How to Engineer Your Layoff by Sam aka Financial Samurai

[Captain and Mrs Slow]

I'm a big fan of Sam aka Financial Samurai, like MMM he too retired very early and also is a well known blogger. He tends to focus more on the psychology/philosophy of money rather than just being frugal, so he compliments MMM very nicely.

Also unlike MMM he travels extensively and owns a TV. but I digress.

Anyways the cornerstone of his blog is his book "How to Engineer your layoff". Generally speaking it's at the top of the hit list for the IRP (internet retirement police) as it's an anathema to their philosophy

Anyways has anyone read it?


How to Engineer Your Layoff Financial Samurai

[dragoncar]

Always wondered about that one.  Perhaps the ebook has a lot of details, but it's a little pricey .... especially for those of us who it may not even apply to!

[Captain and Mrs Slow]

Yeah that's what I was thinking, was hoping someone had read and could review it

[sol]

Before it was a book, it was a blog post with a raging comments section.  The general consensus seemed to be that this was horribly unethical, a way to manipulate your employer and the government to wring maximum financial gain out of them, mostly by being a really crappy person that never accomplishes anything and can't get along with anybody.  There was a whole section on how to be a huge asshole at work so that everybody there would want to get rid of you, without actually generating any fireable offenses.

[dragoncar]

Before it was a book, it was a blog post with a raging comments section.  The general consensus seemed to be that this was horribly unethical, a way to manipulate your employer and the government to wring maximum financial gain out of them, mostly by being a really crappy person that never accomplishes anything and can't get along with anybody.  There was a whole section on how to be a huge asshole at work so that everybody there would want to get rid of you, without actually generating any fireable offenses.

LOL, I don't need a book to teach me that!

[Beric01]

Before it was a book, it was a blog post with a raging comments section.  The general consensus seemed to be that this was horribly unethical, a way to manipulate your employer and the government to wring maximum financial gain out of them, mostly by being a really crappy person that never accomplishes anything and can't get along with anybody.  There was a whole section on how to be a huge asshole at work so that everybody there would want to get rid of you, without actually generating any fireable offenses.

How does that work though? At least in the US, you can be fired at will, without a specific cause.

[dragoncar]

Before it was a book, it was a blog post with a raging comments section.  The general consensus seemed to be that this was horribly unethical, a way to manipulate your employer and the government to wring maximum financial gain out of them, mostly by being a really crappy person that never accomplishes anything and can't get along with anybody.  There was a whole section on how to be a huge asshole at work so that everybody there would want to get rid of you, without actually generating any fireable offenses.

How does that work though? At least in the US, you can be fired at will, without a specific cause.

Yes, but you collect unemployment if you are terminated for cause, which in layman's terms is what being "fired" means, vs. being "laid off" (which is being terminated not for cause).  Beyond unemployment, many organizations have internal and sometimes generous compensation guidelines for people "laid off".

[Captain and Mrs Slow]

My understanding of the book is that he says to use and understand what the law is to your benefit. For example he talks about someone who quit only to find out two weeks later that they were planning a layoff, could have gotten a buyout and important for Americans 6 months of healthcare. I do agree with his position that one should plan a layoff not just quit outright.

I didn't buy the book as I tend to avoid books that ebooks that promise hundreds of dollars in freebies, I mean honest to god would you really pay 49.95 for an ebook that is really only a blog post (I got the book for free by signing up) especially in this age of 99 cent kindle daily deals.

As an aside his blog is a nice compliment to MMM. I find MMM focuses too much on not spending and not enough on wealth building, something that is Sam's specialty.

[vern]

I mean honest to god would you really pay 49.95 for an ebook

Yeah, when I saw that price I thought he wanted it in Yen.

[planner10]

I read it.  I don't remember paying that much for it, but it was a number of years ago, so I suppose it is possible.

I found it useful with a couple of additional tips (about how you can set your employer up to see you are no longer necessary, train your replacement and amicably take a severance package), but ultimately although I've changed jobs 3 times since then I was never able to apply it.  While I am a huge Financial Samurai fan, there wasn't anything earth shattering.

If I was not just taking another job but actually retiring, then this book is worth the buy.  So for your FIRE folks - this is a great way to get a last little cushiony send-off!

[wire]

Please link to the current/est version of the blog post on the Internet! I mean, if someone talks about the same topic over and over, there are worse and better version of his presentation, right?