Surviving the Chopping Block?

2names asks: "Having been involved in cutbacks at several companies, I am finding it more difficult to remain focused on my job tasks even when I am not the subject of the cutback. For those of you who have survived the chopping block (sometimes repeatedly), how do you continue to produce quality work in the face of constant staff reductions?"

Comments

You don't

[Anonymous Coward]

You realize that you're doomed and start looking for another job.

Stay in the moment

[Grrr]

Fear is the mind-killer...

<grrr>

Re:Easy

[psyconaut]

Here in India, we are not having any layoffs! We are getting fat cat American job by dozen!

So move here. We give you free vindaloo on arrival.

-psy

For starters,

[Mordant]

I tend to concentrate on my work, rather than slacking around and posting inane questions to Slashdot.

Heavy drinking, incessant womanizing, and general debauchery also answer quite nicely, I've found. ;>

My answer:

[jrivar59]

Look, I already told you! I deal with the goddamn customers so the engineers don't have to! I have people skills! I am good at dealing with people! Can't you understand that? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!

I for one welcome our new unemployment office overloards......

I don't have constructive things to tell you...

[Clover_Kicker]

But I can give you some advice on poisoning the well for your successors, if you do get fired.

-=-=-=-

HOWTO: write bad documentation

In every tech's life, there comes a time when management starts to insist on better documentation.

Perhaps a round of layoffs or outsourcing is imminent. Perhaps the simmering disdain between techs and management has escalated into open hatred. Either way, you are clearly on the way out, and management wants to grease the wheels for your successor.

Objectives

You wish to produce documentation that:

• will impress your management, and facilitate your remaining time in that job.
• will not substantially help your replacement(s).
• does not betray obvious signs of sabotage.

Liquer is my anti-drug

[crapnutassneck]

I've worked in telecom for a while as well. Wireless for a stint, even more unstable. How did I make it through the countless "reductions in force?" simple:
0800: Bailys and a triple mocha
0900: Rum and Coke
1000: 2nd Bailys and quad mocha
1100: Light lunch
1200: Couple of rails of trailerpark snow as a pick me up
1300: 2 shots of Vodka to level out, couple of percoset as needed
1500: One more line of trucker speed or some Twinkies
1645: Sneek out and head home, I really need a drink after such a long day.

Re:Ignore the chopping block.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, get rid of the bitter ones first. They'll always be bitter anyway.