There has always been
Do Not Hire lists
at companies.
These are lists of people
the company and the company’s affiliates
won’t hire again.
When I first started working,
you had to do
something REALLY bad
to be put on
a Do Not Hire list.
Today, they are standard
at many large companies.
Anyone who is laid off, let go, fired
or otherwise leaves
involuntarily
is put on the Do Not Hire list.
You can remain on this list
for 90 days,
a year,
five years,
forever.
Why are Do Not Hire lists now popular
with many large companies?
Because they often reduce
severance payments
to the departing employees,
especially the employees
with big salaries
and great employment agreement
negotiating skills.
These employees will often leave voluntarily,
forgoing severance,
to avoid being put on
the Do Not Hire list
(especially if the company is huge
with many affiliated companies).
That saves large companies
millions of dollars a year.
The companies apply this
Do Not Hire policy
to ALL employees
because, if they didn’t,
the extremely lawyered up
big salary employees
would sue them and win.
If you’re put on
a Do Not Hire list,
don’t take it personally.
And don’t expect older generations
to understand your situation.
Business has changed
and it is doubtful they know
about this major change.
Do Not Hire lists
are standard now.
Expect to be put on one
if you don’t leave a company voluntarily.
It isn’t about you.
It is policy.