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Bay Area Tech Firms Laying Off 1,200 Workers By Memorial Day (mercurynews.com)

Posted by msmash on from the up-next dept.

McGruber writes: SAP, Oracle America, PayPal, Instacart, Thin Film Electronics and other technology companies will cut about 1,200 jobs in the Bay Area between now and Memorial Day. According to WARN notices filed with California state labor officials, SAP will eliminate 446 jobs: 179 in Palo Alto, 173 in San Ramon and 94 in South San Francisco; while Oracle intends to cut 352 positions: 255 in Redwood City and 97 in Santa Clara. PayPal plans to reduce staffing levels by 183 jobs: 160 in San Jose and 23 in San Francisco. The South Bay job cuts are slated to occur at the e-commerce titan's offices on North First Street in San Jose. Thin Film Electronics has issued an alert of 54 upcoming job cuts in San Jose. Instacart, an e-commerce unicorn that offers a web-based same-day grocery delivery service, intends to eliminate 162 jobs: 86 positions in San Francisco, 41 in San Mateo, 15 in Oakland, 13 in Berkeley and seven in Campbell. For SAP, Oracle and PayPal, the majority of the employment reductions will be in software jobs.

54 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. Who cares? by GregMmm · · Score: 1

    This isn't any big layoffs or anything. Heck, they had to push multiple large companies together to get to 1200 jobs. This could be a simply be get rid of people they don't want and rehire in other more key groups. Who knows. Seem like a non event.

    1. Re:Who cares? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      This could be a simply be get rid of people they don't want and rehire in other more key groups.

      According to TFA, these are net reductions, at least in California.

      So it is either a real reduction, or they may be shifting jobs out of state or offshore.

  2. And... by Real+Data+Collection · · Score: 2

    Usually when we see layoff notices for San Francisco and Silicon Valley, it's followed by the cry: "The unicorns are dying! The unicorns are dying!"

    1. Re:And... by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      Slay the unicorns!

      https://youtu.be/A9KjjvZE0Lo

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    2. Re:And... by mvdwege · · Score: 1

      Kill the unicorn / just to have its horn. / Soon he's just a fantasy.

      --
      "I know I will be modded down for this": where's the option '-1, Asking for it'?
  3. Cut the fat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Hopefully they are getting rid of the dumbasses diversity and inclusion officers, and all those other non value add roles.

    1. Re: Cut the fat by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 1

      H1BÃ(TM)s,

      Hey Anonymous Coward - The "Preview" button is there for a reason. Use it.

    2. Re: Cut the fat by astrofurter · · Score: 1

      Slashdot mobile still does not have Preview functionality.

  4. Is that a lot? by timeOday · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There seems to be growing concern that a recession is coming. But what do we even do with this one little tidbit of information about layoffs without even knowing how it compares to average, represents firms in the area in general, and so on?

  5. I've read the individual stories by rsilvergun · · Score: 5, Interesting

    they've been posted to /. Also EA just fired a bunch. In all cases they're firing engineers. The sort of people you need to keep the company going.

    When you start doing that it's usually because you're prepping for a recession. That's why people care. The Fed is talking about interest rate cuts to slow things down, but that's still up in the air and it's a long way from what's needed (specifically, more banking regulation to put the kibash on the the sort of gambling that got us into the 2008 crash that's been given the go ahead again these last two years; plus some Keynesian subsidies ).

    It pisses me off. Since I've been born there's been a recession every 10 years like clockwork. Everytime it happens the middle class takes a permanent pay cut and a hit to their assets and the 1% scoops those pay, benefits and assets up at bargain prices. It's one of the reasons wages are shrinking or stagnant for everybody not at the top.

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    1. Re:I've read the individual stories by RickyShade · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Hey bud. Nuke your sig.

    2. Re:I've read the individual stories by lgw · · Score: 4, Interesting

      EA is dying. Oracle is dying. SAP is dying.

      This isn't some broader problem in this case, these are just companies struggling to stay relevant.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    3. Re:I've read the individual stories by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yep, the EA reputation for quality software is only going to get better.

    4. Re:I've read the individual stories by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 1

      Also EA just fired a bunch. In all cases they're firing engineers. The sort of people you need to keep the company going.

      No, the sort of people you can get in Vietnam or India for half the price.

    5. Re:I've read the individual stories by currently_awake · · Score: 2

      Firing engineers is also something they do when moving the business to China.

    6. Re:I've read the individual stories by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      SAP or Oracle run the accounting dept. for almost every large company. They're far from dying. There hasn't been a new company entering this domain in several decades. Accounting isn't going away.

    7. Re:I've read the individual stories by skam240 · · Score: 1

      I can't speak for the other companies but as long as Madden is the massively successful game franchise that it is, EA isn't going anywhere.

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    8. Re:I've read the individual stories by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      EA is dying. Oracle is dying. SAP is dying.

      But Netcraft is alive and kicking.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    9. Re:I've read the individual stories by lgw · · Score: 1

      I can't speak for the other companies but as long as Madden is the massively successful game franchise that it is, EA isn't going anywhere.

      You forget it's a publicly traded corporation Those die not when they go bankrupt, but when they stop growing. Madden/FIFA is a cash cow, to be sure, but EA is already milking that cash cow so hard it's getting legal pushback. There's no growth in revenue coming there.

      EA has closed most of the studios they've ever acquired, and tend to lose partners. New sequels to existing games generally produce a bit less revenue each year, relative to the size of the market. To gorw, EA needs new franchises, which means it needs studios capable of creating such.

      In 2019 they're down to just 2 with any hope of a breakout hit that spawns a new line of sequels (or a perpetual "live services" game): BioWare and Respawn. Anthem flopped, and I'll be surprised if BioWare survives given EA is EA. If it weren't for Apex Legends, EA would liekly be an acquisition target within a year or so.

      And what happens once the battle royale fad passes?

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    10. Re:I've read the individual stories by lgw · · Score: 1

      SAP or Oracle run the accounting dept. for almost every large company. They're far from dying. There hasn't been a new company entering this domain in several decades. Accounting isn't going away.

      Publicly traded corporations die (well, get acquired) when they stop growing. Oracle will actually be shrinking soon enough, as the Oracle DB isn't exactly loved.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    11. Re: I've read the individual stories by reanjr · · Score: 1

      Then why not invest in stocks and come out the winner every ten years instead of the loser? You maybe aren't the 1% (neither am I), but each ten year cycle should give you an opportunity to climb that rank significantly.

      The U.S. is a capitalist nation. When in Rome, do as the Romans. When in America, become a capitalist.

    12. Re:I've read the individual stories by slashdot_commentator · · Score: 1

      Everytime it happens the middle class takes a permanent pay cut and a hit to their assets and the 1% scoops those pay,

      Its only been that way in "our" lifetime, or the workplace post Ronald Reagan.

      What bothers me is the banking crash in 2007-2008. In previous eras, when banks screwed up (savings & loans crash in the 1980's), somebody went to prison. The 2007 crash was caused by the deregulation from the repeal of the Glass-Steagall act, and the Fed Reserve/Treasury/Congress permitting the use of derivatives to get around loan regulations. Leave it to the investment banks to bitch about reckless "subprime" loan lending. No one was "forcing" them to make the loans; they just thought they would be untouched by its consequences from their use of derivatives. In any case, all the top assholes got away.

      Instead, we had the Fed breaking unspoken rules with its 0% interest lending window, QE & QE2. These programs may have "saved" the banking industry, but it only benefited the investment class, which is why there is a magnitude more wealth disparity in the US today.

      And now this financial chicanery has leaked throughout the legal system. You have pharmaceutical companies pushing synthetic heroin with almost zero consequences. Jackholes like Shkreli who should never have been in their CEO positions as long as they have. Basically, if you have a degree from an Ivy School and rich, somehow you can't be a criminal and suffer legal consequences. (I'm really peeved that I can't remember at this moment more examples of this systemic criminality.) Finally, you have that legal/ethical joke that is Donald J. Trump. I can also point out where the courts have reenabled political corruption with the Citizens United ruling, and the Bob MacDonnell conviction reversal, which has allowed weasels like Menendez to keep his Senate seat.

      The economic tsunami which is Social Security in the 2030's is coming up, and the solution that Democrats propose is to expand medicaid coverage to cover everyone. The real solution is for the US to move to a health care funding system that works, (which is partly expanding medical coverage to everyone) but driving down health care cost inflation caused by our current system. This means there will be a lot of unhappy doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and insurers getting their revenues slashed to meet European standards. And a lot of unhappy voters that may not get their health care issue subsidized, because its either hellishly expensive, or everyone is better off if you croak. 85-90 year olds are not entitled to free hip replacement surgery if a case can be made that they're going to die or stay an invalid in 5 years anyway. Pregnant women are not entitled to free fetal surgery. Just because science can save or immeasurably benefit a life at extreme financial expense, doesn't mean society should be obliged to subsidize it. Long term, financial disaster is looming for the US, but the Republican solution is to increase the budget deficit by another 5.5 trillion in the next 10 years.

      --
      There is no America. There is no democracy. There is only IBM and AT&T and DuPont, Dow, General Electric, and Exxon
    13. Re:I've read the individual stories by skam240 · · Score: 1

      No, you don't understand what you're talking about.

      If a company has a steady revenue stream then it will not fail. In other words, as long as profits exceed expenses there is no failure happening.

      --
      I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
  6. Local news blog. by Fly+Swatter · · Score: 1

    Slow news day I guess.

    1. Re:Local news blog. by Krishnoid · · Score: 1

      Slow news? How about this -- it sucks to get laid off, but what's your opinion on the best month to be laid off in, in the US, from an office job?

    2. Re:Local news blog. by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      Slow news? How about this -- it sucks to get laid off, but what's your opinion on the best month to be laid off in, in the US, from an office job?

      September. The weather is still nice but not too hot, and you can enjoy it since you aren't working. Plus September is still baseball season and you have college football.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    3. Re:Local news blog. by WCMI92 · · Score: 1

      I got fired in March. And then hired in March.

      --
      Corporatism != Free Market
    4. Re:Local news blog. by nitehawk214 · · Score: 2

      Same year?

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  7. Recession coming... by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

    News at 11...

  8. Oh good, more homeless people in San Fran by nwaack · · Score: 3, Funny

    More poop in the streets. Yay!

  9. Also in Baltimore by mencik · · Score: 3, Informative

    PayPal announced they are closing their Hunt Valley, MD office as well, laying off about 300 people.

    1. Re: Also in Baltimore by astrofurter · · Score: 1

      Years ago I did some brief consulting work at PayPal headquarters in San Jose. So far as I could see, they employed zero engineers who were US citizens.

  10. I remember when I was laid off from Cisco by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    My coworkers and I all got 6 month severances, "help" in finding new positions, and use of the office while we transitioned. Nobody ever needed help because we all got jobs in less then 3 weeks. Most of us got raises for doing basically the same jobs elsewhere + 6 months salary + all vacations paid out.

    Whenever people complain about Silicon Valley life as an engineer I always point them toward this effect. Silicon Valley has a very unorthodox form of job security... but it's real never the less. What would happen if you got fired in Schaumburg, IL? My cousins at Motorola didn't get the same system. Even places like Redmond/Seattle... if you got fired from Microsoft.. you have what? Facebook, Amazon, then maybe a dozen startups that can't match the big boys?

    Getting laid off in Silicon Valley is like a raise/promotion. I remember head hunters calling/emailing us on the walk back from the early morning meeting announcing the decision. It hit the new wires and head hunters immediately lunged at us.... quite funny actually.

    1. Re:I remember when I was laid off from Cisco by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      My favorite thing about living in Silicon Valley is living in an RV. It's like a vacation very day.

    2. Re:I remember when I was laid off from Cisco by Octorian · · Score: 1

      This is why I was never interested in working for any of those big companies that setup shop out in the middle of nowhere. Makes it impossible to have a life that isn't entirely dependent on a single employer.

      Its also why it was a very easy sell for me to be convinced to leave a "normal" job several years ago and move across the country to work at a startup in Silicon Valley. Just having the opportunity to "insert" myself into the SV job market was worth it alone. (Before I moved, I was basically invisible to recruiters and had only a handful of potential employers. After moving, I suddenly showed up on their radar and was being contacted non-stop.)

  11. Just wait for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In a few months, they'll be lobbying for more H-1Bs claiming they are short on tech workers.

  12. How many are hiring? by tomhath · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Layoffs are only half of the equation. Looks like there are more people being hired than being laid off.

    1. Re:How many are hiring? by sconeu · · Score: 5, Funny

      In Oracle's case, those are probably all lawyers.

      --
      General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
  13. Or it could be those companies suck by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Interesting

    When you start doing that it's usually because you're prepping for a recession.

    No, that's when single companies are laying off 3000+ people at a time.

    When you are laying off a handful of engineers? That is when your company sucks and Bay Area salaries are so inflated, they only way you can live another month is to drop salary by shedding a few engineers.

    It sure seems like if it's really engineers being laid off they can easily find more work... it's Instacart that is having trouble, not the economy.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Or it could be those companies suck by Matheus · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yeah.. for Oracle and SAP and to a lesser degree PayPal these layoffs are rounding errors.. SAP has 97K employees Oracle has 137K.. 446/96498 = 0.46%; 352/137000 = 0.26%. Being laid off is definitely meaningful to the employEE but those are meaningless numbers for the employER in this case. PayPal gets up to a whopping 1% with 183/18700.

      The other companies those numbers are WAY more meaningful like.. are they going out of business? If the numbers I'm finding are accurate Instacart is dumping like half of their staff so.. writing's on the wall unless they pivot *hard.

      Our industry still has a shortage of engineers in most markets so, with the possible qualification that these people may need to leave the valley, they should have NO trouble finding work.

    2. Re:Or it could be those companies suck by AndrewFlagg · · Score: 1

      yes, the recession cycle every tens years is consistent with gold prices going from $150 to $1600 and back down to $162 and back up to $1200, so on and so forth, and whatever bubble is human generated.. Y2K, dot com, mortgage.. next.. derivative.. its self fulfilling prophecy...cuts like 1-3% is normal and cyclic, cuts and reorgs like 50% are dramatic industry shifts... an accordion effect of sorts both internal and external.. the investment strategy is always shed and push on.. shed... and push on... 1200 layoffs means 600 new startups where 5-6 will be unicorns, etc. nothing new. the new normal... food water shelter... education... work forever, no such thing as retirement in the last 20 years... only thing left of oneself is a headstone anyhow.. so why worry about it... procreation... if you like... TGIF.. oh wait, i work 24/7. dogma at its best.. rock on Garth... rock on Wayne..

    3. Re:Or it could be those companies suck by jeff4747 · · Score: 1

      No, that's when single companies are laying off 3000+ people at a time.

      No, they do that after the recession starts. It's one of the flags used to indicate "hey, there's a recession going on".

      Recession start dates are always set after-the-fact. We don't know we're actually in one until we look back on the data months later.

    4. Re:Or it could be those companies suck by NormalVisual · · Score: 1

      it's Instacart that is having trouble, not the economy.

      I also suspect that at least part of Instacart's problem is that Walmart is now offering the same service at their stores, but without the significant markup that Instacart imposes.

      --
      Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
    5. Re:Or it could be those companies suck by slashdot_commentator · · Score: 1

      That never stopped a CEO from anticipating a recessionary trend that directly affects his industry. Corporations stock up employees to anticipate industry growth. If you "know" that growth is unlikely, there's no reason to be "flush" with infrastructure employees.

      --
      There is no America. There is no democracy. There is only IBM and AT&T and DuPont, Dow, General Electric, and Exxon
  14. Translation: More jobs to India by WCMI92 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Because we know none of these "great" companies can bear paying market wages for services.

    --
    Corporatism != Free Market
  15. Any month in SF by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    it sucks to get laid off, but what's your opinion on the best month to be laid off in, in the US, from an office job?

    In SF any month is fine, since you can just go get a job the next day and the weather will pretty much be the same whenever.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  16. Routine Stack Ranking Cull by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This is normal. They've just completed their annual 9-Block and are culling the red boxes.

    Nothing to see here, move along.

  17. Re:Aren't you guys tired? by nwaack · · Score: 1, Insightful

    MORON!!! You must've been dropped on your head a lot as a child. The bay area is pretty much the exact opposite of everything Trump stands for.

  18. Learn to do Journalism? by sycodon · · Score: 1

    After all, the journalists are constantly encouraging others to invade the tech fields. Maybe it's time to encourage people to invade the journalism field.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  19. They're all hiring by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    hiring is meaningless these days. For the last 11 years or so companies have been "hiring" and not filling the positions. They're just gathering resumes to use in case they need to fill somebody in a hurry after they push them too far and they quit. Since the economy never really recovered after 2008 (at least not if you make
    As an added bonus it lets them go to Congress every year and claim there's X million positions open they'd just love to fill but there aren't enough Americans and pretty please can we increase that pesky H1-B cap?

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    1. Re:They're all hiring by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      And hopefully, Congress will remember what happened today and tell them to go fuck themselves. They shit in their salad; they can eat it.

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
    2. Re:They're all hiring by zkiwi34 · · Score: 1

      More likely Congress will react by coming up with legislation making it much easier to get cheap "talent" from overseas.

  20. Re:creimer starts clipping coupons by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    You suck at haikus
    More than a dyspeptic sloth
    On midwinter's day

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  21. Would you like a packet of crisps with... by zkiwi34 · · Score: 1

    Your half pint of bitter?