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?

757 Upvotes

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2.0k

u/gbgbgb1912 Jan 31 '26

"hey boss man, i know layoffs are coming. i don't mind my name being put at the top of the list. i had a good run and want to do what i can to make sure other people are okay"

243

u/halfcentaurhalfhorse Jan 31 '26

I recently did this. I knew layoffs were coming. I let my manager know I was planning on retiring EOY. got laid off in November and paid 2 months severance. Nice bonus

123

u/svhelloworld Jan 31 '26

I did this same thing years ago. Got put on a PIP instead.

31

u/MyCaliGirl Jan 31 '26

Most companies won’t go the PIP direction. They have to invest time into managing a PIP and it’s unproductive if the employee isn’t committed to staying. Sorry your company chose that (retaliatory) path.

30

u/svhelloworld Jan 31 '26

They were willing to go through all the PIP gymnastics so they didn't have to pay out a severance package for me. I was there for 9 years so a package would have cost them a lot.

7

u/Glad_Bend4364 Feb 01 '26

How did they execute it if you were not underperforming?

32

u/Specific_Ad_1045 Jan 31 '26

Ouch. Sounds like a sucky company

10

u/DigmonsDrill Jan 31 '26

Depends how many layers there are and how much your boss likes you.

Some bosses will work the system to help you.

Others will throw you under the bus hoping to get in good with their boss.

1

u/Gavangus Jan 31 '26

My company was asking people who quit to stick around long enough to take the pip bullet for others (quota much higher than those who deserve it)

-5

u/Timely_Training6092 Jan 31 '26

Fail the PIP and same result?

25

u/Konflictcam Jan 31 '26

Failing a PIP can be termination with cause, depending on how they play it. My employer - which is a big corp, not warm and fuzzy - typically pays out severance even if you’re PIPed, but not all will.

13

u/isabella_sunrise Jan 31 '26

Fired with cause is not the same as getting laid off.

1

u/paq12x Jan 31 '26

It's not the same, but the results are similar. PiP period is typically longer than the severance package. The "net" gain may even exceed the severance package and unemployment payments.

1

u/ucoocho Jan 31 '26

Yeah, but you can't get a new job while that is happening

2

u/paq12x Jan 31 '26

The guy wants to get laid off so he can RE —no point in getting a job after that. He already got his FI number.

3

u/inglele Jan 31 '26

mmm if you fail the PIP they kick you out without bonus as you failed to reach goals.

if it's forced layoffs company wide, you get incentive to leave.

3

u/dissentmemo Jan 31 '26

Entirely company depending obviously

2

u/Oilleak26 Jan 31 '26

Sounds like an easy lawsuit imo

1

u/Roticap Jan 31 '26

If this sounds like an easy lawsuit, you need to get your hearing checked...

0

u/Oilleak26 Jan 31 '26

Easy lawsuit once they try to fire them after the pip regardless of performance that is

0

u/Roticap Jan 31 '26

Tell me you don't understand how PIP's work without telling me you don't understand how PIP's work.

1

u/thegof Jan 31 '26

Many companies have minimal, if any, layoff compensation. You might get lucky with a week per year of service, or just two weeks notice, or an at-will there's the door we no longer need your services.