> in tech we're exceptionally lucky - the packages are large, and it isn't traumatic

That totally depends on which countries you are in, and what kind of tech you are working with.

> that depends on severance package. Can't say for other industries, in tech we're exceptionally lucky - the packages are large,

If only. What is this "package" you speak of?! :-)

I've been laid off a number of times, or had contracts end, sometimes abruptly, sometimes with ample notice, over the years.

Every time, the severance was precisely 0. No exceptions, whether it was standard employment or a contract. Yes, I work in tech as a SWE. No, they were not ended for bad reasons. In every case the terms just evaluated to 0 or didn't have severance terms.

I'm hopefully about to start a new job, and the terms on offer do not include any severance package no matter how long the service, but they are good in other ways. My previous job was the same. To be honest, because I've never received a severance package, it didn't occur to me to ask about it either of these times!

It really depends where you work.

>It really depends where you work.

one guy back then at Sun got into 3 layoffs over several years, each time getting as the severance - being a longtimer - a year worth of a very good Senior Staff salary and each time coming back to Sun in a few months (the requirement to repay pro-rated severance in case of being hired back had been already dropped by then :)

> the packages are large, and it isn't traumatic

> And it is hardly ever unexpected. Usually everybody knows almost for sure.

I've never been laid off, but those sound like the exact opposite of everything I've seen from being around layoffs after 25 years in the industry.

Perhaps it's not all about the money?

yep, as i said a chance to find a better job. If company does layoffs, it is most probably because the things haven't been going great in a lot of senses, ie. the things have rotten to the point that amputation is needed. I saw a number of layoffs through different companies (i happen to work in enterprise software, a pretty rotten area), and i don't remember anybody feeling like they lost their dream job.

I understand that, but I think that the piece is more related to the emotional and feelings of the people that is left behind. I know many people that was layoff and for them, money wasn´t the issue, but they couldn´t deal with the fact of being layed off. I don't know, I have been layoff once and inmediately I went to a trip in Japan, couldn't care less but those guys, even one of my closest friends were very sad even months from the fact. :(

That’s your fault, as that is all it is to your employer and boss.

Silly human, having emotions and such frivolities. Just be a machine, it always works better.

While true for most companies, this is not the case for non-profit organizations (FSF, Mozilla, etc). And some for-profits are mission driven (Tesla).

Tesla’s mission of making as much money and being as powerful as possible? So like every company.

Mozilla and Tesla?

Sounds like you picked two _really_ bad examples.

You don't like what you do? I do. Not every day but I enjoy it.

I enjoy what I do. But I also make sure to remind myself that I will enjoy many things. Lots of companies have interesting tech puzzles. Losing a job should be like losing the daily crossword. Enjoyable, but hardly unique.

You can also enjoy many things outside of work.