my probation period. I'm feeling quite frustrated with the onboarding process, which has been anything but smooth. From day one, my assigned trainer has been negative about the company and expressed doubts about my commitment, saying he wouldn't teach me everything like he did with the previous hire who left after two months. The training has been disorganized; I've mostly been sitting next to different team members or joining Teams meetings where I get bits of information about internal systems. There’s no structured training plan, and when I asked a lot of questions initially, I was told I was asking too many and needed to figure things out myself. I tried to adapt by researching on my own and asking fewer questions. However, during a meeting with my actual manager, I was told to ask for help whenever I needed it, which contradicted what my colleague had said. I’ve faced criticism for not knowing processes that I wasn’t taught, and sometimes asking a simple question turns into a quiz on terminology instead of a straightforward answer. To cope, I started creating my own manual to organize the fragmented information I was receiving. I shared it with my colleague, who promised to review it, but after a week of silence, I received an email with a new assignment to expand my notes into a comprehensive document that should be usable by someone outside my position. The catch? I have only five days to complete it, including a public holiday, while managing my regular support responsibilities. This situation feels like I joined a company without a proper onboarding process, and now my notes have turned into an assignment to create the knowledge base that the company lacks. I’m seriously considering using my probation period to leave, as I’m struggling with the expectation to independently reconstruct years of company knowledge while being judged on things I wasn’t properly taught. I’m curious if others in corporate IT have experienced similar onboarding issues and if this seems like a major red flag.

I recently faced a challenging situation at Amcor, where I work as a factory employee. On August 30, a mold technician approached me and used a derogatory term after I turned my light on for him to fix a machine. He mistakenly believed the machine was backed up, which it wasn't, and he began to mock me. In a moment of anger, I responded with a harsh comment. This led to me being sent home on administrative leave. Three weeks later, I went to HR for an update, only to find out that the investigation had just been submitted that morning. I’ve been a good employee with perfect attendance, and witnesses can confirm my side of the story, including the inappropriate comment made by the technician. There’s also camera footage showing that the machine malfunctioned on its own, which supports my case. I’m now wondering what my chances are of being offered a last chance agreement instead of termination, especially since I still have building access and haven’t been fired yet. HR mentioned that if I’m allowed back, I would receive full backpay.

I recently received a job offer for an IT Help Desk position at Holiday Inn Vacation Club, thanks to an internal referral from my dad, who works at the same company but on a different team. However, I have some concerns regarding my background check. Last year, I was arrested for petty theft in Florida, but the charges were dismissed due to a pre-trial diversion program. Although I'm in the process of getting that expunged, it hasn't been finalized yet. I completed the background check through HireRight and received the orientation and onboarding paperwork, but I'm worried that HR might flag my past arrest during their review. The email I received stated that onboarding would only be sent after successfully clearing the background check, which adds to my anxiety. I haven't received a clear confirmation that I've cleared the background check, so I'm left wondering if my job offer could be rescinded. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has had similar experiences or can offer advice on how to handle this situation. I'm really hopeful about this opportunity and just want to ensure everything goes smoothly.

I experienced a layoff today that feels incredibly unfair. I had only recently joined the company after a long 14-month process to secure my position. I put in a lot of effort over the past three months, but it all came crashing down when HR unexpectedly came in and informed me that my role was eliminated. They didn't hold any meetings or one-on-ones to discuss this; it was just a sudden decision from management. It seems like a new guy came in and decided to clean house, bringing in his own team and letting go of several of us. In the last two weeks alone, around eight people have been affected, and I fear more layoffs are on the way. I’m struggling to find the right words to tell my family about this situation, as I know it will lead to a lot of stress and concern for them. Sleep has been elusive, and my mind is racing with thoughts about what to do next. I feel a deep frustration towards the new hires and the way management has handled this entire situation. I even spent nearly two months' salary to relocate for this job, and it feels like they don't care at all about the impact on our lives. I just wish I had some support or clarity from HR, but they seem completely detached, simply stating that it was a management decision with no room for discussion. It’s a tough pill to swallow.

Since January 1 of this year, I've been actively job hunting and have gone through a series of interviews and work tests, but the results have been disheartening. With just one year of full-time work experience, I've managed to get past the application stage with 16 organizations and am currently in progress with one more. Here's a breakdown of my journey so far: - I completed a work test but was rejected afterward. - I also went through a paid work test, which ended in rejection. - I faced a short screener with a founder and was rejected. - After passing three rounds of online tests, I was rejected after the first interview. The feedback was that my alignment with the role was good, but other candidates were deemed more correct and insightful during the problem-solving portion. - I had to decline an interview for a traineeship due to start date conflicts. - I was rejected after a first interview for a part-time job. - I passed a work test but was rejected after a one-way asynchronous interview. After these experiences, I decided to invest in interview coaching to improve my chances: - I received an internship offer after three interviews but declined it due to the interviewers badmouthing the company, an insultingly low hourly rate, and the fact that it wasn't a permanent position. - I was rejected after a first interview with a hiring manager who hadn't even read my resume. - I was told they would circle back for an autumn hiring cohort, but ultimately, that didn't lead anywhere. - One interview ended early due to start date and location requirements. - I faced another rejection after an HR screener. - I was praised for my interview and work test performance, but ultimately rejected because they thought I’d be a better fit elsewhere, citing my lack of direct experience in their specific work environment. - I faced multiple rejections after HR screeners and first interviews. - The organization that said they would circle back eventually rejected me after a second interview, stating they couldn't see the underlying analysis behind my recommendations in a case-style interview. - I passed a work test but was rejected after an HR screener. - Finally, I passed an HR screener and took a work test, only to be rejected because they opted for candidates with more experience. All these roles were generalist and non-technical, and honestly, this bottlenecking makes me feel like I may never get my life off the ground.

I recently got laid off and found a great opportunity to connect with others in similar situations. I joined a weekday hiking group in the Bay Area, California, specifically for those navigating layoffs or job transitions. This Monday, September 28, at 11 am, we're hiking at the Audubon Williams Sisters Ranch in Portola Valley. It's a 3.6-mile loop with a 400 ft elevation gain, and we're getting special access to this beautiful ranch. The group usually splits into smaller ones based on pace, which helps everyone enjoy the hike without feeling crowded. Mondays are chosen for hikes because the trail traffic is low, making it a perfect day for a group like ours. While hiking is our main activity, the community also engages in co-working sessions, job search assistance, and social events like coffee meet-ups and biking. It's open to everyone, even those who are currently employed, as long as they understand the focus on supporting those in transition. I'm looking forward to clearing my head and making some new connections!