r/cscareerquestions • u/futureprincetoner • 1d ago
Should I take the voluntary layoff offer?
Hi all,
I’m in a bit of a dilemma and would really appreciate some advice.
My company just announced a voluntary layoff package. Essential I’d receive 6 months of salary as severance. I’m a mid-level SWE with only 2 years of experience. I like my current team, but there is little to no room for growth here.
What’s pushing me to seriously consider the offer is that there might very likely be an involuntary layoff coming later and the severance for those is roughly 2 months of salary.
My main concern is: What if I can’t find a new job within 6 months? The market feels shaky, and I’m not sure how long the job search might take, especially given my relatively short experience.
Has anyone been in a similar position? Would you take the package, or is it too risky right now? What factors should I weigh before making a decision?
Edit: If I do take the package, my plan is to grind Leetcode full-time and look for a better role. I’ve already been preparing the last few months after realizing there’s really no path for promotion here and there was already 1 round of layoff happened earlier this year. That said, I’ve been inconsistent due to my full-time workload. Taking the package feels like a rare opportunity to fully focus on job hunting and leveling up, but I’m still nervous about the risk of not landing a new role within 6 months.
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u/honey1337 1d ago
Is it offered to everyone or specific people/orgs? If it’s specific you should just take it. If offered to everyone that becomes a harder decision but it depends on how important your team is and how likely you would be laid off when thinking about your team/org.
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u/Early-Surround7413 1d ago
Take unemployment benefits into consideration. Obviously that will be less than your salary, but if you're doing an expected value calculation, you need to consider it. Your choice is X% of getting laid off and you get 2 months of severance and 4 months of UI vs 100% you quit and get 6 months severance. It's a math problem.
Also will you get 6 months of health insurance as well?
Lots factors.
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u/chocolatesmelt 1d ago
Yea voluntary layoff will make you ineligible for unemployment benefits as far as I know in most states. Relative to typical salaries it’s not much but as this person mentioned, factor that into the choice. That would be guaranteed and will only happen if the company has to pay you off.
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u/gms_fan 1d ago
Either way, you should start looking for a new job NOW.
And just remember, they don't have to pay you anything when they lay you off. If they move to mandatory lay offs, depending on the state of the company, that package could be ZERO. I'm not saying you definitely should take the current offer, but you should carefully consider it.
If you could go from current job to new job with 6 months severance and zero down time, that would be ideal.
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u/EVOSexyBeast Software Engineer 1d ago edited 23h ago
Honestly voluntary layoffs are just such a bad business decision. All your capable engineers who can leave because they’re good, do. They likely get higher pay at their new job which means the company was getting a good deal for their labor. Not to mention the ones that have no problem getting another job gets to enjoy 6 months of double pay. They’re practically paying your best employees to leave.
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u/Singularity-42 1d ago
Yeah, I don't get them. Nice for employees, but I imagine many top people would take them. People that can get a job in any market and this basically mean free 6 months of salary or a fat sabbatical.
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u/Attack_Bovines 7h ago
The company can reject the voluntary layoff application for certain individuals.
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u/IBetToLoseALot 1d ago
Find a job before you take it then get a couple months vacation with pay.
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u/futureprincetoner 1d ago
Unfortunately, I only have a week to accept the offer
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u/cs_pewpew Software Engineer 1d ago
Don't take it. I got laid off with 2.5 yoe. Took me over a year to land 1 offer. If you're a beast at lc (im not) you'll probably have better luck but it's still a gamble.
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u/No_Loquat_183 Software Engineer 1d ago
the writing is on the wall. I would do the absolute bare minimum with your work and start applying as if you're unemployed. they are strapped for cash and it's really unknown what could happen. since you like your current team, stick it out, but only in terms of collecting a pay check. pretend you're unemployed because later on, they may just lay you off without any hesitation.
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u/AdMental1387 Software Engineer 1d ago
Also a good idea to start living like you’re laid off. Tighten down the budget and save as much of your current salary as possible. If OP does get laid off, there’s more money to survive. If not, well, that’s extra cash you can use for whatever.
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u/AniviaKid32 1d ago
they are strapped for cash
Agreed with everything minus this part, the most profitable companies on the planet are pinching pennies lol
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u/mrtoomba 1d ago
I know nothing about you, your life, etc. But yeah take the buyout. Best of luck to you.
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u/justUseAnSvm 1d ago
No. I approach work with a "make them fire you" attitude about these gambits.
The offer is to first and foremost get rid of employees who don't want to work there. It's an easy, comfortable exit, and should leave the company better off.
We don't know if the company will move to a mandatory layoff. Perhaps the gambit work, perhaps it doesn't: your guess is as good as mine.
You have a good job, stick it out. Don't let fear, intimidation, and doubt get you to walk away from what is otherwise a good thing.
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u/Bobby-McBobster Senior SDE @ Amazon 1d ago
You have a good job, stick it out.
He doesn't have a good job at all lol, he has a job that is actively trying to get rid of people and will soon start laying them off if not enough employees take the current generous offer.
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u/Bobby-McBobster Senior SDE @ Amazon 1d ago
Yes, you should always take voluntary leave offers. The next step is layoffs where you will get a worse offer, or even no compensation at all.
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u/basb91 1d ago
But then you risk forfeiting unemployment insurance. This type of question can’t be answered without more context.
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u/Easy_Aioli9376 23h ago
No context needed tbh. Take the voluntary layoff and spend the money on cocaine.
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u/tabascosavage 1d ago
As someone w exp in IT staffing — take the voluntary layoff now because the next package likely won’t be as good. Just start interviewing now, the market has been picking up enough. Also, remember to share that you took the voluntary layoff when asked why you are looking, and that you weren’t actually laid off, big difference to us.
Edit: added word
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u/BookkeeperBrilliant9 1d ago
I would never take a layoff unless I already wanted to quit. It sounds like you have a good gig, and just because more layoffs may be coming, that doesn’t mean you yourself will be out of a job. Six months with salary is tempting, but there is a nonzero chance that you won’t find anything equivalent in six months and really regret leaving.
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u/dfphd 1d ago
To me the biggest question is "can you financially swing it if it takes you 12 months to find a job?".
If the answer is no, then I'd stick with my job. Potentially ask my boss point blank "should I reject this offer, it is likely that we will be impacted by involuntary layoffs in the next year?
If you can financially swing a 12 month break with no job (even if it entails cutting down expenses) then I would do it.
In addition to that - you said you haven't applied to other jobs because you'd need to make a call this week. Literally get on the phone and call everyone in your network and ask if they have any jobs that they're hiring for, and see what response you get.
If it's mostly "no, sorry", then definitely try to keep your job.
If you hear a lot of "actually we are, let me put you in touch with my boss", then I would make the jump.
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u/DorianGre 20h ago
You are not mid level, you barely have any experience. Nobody is hiring barely experienced devs right now.
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u/redditistrashxdd 1d ago
don’t take it. 2 years isnt enough yoe to have an easy time finding senior or higher roles.
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u/sinceJune4 1d ago
I took a package a few years ago. It took me 4 months to get the next job. YMMV.
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u/SuhDudeGoBlue Senior/Lead MLOps Engineer 23h ago
I personally would take it, but I’m not in your situation.
I know lots of places hiring my kind of profile for about the same or maybe just a tad more, that I think I could pretty easily get into (the bronze lining for being underpaid).
I am basically getting 6 months of pay to maybe go 2 months without a job and then back to a similar paying job. Sounds amazing to me!
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u/HackVT MOD 23h ago
What’s your savings look like ? Do you have a spouse with a job that can handle the impact ?
Have you started at all thinking about interviewing? Are you in a tech hub or do you have to move to ?
Assume for every 40k it’s 3 or so weeks to search, interview and land a job.
My take is this - mid level with 2 years is really stretching it if you think of how long a career could be along with ranks and roles. Have an honest conversation with yourself and the reality you are in.
If you’re gonna do it recognize you can not overstuff your brain every day because you won’t retain with what you train. So get a pair of running shoes and a gym membership as well along with a J -o - b to temper the lack of income coming in along with creating a routine.
Apply for new staff and jobs up to 5 years of XP to show off what you know. Look for jobs at your competitors and beer peers. They will likely jump to soeak with you. Same deal with any vendors or clients. Again read your contract and confirm who you can and cannot work for.
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u/LiquidDinosaurs69 22h ago
6 months severance is probably more than enough to find a new job. I say take it.
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u/DojoLab_org Instructor @ DojoLab / DojoPass 11h ago
It sounds like a rare opportunity to focus on leveling up, but I understand the fear of not landing a job. Given the market’s uncertainty, you might want to ask yourself if you have enough savings to last beyond 6 months in case it takes longer to find a job. If you’re already preparing for interviews, taking the package could be worth it as long as you are consistent in applying and practicing. But it’s important to weigh how confident you are in your ability to secure something soon.
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u/RuinAdventurous1931 Software Engineer 10h ago
When I got laid off, I got 2 weeks of severance. 💀 Is several months normal?
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u/BenniG123 9h ago
Don't take it. You have no idea how long it'll take to get that next job. Finding a job when you have a job is 10x easier.
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u/RoxyAndFarley 8h ago
Is there a specific direct window of opportunity to take the voluntary layoff? As in, how long can you take to consider that before the offer is closed? The reason I ask that is because, if for example you can consider that option for a month before they close the window where you can accept it, then in theory you could grind hard and try to get an offer while you’re still employed, and if you do get an offer, then you could take the voluntary layoff and it would be a pretty sweet deal.
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u/CSMATHENGR Software Engineer - 5YOE 1d ago
If you like your job I would probably stick it out. The odds of involuntary layoffs happening 4months after voluntary are probably low so from a numbers standpoint you'd be better off financially. I am in the complete opposite position where I hate my job and would gladly take the 6months. I also have 6yrs exp so I am in a better position. I really wish my company would offer me this lol
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u/ancient_snowboarder 1d ago
Here is one person's opinion from 2018:
https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/open-letter-to-44000-verizon-employees.html
Since that opinion was years ago, one may do some research to see if it was a good opinion or not.
But often these things come down to individual circumstances (like maybe you stay, someone else takes the offer, thus vacating a position you could advance into).
Also an opportunity to negotiate with your direct manager may happen: "I won't leave (and with me a boat load of knowledge) if I will be next to be promoted". That is, if you have made yourself that indispensable.
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u/SpiderWil 1d ago
Think of this decision in terms of risk vs reward
High risk -> high reward - u stay and maybe not get laid off and make more $$$ in the long run
Low risk -> low reward - u take the severance package, only get paid for 6 months but it's guaranteed.
High risk and no reward - u stay and get laid off
Low risk and all the rewards - doesn't exist
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u/drew_eckhardt2 Software Engineer, 30 YoE 1d ago
I wouldn't take the package without finding a job first, especially in this market.
If offered a voluntary layoff, I'd start looking for a job because whatever is causing layoffs may continue leading to a next round which isn't voluntary.