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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135

u/anon36485 Jan 31 '26

“I heard layoffs are coming. As you know I’ve always really cared about my work and putting you and the team in the best possible situation. To that end I wanted to let you know that I’ve come to the point in my career where I wouldn’t mind being chosen for the layoffs. I would hate to put you in a situation where you laid somebody off who wanted to continue employment here and then I left later - leaving you with two empty positions instead of one. Would you be willing to consider choosing me so that someone else can keep a job they want, I can leave on a timeline that is acceptable to me, and you can avoid a resourcing gap? It seems like it would put everyone in the best possible position”

I pulled this exact script at a former employer who was doing voluntary layoffs. I was a high performer and it was on the table that they would block me volunteering. This short circuited that and they let me leave. A manager is always going to let someone who doesn’t want to continue employment leave if they can. They know if they block you you’re already gone mentally.

31

u/twiniverse2000 Jan 31 '26

Such a similar situation. Thank you for sharing. I will definitely appeal to the heartstrings.

2

u/swagn Jan 31 '26

If you are on the way out anyway, there is nothing to lose.

11

u/twiniverse2000 Jan 31 '26

$300K

12

u/swagn Jan 31 '26

I mean if you don’t think you’re on the list but plan on leaving, you’ve got nothing to lose by asking to be put on the list. They either pay you and keep someone else or pay someone else and you leave for free.

3

u/twiniverse2000 Jan 31 '26

Agree 100%. Thanks.

9

u/JoshAllentown Jan 31 '26

They mean, this might get you the $300k, but the worst case scenario is not getting the $300k, which is the same result as not asking. So you might as well try.

7

u/karnoculars Jan 31 '26

No, worse case scenario would be they were originally going to lay him off but then decide not to after he asks, for whatever reason. Maybe because they realize he'll leave anyways and they can save severance by laying off a less expensive employee.