Take your network and shove it…or not

icon1 Posted by denised in Business, Office on 04 29th, 2009 | 6 responses

Apparently more and more companies are creating websites to allow laid off employees – alumni, as they like to call them – to maintain ties.  IBM, Lockheed Martin, and KPMG are just a few of the companies helping former employees stay in touch through alumni networks. The sites feature industry news, job leads and keep alumni updated on reunions and company events.  My knee jerk reaction to the idea of keeping in touch with the former bosses and companies who’d laid me off was “take your network and shove it.”  In the case of at least one of my former companies, layoffs were the collateral damage of incredibly bad management, stubborn arrogance and good old fashioned nepotism.  The idea of Facebooking or Tweeting with a group of people who couldn’t manage their way out of a paper bag felt to me, like taking a giant leap backwards.

The adult in me however, realizes that not everyone has worked for Kool-Aid pushing, Jim Jones wannabes and that while no one enjoys being laid off, some genuinely like and respect the companies they’ve worked for and actually want to keep in touch.  Some want to maintain ties to colleagues they’ve formed relationships with over the years. Others want to keep their names fresh on the minds of their former HR departments, hoping that in the event of an upturn, something new will open up and they’ll be in line for consideration.

Pride aside, keeping in touch with a former employer after a layoff can open new doors, provide fresh leads for your job search and keep you in the company’s good graces until the tide eventually turns.  That old adage about burning bridges still holds true.  It may be even truer still, when your employer is the one building the bridges.

To read more about alumni networks, click here.

translation
Be Sociable, Share!
  • http://reallybadboss.com denised2

    Hi Jayne,

    Thanks for your comments. Sounds like this place doesn't know how to hire good managers and keep good employees. It's amazing to me to hear these stories day after day, coming from people all over the world, that basically say the same thing – bad management holds its employees hostage, and no one with the power to do something about it, does anything.

    If you'd like me to feature Winestream as a featured post, I'll be glad to. Just reply to this comment with any additional information you want shared, or other people's similar stories, or you can email me at denised@reallybadboss.com.

  • http://reallybadboss.com denised2

    Hi Jayne,

    Thanks for your comments. Sounds like this place doesn't know how to hire good managers and keep good employees. It's amazing to me to hear these stories day after day, coming from people all over the world, that basically say the same thing – bad management holds its employees hostage, and no one with the power to do something about it, does anything.

    If you'd like me to feature Winestream as a featured post, I'll be glad to. Just reply to this comment with any additional information you want shared, or other people's similar stories, or you can email me at denised@reallybadboss.com.

  • http://reallybadboss.com denised2

    Hi Jayne,

    Thanks for your comments. Sounds like this place doesn't know how to hire good managers and keep good employees. It's amazing to me to hear these stories day after day, coming from people all over the world, that basically say the same thing – bad management holds its employees hostage, and no one with the power to do something about it, does anything.

    If you'd like me to feature Winestream as a featured post, I'll be glad to. Just reply to this comment with any additional information you want shared, or other people's similar stories, or you can email me at denised@reallybadboss.com.

  • http://reallybadboss.com denised2

    Hi Jayne,

    Thanks for your comments. Sounds like this place doesn't know how to hire good managers and keep good employees. It's amazing to me to hear these stories day after day, coming from people all over the world, that basically say the same thing – bad management holds its employees hostage, and no one with the power to do something about it, does anything.

    If you'd like me to feature Winestream as a featured post, I'll be glad to. Just reply to this comment with any additional information you want shared, or other people's similar stories, or you can email me at denised@reallybadboss.com.

  • Jayne

    The word is out on Winestream Communications, Crows Nest NSW 2065, this is just a warning to anyone who maybe considering working at Winestream, in Sydney Australia. It’s become very noticeable to the Australian Wine Industry – that Winestream has a high turn over in employees and clients. It is the opinion of many, that this work place bulling is because of a very unprofessional workplace environment, which thrives on workplace bulling; and because of the insecurities’ of unskilled mangers. According to those who have been in the industry for a many years, a certain UK ‘account Director’, still thinks she is in boarding school and takes great pleasure in bulling her female associates – to the point of tears. This may be to cover up for her own lack of knowledge of PR and Marketing. In the past Winestream also employed a wine master who also took great pleasure in using abusive and aggressive behavior towards employees, (some of which is consider improper in this country)and should perhaps be reported to Workplace Relations NSW. It is also assumed by many in the industry, that his unprofessional behavior also extended in the poor handling of clients marketing strategies. The sad fact is – smart recruits have all moved on, or avoid working with Winestream; and new and current clients are left with a very un-professional and backward thinking management. It’s believed and the opinion of industry insiders, that the lack of unprofessionalism at Winestream Communications has also held clients back from gaining valuable brand exposure. As a future employee or client of Winestream Communications, it is advised that one should think twice before getting involved with Winestream Communications, Crows Nest NSW.

  • Jayne

    The word is out on Winestream Communications, Crows Nest NSW 2065, this is just a warning to anyone who maybe considering working at Winestream, in Sydney Australia. It’s become very noticeable to the Australian Wine Industry – that Winestream has a high turn over in employees and clients. It is the opinion of many, that this work place bulling is because of a very unprofessional workplace environment, which thrives on workplace bulling; and because of the insecurities’ of unskilled mangers. According to those who have been in the industry for a many years, a certain UK ‘account Director’, still thinks she is in boarding school and takes great pleasure in bulling her female associates – to the point of tears. This may be to cover up for her own lack of knowledge of PR and Marketing. In the past Winestream also employed a wine master who also took great pleasure in using abusive and aggressive behavior towards employees, (some of which is consider improper in this country)and should perhaps be reported to Workplace Relations NSW. It is also assumed by many in the industry, that his unprofessional behavior also extended in the poor handling of clients marketing strategies. The sad fact is – smart recruits have all moved on, or avoid working with Winestream; and new and current clients are left with a very un-professional and backward thinking management. It’s believed and the opinion of industry insiders, that the lack of unprofessionalism at Winestream Communications has also held clients back from gaining valuable brand exposure. As a future employee or client of Winestream Communications, it is advised that one should think twice before getting involved with Winestream Communications, Crows Nest NSW.