LIVE AOL (TWX) Layoff Coverage, AOLers Weigh In

Henry Blodget | December 12, 2007 1:58 PM

aol_logo.gif
No word yet on numbers, divisions, etc. Today (Wednesday) is supposed to be the biggest day, but so far the cuts seem limited. Notes from AOLers below. More as we get it:

Legal Getting Smashed? Nope.
There might be one or two odd one's here and there but I think Legal is done for this year as they got rid of all the "trouble makers" in October. From what i hear, yes they will try to move most of the attorney's to NY mid next year. The first to go in the Dulles staff will be one's who refuse to relocate and of course the AA's.

Couple of Bodies Here, There
So far I know of 3 people from SI MTC and 1 from SI DTC.

Reprise: AOL France Bids AOL 'Adieu'
Bummed about the state of AOL today? Want a quick mood boost? Have another view of this October farewell produced by the folks at AOL France.  Enter the password "aollover" (AOL lover) in the box below, and you'll be able to see it.  (Just do it--it's worth the effort).  (For an English translation of the lyrics, see the comments at the end of the original post).
 




I Survived. But I'm Still Pissed
[Today] we have a team meeting, no doubt to talk about the latest massacre. I can predict what's going to happen. Our leader will try to console us and tell us that everything will get better, the future is bright and we have nothing to worry about. They understand our concerns, have a solution for our problem, and know all the answers...Don't listen to any of it, they know jack. Some of us will complain, stir the pot but in the end management thinks they have all the answers and won't listen to anything. They have their own theories, gleaned from their illustrious corporate experience and in the halls of academia....

I've been at AOL for a long time and I've never felt the same way about the company as I do now. I don't have hope things will get better. Everyone is fighting, nothing is getting done, we're scrambling to cover for all the people laid off in the last round, and we're doing the same old crap...

Management has no answers; they just talk endlessly and try to sell their magic elixir to anyone and any team that listens who may be a potential sponsor. What management needs are bold inspired actions. Set a goal, make a plan, set priorities, execute, measure, and above all COMMUNICATE.

I'm still working here so I have to think positively and try my best to move the company along but I'm looking to get out. But sometime between now and before I get an offer from some company that deserves me I hope to god AOL gets it's acts together, my managers to create a plan and make some bold moves. Fortune favors the bold!

The Dreaded Emails Arrive
Got my official (final) meeting notice for [today] AM. See you all on the other side.

I also got my email at 10:30, I have to be in a conf room in CC5 in the morning. This really sucks. I know they're gonna tell everyone this is the last layoff and AOL be in a better position blah-blah-blah but with all the infighting, protectionism, leaders who don't care for our opinions, nothing is going to happen to this company. And the thing that pisses me off so much is the secrecy. Just tell us the truth, if you plan to let us go or there is a plan to further trim the troops then just us know. Don't hide things cause in the end you only look bad. Anyhow, I'm done with it all after tomorrow. I can finally breath and relax, I feel sorry for whoever is left over.

Sad. Whacked. Think You're Safe? Wait Til Next Year
Just been laid off. Its a bittersweet day! Have to leave my friends and the people I've known for 6 years but then I'm free of this black hole, tearing my soul apart. Don't worry my friends, I hear there's another chance for you to get the package end of Q1 2008.

Looking on the Bright Side
I bid adieu, AOL. It's been (bitter)sweet. Finally, I can go do some work for a company whose name I won't be ashamed to mention in casual conversation. A company whose products don't routinely get mocked in the popular vernacular. A company that doesn't lay off employees twice a year.

Halifax Nova Scotia Gets Hit
The AOL Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada) campus covering Voice Services (AOL Voicemail, AOL PhoneLine, the former Total Talk system etc) was reduced by over 50% [yesterday], including ALL of senior management and senior/lead developers. (60 days notice for those told). The remaining 38 staff are all janitorial in nature which doesn't bode well for the future of the office.

Related: AOLers Need Help! Who's Getting Axed?

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37 Comments

WhatAJoke said:
So, anyone have insight into when the next riffage will occur that the lying clowns running this company have planned? Will they wait until after the March bonus (haha) handouts to see who bails on their own? Or is something already waiting in the wings prior to that event?
I_Love_Dana said:
Dick van Dycke mentioned Dana "International" Dunne... Isn't that the guy who lost almost 50% of his direct reports in the last 12 months, because they just hate to be with him/his incompetent self?

And the ones who stay behind just wait for the "day after"? ;)
Dick van Dycke said:
WhatAjoke says: "Can't WAIT to see how much cash comes rolling in from all those portal sites being launched internationally.. HAHAHAHHAHAHA right..."

Well according to our illustrious European leader Dana "International" Dunne, in a recent email telling us that we'd launched in Switzerland, that AOL is now in 92% of the advertising market in Europe.

What he failed to tell anyone however is what % of the 92 we actually "own" in revenue terms. 'Cos, buddy, 92% of buggar all is...buggar all I think you'll find!

Also, just before Xmas, Burns came on a surprise visit, shaking people by the hand saying "how you doin?" in true Joey style.

Little did he realise the people he was saying that to, were the people he was making redundant. And the reason they were all saying "good" was because most had asked for voluntary redundancy and couldn't wait to leave the Titanic with a more than decent pay-off!

The words "They haven't a clue" come to mind!
HoubaHouba said:
Talented product managers? Try ejd(at)mac(dot)com . AOL's outplacement firm is Right Management, www.right.com - contact is Bob Stump, bob(dot)stump(at)right(dot)com . Houba!
Seeking Talent said:
Our startup is looking to hire talented product managers, marketers, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we could reach departing AOL employees as potential hires?
Not Exactly Bloody December said:
Talked to a former co-worker still at AOL. He indicates that AOL Halifax was just slashed to ribbons (he didn't know an exact number but said he thought it easily exceeded 50%). Apparently Dulles cuts were smaller than expected, but SysOps still lost a handful even though they had a near-40% cut last time around.
clueless said:
Since you seem to be in the know, why don't you shred some light on which BUs actually got the axe?
Packageless said:
No word on size yet? You got to be kidding me. One group is axing 10%, and I heard of another that's firing more than that. What's interesting is this: the people I've spoken with who are angry about this round of layoffs aren't the ones getting laid off -- they're the ones who are getting left behind. We have reached the point where it is more appealing to get a package than it is to work at AOL. How's that for a sign of good management?
Henry Blodget said:
I read the actual language in the Google 8K. Here are the details...

http://www.alleyinsider.com/2007/12/google-8k-dec-23-2005beginning.html

formerCC5er said:
killer had it 99.8% correct. not sure if GOOG is willing to pull the plug, but i think at some point 08 they have the right. i have read the contract.

don't worry though, rolla huff down at earthlink will buy the dial up assets (with other investors) and TWX will move the rest of AOLers to NYC to be a second rate Ad company.

count on it.
killer said:
Looks like I have it wrong. Google disclosed the terms in a SEC filing. They have the right to offer the shares back to TWX in July 2008 and if TWX refuses to buy the shares, Google can conduct and IPO with their 5%. Here is the link.
killer said:
I think Bob has the details a bit off. I believe the Google deal was for a 5% stake for $1B given the company a $20B valuation. My understanding is that Google has a right to "call" the $1B in 2008, so TWX would have to cough up the cash, if Google wants it. The Googs wanted to protect their investment and if they think AOL ain't worth 20 Super Large in 2008, you bet they are going to ask for the money back. One could only imagine the turmoil this would cause. Take this with a grain of salt. It is totally from the rumor mill (legal is a bit leaky, as is HR). I never saw the contract.
WhatAJoke said:
I made it thru my umpteenth layoff. Hopefully I'll get to cash in next time. Of course some good, free thinking, intelligent people let go while the "I know everything, arrogant, condescending" management and their lackeys are still here making their idiotic decisions. Its obvious that most mgmt at AOL just wants to suck up to their overlords as they wouldn't get anything comparable elsewhere if they got cut loose. Can't WAIT to see how much cash comes rolling in from all those portal sites being launched internationally.. HAHAHAHHAHAHA right...
Henry Blodget said:
I would think a term like that would have to be disclosed, as it's highly material. I'll look through some of the filings and report back.
BobZmudaGuy said:
imacman is talking about the terms of the Google investment in AOL. Legend on campus is that by 2008, Google has the right to force TWX to spin off AOL or be re-paid their $5 billion. Most recent speculation was that the 2 year period on that clause (if it exists) wouldn't hit until Octoberish '08.

I don't know what of those terms were made public, but speaking on behalf of the survivors, we'd like to know... there's a rainbow of foolish hope in there for us somewhere, or a quick death.
Henry Blodget said:
Sorry...what action? I can dig through filings to find details.
imacman said:
Henry -

Why is no one talking about the action Google has to contractually take in Jan? Thats when the brakes will be pulled out the dead hose will finally be put out of its misery.
Goose Cooked said:
I've heard a rumor that it was 100 to 150, but it came from an outside source. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I'm an outside source now too, btw.
whyaskwhy said:
yeah right, "my managers make some bold plan". that's so positive. oh by the way how is their big plan for today running thus far?

Congratulations to those who got out today with a package, you all get a head start against them 'survivors' for the next leg of your career.
anonyexaol said:
There might be one or two odd one's here and there but I think Legal is done for this year as they got rid of all the "trouble makers" in October.

From what i hear, yes they will try to move most of the attorney's to NY mid next year.

The first to go in the Dulles staff will be one's who refuse to relocate and of course the AA's.
nonameaol said:
Can anyone tell me if Legal will be affected again?

Are they eventually moving them to NY too?
AOL LAYOFF said:
So far I know of 3 people from SI MTC and 1 from SI DTC.
Harry said:
Hats off to the French - not happy at the lack of information supplied by Dana 'International', with regard to the EU layoffs, and the rational and business data surrounding it - they all walked out on strike yesterday.

Sad fact is that it wont Napoleon's mind, but it will definitely have made his blood boil, and give him a painful run up to Christmas like all of us getting the chop.
Bjorn Tipling said:
It is sad that employees always have to pay the price for executives' stupidity. I hope the best for all of you, and while I personally haven't liked AOL since the 90's, you guys have really made one hell of an effort to turn things around at the last minute.
FormerAOLVS said:
When AOL bought our company in 2001 they gave us all copies of Kara Swisher's book about AOL, "aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads, and Made Millions in the War for the Web".

Oddly enough they didn't give us a copy of her next one, "There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital Future". Go figure.

I can't wait to read the book she writes about AOL next. :)
bitter dregs said:
Since they promoted a bunch of bean counters into so-called managements roles there has been ZERO innovation, ZERO vision, ZERO motivation, and not surprisingly, ZERO management. Say, we'll get together every 3-6 months and see what your group has come up with. Just make sure you capitalize everything!

Yeah, well, 100% of nothing is still nothing.
Fortune favors the bold said:
Tomorrow we have a team meeting, no doubt to talk about the latest massacre. I can predict what's going to happen. Our leader will try to console us and tell us that everything will get better, the future is bright and we have nothing to worry about. They understand our concerns, have a solution for our problem, and know all the answers.

Don't listen to any of it, they know jack. Some of us will complain, stir the pot but in the end management thinks they have all the answers and won't listen to anything. They have their own theories, gleaned from their illustrious corporate experience and in the halls of academia.

I've been at AOL for a long time and I've never felt the same way about the company as I do now. I don't have hope things will get better. Everyone is fighting, nothing is getting done, we're scrambling to cover for all the people laid off in the last round, and we're doing the same old crap.

Management has no answers; they just talk endlessly and try to sell their magic elixir to anyone and any team that listens who may be a potential sponsor. What management needs are bold inspired actions. Set a goal, make a plan, set priorities, execute, measure, and above all COMMUNICATE.

I'm still working here so I have to think positively and try my best to move the company along but I'm looking to get out. But sometime between now and before I get an offer from some company that deserves me I hope to god AOL gets it's acts together, my managers to create a plan and make some bold moves. Fortune favors the bold!
Tired of it all said:
I also go my email at 10:30, I have to be in a conf room in CC5 in the morning, this really sucks. I know they're gonna tell everyone this is the last layoff and AOL be in a better position blah-blah-blah but with all the infighting, protectionism, leaders who don't care for our opinions, nothing is going to happen to this company. And the thing that pisses me off so much is the secrecy. Just tell us the truth, if you plan to let us go or there is a plan to further trim the troops then just us know. Don't hide things cause in the end you only look bad. Anyhow, I'm done with it all after tomorrow. I can finally breath and relax, I feel sorry for whoever is left over.
Audi 5000 said:
Got my official (final) meeting notice for tomorrow AM.

See you all on the other side.
lacouple said:
AOL has many new positions on the job boards. Clearly some jobs were not eliminated (as we were told). I'm pretty sure they are rehiring some positions at much lower salaries.
Relaxed said:
How is it that a company supposedly axing folks as a cost-cutting measure can start refilling those very positions before salaries have even been converted to severance? Check the job boards. It's not just one, it's many.
Henry Blodget said:
Maybe the cuts will be limited. That would be a pleasant surprise.
in-the-dark said:
I have yet to receive any goodbye e-mails from my friends and colleagues yet, so I guess the big show hasn't really started.
Marah Marie said:
Any word on how many overall? (oh, look, I promise not to bite you AOLers this time...I get it now: it's all "gallows humor" with you folks, et al, et al - it just shocked me the first time around).

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