Comments on: No Severance for You! http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/ All the News about Nortel Networks Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: NortelEx_No1492 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-31002 NortelEx_No1492 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:06:58 +0000 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/?p=1893#comment-31002 Hey NortelExs,<br><br>I was laid off recently so no WARN act/60 days payment for me either. Do you happen to know if we can claim this money when we file with EPIQ? No one was able to answer this question from Nortel HR. <br><br>If anyone knows please let me know!<br>Thanks a lot! Hey NortelExs,

I was laid off recently so no WARN act/60 days payment for me either. Do you happen to know if we can claim this money when we file with EPIQ? No one was able to answer this question from Nortel HR.

If anyone knows please let me know!
Thanks a lot!

]]> By: NortelEx_No1492 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12144 NortelEx_No1492 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:06:58 +0000 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/?p=1893#comment-12144 Hey NortelExs,<br><br>I was laid off recently so no WARN act/60 days payment for me either. Do you happen to know if we can claim this money when we file with EPIQ? No one was able to answer this question from Nortel HR. <br><br>If anyone knows please let me know!<br>Thanks a lot! Hey NortelExs,

I was laid off recently so no WARN act/60 days payment for me either. Do you happen to know if we can claim this money when we file with EPIQ? No one was able to answer this question from Nortel HR.

If anyone knows please let me know!
Thanks a lot!

]]> By: Just_Thinking http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-8068 Just_Thinking Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:56:57 +0000 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/?p=1893#comment-8068 This comment is intended for those employees that were laid off after press reports indicated that Nortel was pursuing bankruptcy.<br><br>The act of filing bankruptcy trumps nearly all laws that protect employees rights for pay, severance and a notification period. Bankruptcy laws are intended to give relief from debt that was acquired in good faith that the company is no longer capable of paying.<br><br>People laid off and promised severance while Nortel actively pursued filing bankruptcy were hardly dealt with in good faith. At best, they were misled. At worst, it was outright fraud. Bankruptcy protection is not intended to shelter the company or it's execs from willful wrongdoing.<br><br>This may open the door to the possibility of gaining better status with the bankruptcy court. Employees filing claims may best be served to consult an attorney beforehand. If documents supporting the assertion that you were intentionally misled can be submitted with your claim, it might give you a better shot at getting some/all of what was promised to you.<br><br>It would be very helpful if anyone can find out whether the restructuring bucket was ever funded. If it was not, then there was never intent to pay what was promised. Also helpful would be producing a dated internal email showing that bankruptcy was planned before your severance date. That kind of stuff will probably get the judge's attention. This comment is intended for those employees that were laid off after press reports indicated that Nortel was pursuing bankruptcy.

The act of filing bankruptcy trumps nearly all laws that protect employees rights for pay, severance and a notification period. Bankruptcy laws are intended to give relief from debt that was acquired in good faith that the company is no longer capable of paying.

People laid off and promised severance while Nortel actively pursued filing bankruptcy were hardly dealt with in good faith. At best, they were misled. At worst, it was outright fraud. Bankruptcy protection is not intended to shelter the company or it's execs from willful wrongdoing.

This may open the door to the possibility of gaining better status with the bankruptcy court. Employees filing claims may best be served to consult an attorney beforehand. If documents supporting the assertion that you were intentionally misled can be submitted with your claim, it might give you a better shot at getting some/all of what was promised to you.

It would be very helpful if anyone can find out whether the restructuring bucket was ever funded. If it was not, then there was never intent to pay what was promised. Also helpful would be producing a dated internal email showing that bankruptcy was planned before your severance date. That kind of stuff will probably get the judge's attention.

]]> By: joremero http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-8069 joremero Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:10:59 +0000 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/?p=1893#comment-8069 unfortunately for you, CH11 allows for many "obligations" to be ignored, so you might want to consult a lawyer to see what you are entitled to. I know money may not be available, but see if they will work and get paid once they get you some money... (called pro bono ? )<br>otherwise, read as much as you can about CH 11 or whatever it is called in Canada and see if you can read experiences from employees from other big companies who have filled for BK protection before. unfortunately for you, CH11 allows for many “obligations” to be ignored, so you might want to consult a lawyer to see what you are entitled to. I know money may not be available, but see if they will work and get paid once they get you some money… (called pro bono ? )
otherwise, read as much as you can about CH 11 or whatever it is called in Canada and see if you can read experiences from employees from other big companies who have filled for BK protection before.

]]> By: NortelExs http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-7960 NortelExs Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:04:00 +0000 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/?p=1893#comment-7960 I was laid off Tuesday afternoon, conveniently scheduled less than 24 hours prior the the big Chap. 11 announcement. I didn't receive ANY of my 60 days pay, nor did I ever get to see any of my severance package....i got NADA. I also called to verify I would still receive my earned vacation time, on Wednesday I was told to expect to see it in 1 to 2 pay periods, Friday they told me it's "now in discussion" How is this possible??<br><br>Does anyone have any idea if I will ever see ANY of what I am owed? I understand that the severance pay I may not be entitled to, but what about the 60 days of pay that was guaranteed under the WARN Act? I'm being told to file a claim with the bankruptcy court... I've never had to do something like this, as I'm sure most haven't either. Do we expect to actually receive anything? Ever? What's this process consist of? And what about a class action lawsuit?<br><br>I'd love to seek legal advice, but yeah, suddenly money's a big tight right now :( Good luck to everyone out there...it's a tough time for all right now. I was laid off Tuesday afternoon, conveniently scheduled less than 24 hours prior the the big Chap. 11 announcement. I didn't receive ANY of my 60 days pay, nor did I ever get to see any of my severance package….i got NADA. I also called to verify I would still receive my earned vacation time, on Wednesday I was told to expect to see it in 1 to 2 pay periods, Friday they told me it's “now in discussion” How is this possible??

Does anyone have any idea if I will ever see ANY of what I am owed? I understand that the severance pay I may not be entitled to, but what about the 60 days of pay that was guaranteed under the WARN Act? I'm being told to file a claim with the bankruptcy court… I've never had to do something like this, as I'm sure most haven't either. Do we expect to actually receive anything? Ever? What's this process consist of? And what about a class action lawsuit?

I'd love to seek legal advice, but yeah, suddenly money's a big tight right now :( Good luck to everyone out there…it's a tough time for all right now.

]]> By: wasthere http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-7936 wasthere Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:57:57 +0000 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/?p=1893#comment-7936 Incredible what they did ? Fire a ton of people just before they file for chapter 11 so they can cut their severance. In my case, I am also cut from the healthcare program that I could continue because I was on a pre-pension leave. Seems that they will cut to 0 a pension lump sum I was entitled a year from now. Oh yeah, the programm offering with a private agency to help people find a new job is also cut. Unbelievable !!!!! Incredible what they did ? Fire a ton of people just before they file for chapter 11 so they can cut their severance. In my case, I am also cut from the healthcare program that I could continue because I was on a pre-pension leave. Seems that they will cut to 0 a pension lump sum I was entitled a year from now. Oh yeah, the programm offering with a private agency to help people find a new job is also cut. Unbelievable !!!!!

]]> By: xNortel http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-7914 xNortel Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:37:04 +0000 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/?p=1893#comment-7914 It is a tragic day. So many good, talented, hard working people have been misused and mislead.<br>My advise for what it is worth - if you are talented, hard working and want to work in a positive environment, dust off that resume and start looking. If you are employed still at Nortel you have some time - but not much. The "golden handcuffs" of pension, bonuses and a severance package are gone. <br>Do the best thing for you, your sanity and your family start looking. Make your job search your #1 priority and Nortel 2nd or even 3rd. Do what you have to do at Norel to keep money coming in until you find a new and better position. Nortel will barely notice with the morale so low. <br>You will never believe how good a new job can feel. There are jobs out here where you can telework, get good pay, good bonuses and not be flogged daily by the despair. There are well run companies out here who are making money. Believe me when I say it is a great feeling to work at a company that makes money, values its employees and respects your work. There is life after Nortel you just have to take back control and look for it. <br>I mean all of this with the best possible intentions....I just hate to see all of the pain folks are experiencing.<br>Go for it! It is a tragic day. So many good, talented, hard working people have been misused and mislead.
My advise for what it is worth – if you are talented, hard working and want to work in a positive environment, dust off that resume and start looking. If you are employed still at Nortel you have some time – but not much. The “golden handcuffs” of pension, bonuses and a severance package are gone.
Do the best thing for you, your sanity and your family start looking. Make your job search your #1 priority and Nortel 2nd or even 3rd. Do what you have to do at Norel to keep money coming in until you find a new and better position. Nortel will barely notice with the morale so low.
You will never believe how good a new job can feel. There are jobs out here where you can telework, get good pay, good bonuses and not be flogged daily by the despair. There are well run companies out here who are making money. Believe me when I say it is a great feeling to work at a company that makes money, values its employees and respects your work. There is life after Nortel you just have to take back control and look for it.
I mean all of this with the best possible intentions….I just hate to see all of the pain folks are experiencing.
Go for it!

]]> By: Paycheck http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-7915 Paycheck Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:25:43 +0000 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/?p=1893#comment-7915 The executives knew that they would declare Chapter 11 in Jan'09, they already had bankruptcy lawyers working with them well before the end of 2008. They tried to deny it when the WSJ published the story about Nortel.<br><br>They also knew that those employees being made redundant before the end of 2008 would be screwed out of their severance.<br><br>But, I really do feel very sorry for those employees who have missed out on their payment after many years of very loyal service (many of them very good friends of mine). I hope everything works out ok for them all. The executives knew that they would declare Chapter 11 in Jan'09, they already had bankruptcy lawyers working with them well before the end of 2008. They tried to deny it when the WSJ published the story about Nortel.

They also knew that those employees being made redundant before the end of 2008 would be screwed out of their severance.

But, I really do feel very sorry for those employees who have missed out on their payment after many years of very loyal service (many of them very good friends of mine). I hope everything works out ok for them all.

]]> By: wasthere http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-7904 wasthere Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:35:14 +0000 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/?p=1893#comment-7904 Looks like this big scam was in preparation months ago.<br><br><a href="http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9617bcd5-72ce-419b-a3cf-c952703ea757" rel="nofollow">http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story....</a> Looks like this big scam was in preparation months ago.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story….

]]> By: wasthere http://www.allaboutnortel.com/2009/01/15/no-severance-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-7887 wasthere Sat, 17 Jan 2009 05:19:05 +0000 http://www.allaboutnortel.com/?p=1893#comment-7887 I like capitalism laws. You can fire people then get on chapiter 11 and cut their severance pay. Win win situation as we often hear in corporations ! I like capitalism laws. You can fire people then get on chapiter 11 and cut their severance pay. Win win situation as we often hear in corporations !

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