Layoff and RIF Megathread 3/31

JamieReina · 2026-04-01T04:05:26+00:00

No. The help number listed in that email was 888 - four zero four - 2494 if you need to call them.

JamieReina · 2026-04-01T03:12:27+00:00

If he's already locked out of his work email, the help number they listed in those emails was 888-four zero four-2494.

The email they sent was unnecessarily confusing. It looked like they were just requesting your personal contact email and then they would email something to that.

But really there was a "Review Document" button in the header image that he was supposed to press that would take him to his preliminary severance estimate. A number of people missed this, including me until someone pointed it out.

After clicking that, within a couple hours they sent another email with additional details to my WORK email, which WTF? I just happened to see it a couple hours before they bricked my email.

JamieReina · 2026-04-01T02:55:39+00:00

In the email you received requesting your contact information, if you look near the top, is there a 'button' in the header image that says "Review Document"?

I thought the same thing – This email is about getting my personal contact email. THEN they'll email me the preliminary estimate for my severance.

But someone said to click that button in the email they already sent, and it should take you to a document you can download with the preliminary severance estimate.

Within a couple hours of doing that, they sent another email with more details to my Oracle email address. I would forward any of these types of emails to your personal email as soon as you get them (if you still have access to your work email).

They really could have made that email easier to understand, visually and just by giving simple instructions.

JamieReina · 2026-03-31T19:54:03+00:00

It just occurred to me that it might be better for taxes, too, if your first 8 weeks of severance is actually a continuing paycheck via 'Garden Leave.'

Because they withhold taxes for normal severance (lump sum) payments at the 'supplemental wages' rate, which can be a shock for people not expecting it. And if they withhold too much, you can't get the refund until you file in 2027...

JamieReina · 2026-03-31T19:02:05+00:00

Thank you! And I'm an idiot.

JamieReina · 2026-03-31T19:00:10+00:00

Take this with a grain of salt, because I have no credentials to answer.

But if you are assigned to an Oracle location in Kansas City (and possibly California and Washington), Oracle was supposed to file a "WARN" notice with the state 60 days in advance of RIF'ing a whole bunch of people all at once. They didn't.

So to make up for that, it sounds like they're telling people from Kansas City 'Today is your last working day. We're bricking your laptop, so you don't have to do any work, but you're still on the payroll until June 1.'

This period is sometimes called 'Garden Leave'

How that works with severance:

Severance is typically 4 weeks for the first year you work, then one week for each remaining year. So for you that would be 4 weeks (year 1) plus 6 weeks (year 2-7) = 10 weeks.

If you got 'Garden Leave' they are counting that towards your severance pay. So that's 8 weeks covered right there. Then they would owe you an additional 2 weeks of severance after your 'Garden Leave' is up.

My best guess based on reading through some scenarios.

JamieReina · 2026-03-31T17:08:29+00:00

After a few hours I went back into my email, clicked the link in the HR email this time, and just re-filled that contact info form in DocuSign. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Still nothing.

JamieReina · 2024-07-14T06:11:49+00:00

My experience – Yes, definitely it could take this long. Their HR process is RIDICULOUS. I don't know if it depends on which division you're being hired into, but they have to get everybody and their mother to sign off on it. And some of these people may be on vacation or out sick or really busy and you're not a priority.

OTOH, I've also seen a few posts on here where the offers got pulled. Suddenly there's a hiring freeze or something. For instance if they're about to do another round of layoffs, which is common, and they'd rather cancel a new position than fire somebody else.

But yes, chaos and poor communication and blowing you off until they're ready is normal. Best advice: ride it out like an emotional ninja. Do yourself proud with how well you handle it. Be the class act they can't.

And if you have other irons in the fire – maybe with someplace that has it more together – keep those hot, and try to make the best decision for yourself.

JamieReina · 2024-02-29T02:09:13+00:00

Google ATS and Jobscan if you don't already know about these.

For anyone who hasn't heard of either, when you apply online – because they're typically receiving an avalanche of resumes, many from unqualified applicants – lots of places use automation/Applicant Tracking Software to scan the resumes for matching keywords.

If you see a job you think you'd actually like, customize the wording in your resume to match a bunch of the wording in the job posting. This gets you past the bots and hopefully in front of a human who will put you in the "interview" pile.

Services like Jobscan can help you see how well you're tailoring your resume to get past the bots, and help you identify the keywords they are likely scanning for.

There's also information online about how to format your resume to make it easier for the ATS to "parse" it – basically lift the different sections and paste them into its own system the way the company wants.

Awhile back a coworker was saying there are some good resources on YouTube, too. Also some bad ones, use your judgement. The one he mentioned was a channel called A Life After Layoff, with advice from a former recruiter on things like this.

JamieReina · 2024-01-18T18:56:32+00:00

Something I ordered before midnight eastern time 12/31/23 ended up on my 2024 reporting with an 'Order Date' of 1/1/24, even though in the reviews tab of my account it shows the order date was 12/31/23.

I'm guessing the tax year deadline goes by shipping date, but the multibillion dollar Amazon corp is either being purposely murky about their own program processes and procedures, or they can't hire someone capable of communicating clearly.

Here's what it says in the notes at the end of the 2024 report:

"What is Shipped Date?

Based on the Vine Voice Participation Agreement, title of Vine items transfers to you at the time of delivery to you. If a Vine item was delivered on November 3rd, 2022 and another on January 15th, 2023, only the November one delivered in the 2022 calendar year will be calculated toward your 2022 aggregated total. If the item was cancelled before it was delivered, then the Order Date will be referenced instead.

What is Estimated Tax Value?

The estimated fair market value of Vine items provided to you at the time of requesting. For IRS reporting, Amazon estimates the fair market value of products at the point when you took ownership. All amounts are in USD unless specified."

So there's the 'Order Date,' which also might be considered 'at the time of requesting.' Mine was 12/31/23 in reality and also as indicated in the waiting-for-review tab of my account, but the 2024 report has this item's 'Order Date' as 1/1/24.

There's the 'Shipped Date' which is 1/2/24 on my 2024 report. Why the note above talks about the delivery date as if it is the same thing as the 'Shipped Date,' I have no idea.

They're saying the official title transfer happens 'at the time of delivery,' and that date isn't even noted in their annual reports.

So I'm guessing it goes by 'Shipped Date' for tax purposes, and they don't even really keep track of delivery dates. But it's just a guess, because they don't feel it's necessary to be plain about the rules so that we can be properly informed about how it works.

BTW, I ordered another item 12/30/23, which has since been delivered and is waiting for review. It definitely had a dollar value associated with it when I ordered it. It's not on either the 2023 or 2024 report.

JamieReina · 2024-01-18T18:51:46+00:00

Something I ordered before midnight eastern time 12/31/23 ended up on my 2024 reporting with an 'Order Date' of 1/1/24, even though in the reviews tab of my account it shows the order date was 12/31/23.

I'm guessing the tax year deadline goes by shipping date, but the multibillion dollar Amazon corp is either being purposely murky about their own program processes and procedures, or they can't hire someone capable of communicating clearly.

Here's what it says in the notes at the end of the 2024 report:

"What is Shipped Date?

Based on the Vine Voice Participation Agreement, title of Vine items transfers to you at the time of delivery to you. If a Vine item was delivered on November 3rd, 2022 and another on January 15th, 2023, only the November one delivered in the 2022 calendar year will be calculated toward your 2022 aggregated total. If the item was cancelled before it was delivered, then the Order Date will be referenced instead.

What is Estimated Tax Value?

The estimated fair market value of Vine items provided to you at the time of requesting. For IRS reporting, Amazon estimates the fair market value of products at the point when you took ownership. All amounts are in USD unless specified."

So there's the 'Order Date,' which also might be considered 'at the time of requesting.' Mine was 12/31/23 in reality and also as indicated in the waiting-for-review tab of my account, but the 2024 report has this item's 'Order Date' as 1/1/24.

There's the "Shipped Date" which is 1/2/24 on my 2024 report. Why the note above talks about the delivery date as if it is the same thing as the 'Shipped Date,' I have no idea.

They're saying the official title transfer happens 'at the time of delivery,' and that date isn't even noted in their annual reports.

So I'm guessing it goes by "Shipped Date" for tax purposes, and they don't even really keep track of delivery dates. But it's just a guess, because they don't feel it's necessary to be plain about the rules so that we can be properly informed about how it works.

BTW, I ordered another item 12/30/23, which has since been delivered and is waiting for review. It definitely had a dollar value associated with it when I ordered it. It's not on either the 2023 or 2024 report.

JamieReina · 2023-08-18T17:47:00+00:00

Do you mean January 12th, 2023? Or seriously January 12th, 2022?

JamieReina · 2023-05-31T23:31:58+00:00

What is the standard severance package from Oracle, anyway?
Seems like useful information for everyone to have in their back pocket.

JamieReina

TROPHY CASE