Part 4: My career at Unisys and the constant fear & threat of layoffs.

I wrote the following a month ago (but didn’t post it as a note).

[Published: April 22 at 4:21pm ] New “U” mid mgmt has changed “the plan” from laying me off (paying severance for 28 yrs of service) to outsourcing me to XYZ Solutions, letting “XYZ” do the layoff after I’ve finished sharing my institutional knowledge w/new offshore team, & “U” no longer needing my services. Playing the game for 2+ months now, tired of VB/JN/TM/MM/JT saying “good work!”, just want to move to the ‘next thing’ after “U”. 2 much 2 ask?

Today: Like I said, it’s now been a month since I wrote the above and still no official word on my layoff status. Had a conference call with TM/CW (2-3 weeks ago) to clarify a few things (but a lot was still not clear). This week, I was supposed to meet with TM twice to supposedly discuss the outsourcing agreement/contract, specifying the project deliveribles, etc., but that’s been postponed until next week. A couple of outstanding issues (for me) are: If I turn this outsourcing offer down, will they just then terminate me or will I be offered the RIF with my severance? And, the “contract length”, supposedly is for a minimum of a yr (hopefully 2), CW says this will be in writing.

My new offshore team is coming up to speed, the 2nd and 3rd members have been on board now for 2 to 2-1/2 months, and the fourth member has been with us for a month now. They are a great bunch of people, hard workers, wish I could work with them more than I do, rather than just thru overnight emails with only an hour in the mornings to IM each other before they leave at the end of their day.

Got a call from a recruiter earlier this past week, for a multi-year contracting position (with IBM??) for Xcel Energy in downtown MPLS. We’ll see if anything comes about with that. Also, slipped my resume in (again) at Express-Scripts, that would be a great financially successful company to work for.

Oh, in early-mid April, two long time friends and former co-workers were laid off. Sid K., in Detroit, I worked with him in 83-84 when the Yaphank (NY) plant closed down and he was forced to relocate to Detroit. He had his moments but he also taught me a few things during our short time together. Bob Billheimer, also in Plymouth/Detroit, was let go as well. He worked for me in 93-95 (here in Eagan), and was the hardest working person I have ever worked with. Bob, all of us know you are a good person and a hard worker. It was stupid of them to lay you off. You will be missed, buddy.

Oh, and TG is still trying to get me onto her team (probably to help with trying to fill that hole that Bob left behind). She’s working with my former manager (RV), who just may have the ear of the UGSI/C-RIM guy who was interested in me in March (Sundar). Crossing my fingers, but not holding my breath since it’s a long shot. Would mean working on ITSM7 and/or C-RIM. Getting ITSM experience would be great.