Topic: Sony laid off employees

[Toruresu]

This is from a local newspaper "The San Juan Star" today, here in Puerto Rico.

Sony Puerto Rico hands out Pink slips

"Sony Puerto Rico Inc. laid off nearly half of it's 70-person staff from the local Guaynabo offices on Wednesday, as part of a downsizing strategy implemented stateside, The STAR learned. According to a company insider who spoke on the condition of anonymity, some 30 employees got their pink slips Wednesday, "without warning".
'This is part of restructuring that is being done throughout Sony's U.S. mainland offices that impacted Puerto Rico,' according to another source close to the local operation. 'The employees were taken by surprise.'

Attempts to reach local Sony executives were unsuccessful Wednesday. Consequently, it remained unclear as to wether the employees who were abruptly laid off will receive compensation. A company statement regarding the restructuring issued late Wednesday said the changes would allow the company to mantain its competitiveness and its tradition of quality focused on customer service. Sony opened its Puerto Rico offices in October 1987. Its local corporate offices are at the Amelia Industrial Park in Guaynabo. The company's three-story building houses all of its administrative divisions, including sales and marketing for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, advertising, logistics and warehousing and distribution."

All I can say is wow. If they are restructuring and firing people left and right in the US, this will definately impact their capacity to market and sell their products, right?

[Djunknown]

I dunno. It really does sound like they're cutting their losses. Remember they just did some reshuffling in Japan, so this may not be the last of them worldwide.

Aside from their gaming divison, they've been trounced everywhere else when it comes to electronics. Competitors offer cheaper HDTV's, and they've kicked themselves for not coming up with an iPod-esque machine earlier. Don't get me started on Sony VIAO's....

I do feel bad for the employees though. I can imagine them going to work as usual, but a supervisor comes in and says 'You're canned. Get your stuff. Follow these big, burly men (in case said employee loses it) to your desk.'

employee:'That's it. After X years, its so long and good luck?'
supervisor:'I never said good luck...'

a Pizza to the man who can tell me where that small bit comes from... (Since someone else has dibs on Cookies )  

[odifiend]

Dang, it sounds so familiar!

[Chris1]

ah the Simpsons!  When Milhouse's dad (can't remember his name) was canned from the cracker factroy

[ruby_onix]

I remember hearing somewhere that this is just how Sony does business.

The traditional "Japanese thing" says that when you get a job, you don't quit, you don't get fired, you just dilligently put 110% into your job, every single day for the rest of your life.

Sony is a "modern" productive company. They need you? You're hired. Get to work. They don't need you any more? You're fired. Get out of our sight.

[KDR_11k]

That's an American subsidiary here, they have American policies.