60 Day Warn

[anonymous]

Today is 60 days until the end of the first quarter. No warn yet. So are they really going to keep us on in to Q2?

Why won’t they communicate with us? They have had zero communication with us. We have to hear it from STAT, investor calls or LinkedIn.

Why won’t Biogen just tell us what’s going on and end this cruel waiting game?

 

[anonymous]

Today is 60 days until the end of the first quarter. No warn yet. So are they really going to keep us on in to Q2?

Why won’t they communicate with us? They have had zero communication with us. We have to hear it from STAT, investor calls or LinkedIn.

Why won’t Biogen just tell us what’s going on and end this cruel waiting game?

First, stop panicking and use common sense. The award ceremony is this week. Do you honestly think for one moment they will do anything the same week of awards? Hell no. Bonus is Feb 18. It will probably be announced the week after. They did say it would happen later in the quarter.

 

[anonymous]

Yep, they said end of quarter before we would know any details, so take a breath and start looking for a job if you haven’t already. Nothing wrong with having a back up even if you don’t want to leave.

 

[anonymous]

Lol that’s hysterical! Of course they would. They don’t give a damn about any of us.

 

[anonymous]

The WARN act can be met by providing severance that equals the 60-day period.

This is why most large companies file the WARNing the same day as a layoff.

 

[anonymous]

The WARN act can be met by providing severance that equals the 60-day period.

This is why most large companies file the WARNing the same day as a layoff.

This is fact. Remember the layoff we had in 2018? It wasn’t that big but it was announced the same day and by the way those displaced employees were officially gone with 2 weeks. So same scenario can occur in 2022.

 

[anonymous]

The WARN act can be met by providing severance that equals the 60-day period.

This is why most large companies file the WARNing the same day as a layoff.

I’ve been around for other layoffs - Biogen gives 2 weeks per year of service, so unless you have 4 or 5 years here, they won’t give 60 days.

 

[anonymous]

The WARN act goes into effect if more than 500 employees are laid off. So if the past layoff was small that explains only getting two weeks per year of service. Since this layoff will likely be more than 500 people then we will get 60 days paid plus 2 weeks per year of service.

 

[anonymous]

I don’t think they are required to do anything but give 60 days notice and then the 2 weeks severance. But who will work during that 60 days?

 

[anonymous]

Who’s working now?

 

[anonymous]

Who’s working now?

We are because they are monitoring everyone like hawks. Ready, willing, and able to fire anyone that isn't working.

 

[anonymous]

The WARN act can be met by providing severance that equals the 60-day period.

This is why most large companies file the WARNing the same day as a layoff.

Not a fact. People still have to be counted as officially employed for 69 days. They can have you not fo anything, but that’s not the same as a severance. Ad other poster stated, WARN act is only applied for a certain umber of people, but it’s also if it’s a certain percentage of people. Slim chance in hell that this layoff won’t qualify for WARN notice.

 

[anonymous]

Not a fact. People still have to be counted as officially employed for 69 days. They can have you not fo anything, but that’s not the same as a severance. Ad other poster stated, WARN act is only applied for a certain umber of people, but it’s also if it’s a certain percentage of people. Slim chance in hell that this layoff won’t qualify for WARN notice.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-639

 

[anonymous]

They avoid this by paying 60 days severance + 2 weeks/year and announce layoffs without prior WARN notice, my old company did this several times in multi-thousand layoffs.

Even if not the penalties for violating WARN are not particularly burdensome.

PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING WARN: An employer who violates WARN is liable to each affected employee for an amount equal to back pay and benefits for the period of violation, up to 60 days. This liability may be reduced by any wages the employer pays over the notice period. WARN liability may also be reduced by any voluntary and unconditional payment not required by a legal obligation. An employer who fails to provide notice as required to a unit of local government is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500 for each day of violation. The penalty may be avoided if the employer satisfies its liability to each affected employee within three weeks after the closing. In any suit, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the costs.

 

[anonymous]

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-639

And your point is?

 

[anonymous]

They avoid this by paying 60 days severance + 2 weeks/year and announce layoffs without prior WARN notice, my old company did this several times in multi-thousand layoffs.

Even if not the penalties for violating WARN are not particularly burdensome.

PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING WARN: An employer who violates WARN is liable to each affected employee for an amount equal to back pay and benefits for the period of violation, up to 60 days. This liability may be reduced by any wages the employer pays over the notice period. WARN liability may also be reduced by any voluntary and unconditional payment not required by a legal obligation. An employer who fails to provide notice as required to a unit of local government is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500 for each day of violation. The penalty may be avoided if the employer satisfies its liability to each affected employee within three weeks after the closing. In any suit, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the costs.

The layoffs have to be over a certain number/percentage.

I’m pretty confident that since Biogen already told us and the entire world that they were layoffs are imminent, they aren’t going to risk anymore bad press by violating the WARN. There’s zero reason to do so.

 

[anonymous]

They’re coming. Company just wanted to get past the call today, execute the farcical of an award ceremony they’ve put together and then next week, BAM, you’re gone.

 

[anonymous]

They are more likely to do it in small waves, each wave within weeks of another, mostly to avoid WARN and labor law regulations that come with a large cut. Also, they will try to hide the total # cut and only do a press release for the wave they see as less damaging.

Also, Massachusetts isn't going to do shit if they don't follow WARN to the letter of the law. Massachusetts worships pharma & biotech and avoids doing anything to upset these employment behemoths and cash cows. You have to remember, every former thriving industry in MA has shriveled up or moved out of state. All the State has left is Higher Education, hospitals and Pharma. Meds and Ed economy. Its like Michigan with the car companies decades ago. MA will not pursue anything if some labor law isn't followed, and the company knows this.

 

[anonymous]

First firing should be small

Michel
Alisha
Ginger
Maha
Minita
Rachid

Then just do a search for SVPs and VPs who came from Merck, Amgen, Novartis. Send them on their way. Then remove all remaining VP+ who don't actually have a function. (Minita, Rachid, most of HR VPs).

Not large but lots of return as costs are reduced and productivity will increase.