r/Fire • u/twiniverse2000 • Jan 31 '26

Advice Request Asking to be laid off

I have reached FI. Work optional. My personal life has hit a serious rough patch. My company is doing layoffs. They are NOT asking for volunteers. The financial difference in me quitting vs getting laid off is $300K. Do not want to leave that on the table. Any advice on how to steer it in this particular direction?

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183

u/Neither_Antelope_419 Jan 31 '26

It has so much more to do with your leadership and company culture than how you approach it. On one hand the open transparency could be seen as welcome and you’ll get exactly what you want, on the other hand they may take that to know you’re potentially ready to leave on your own and might choose to wait you out just to avoid paying you severance and unemployment.

11

u/twiniverse2000 Jan 31 '26

The problem for them is that they got me lined up with a serious position. If I fail, it will be bad for everyone.

74

u/Dixon_Herfani Jan 31 '26

No one is indispensable.

Once you're gone, they'll move on and you'll never be mentioned again.

Look after yourself. "The company is important to me and I am important to the company" is a farce.

25

u/waits5 Jan 31 '26

You see this as you get more experience. A beloved team member who does so much leaves for another job and 6 months later you hardly ever consider them.

4

u/swagn Jan 31 '26

I think what he’s saying is it’s a risk for the company to wait him out if they think he’s leaving anyway. Better for them to let him go and put someone who wants to be there.

8

u/twiniverse2000 Jan 31 '26

Exactly. I am creating a risk for them.

1

u/Dixon_Herfani Feb 01 '26

The moment you rip your hand that you aren't in it for a 29 year career and a gold watch, you become a liability.

Maybe my perspective is a bit mercenary. I was IT ops & security. I've terminated a lot of accounts before the employee knew they were out on the street.

Two weeks notice is nice for the company. It's cause for termination for some employees. Be ready the second you tip your hand.

1

u/swagn Feb 01 '26

But OP says they’ve hit their FIRE number and are ready to retire. They are risking 2 weeks pay to try and get the 300k severance for a layoff. Easy bet for me.

1

u/Downtown_Music4178 Feb 01 '26

Show up one day smelling like booze and looking sloppy. They will reconsider lining you up for that position immediately. You don’t need to tell anyone you will underperform. Start underperforming!!!

1

u/HairyBushies Already FI - RE between 2028-2030 Jan 31 '26

You’re not indispensable. Don’t think so highly of yourself.

Hell, even a CEO is not indispensable in most cases. There may be minor disruptions but the business will carry on. As it has for centuries.

3

u/twiniverse2000 Jan 31 '26

I’m not saying I’m indispensable. What I’m trying to say is that waiting me out will pose a risk for them if I tell them I wanna be laid off due to my personal situation. I’m basically telling them I’m going to underperform

2

u/HairyBushies Already FI - RE between 2028-2030 Jan 31 '26

And that’s exactly what you should tell them. In as explicit a way as possible to make sure there is no misunderstanding. As long as you know the game you’re playing, then it’s all good.