Engineering a Layoff

[foghorn]

I am curious off anyone who is FIRE'd (or soon to be) has engineered a layoff from their employer.

What I mean by this is - rather than just quitting your job, did you put yourself in a position of getting laid off so that you got a severance package and maybe even qualified for unemployment?

I suppose this could happen in a variety of ways. 

- See a large layoff coming and toss your name into the hat so that you were part of the downsizing.
- Start doing your job in a lackluster way so that eventually your company decides you are no longer up the task, but can't really fire you for cause, so a layoff becomes the outcome.
- Any others?

As I get closer to wanting to pull the trigger to FIRE, I am intrigued by this idea.  I few extra bucks on the way out the door. 

Any good stories?

[Padonak]

The consensus is that it's difficult unless your company is laying people off and you have a good relationship with your boss.

[PDXTabs]

The consensus is that it's difficult unless your company is laying people off and you have a good relationship with your boss.

Even then it is difficult bordering on impossible if you are a top performer. They don't want to lose their best people.

[Johnez]

I honestly don't think it's that hard if you go in with a plan.

-Find industry being "disrupted" by Amazon, Walmart, or tech, or social changes.
-Find field that is ripe for hacking off
-Find vulnerable company
-Annoy them. Continuously ask for more pay, days off, and push the envelope of your "rights."

Tobacco industry
Print advertisement sales person
RJ Reynolds
And try not to get transferred

Fun exercise.

[FIRE Artist]

I did something similar but different. I work in the public sector and left a permanent position for a temporary contract position. I won’t get severance at the end of the contract but I should be eligible for unemployment while I try out fire.

[Doubleh]

Sam who blogs at Financial Samurai claims to have done exactly this, and written an ebook about how to achieve it. I normally balk at suggesting someone buy an ebook as it sounds pretty spammy to me, but I’ve read lots of his blog and while he comes across as somewhat arrogant, he’s clearly switched on and has some thought provoking ideas.

If I was serious about doing this, I’d certainly get a copy of his book and read it - you could even come back and give us your review.