What a week to stop sniffing glue.
We’ve weathered quite the storm but we are all here – well except for a few sniviling, coniving, merger-busting shareholders – and it is time to go see what Isaac the Bartender and the local watering holes are serving.
Recap of the day:
- Macrovision in Silicon Valley is hiring and info is listed under Job Postings.
- There are new recruiters for Accounting and Financial Services positions listed under Recruiters – Staff.
- well you’ve been WARNed or at least most of you have. Questions abound which we assume will be answered in a follow-up message or memo on Monday. At least management got it right and decided to get some information out before a weekend of torture set in. Some have been asking if the WARN notices were the same across all offices. You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.
- lots of press still but I suspect next week may be quiet along those fronts unless something pops. Check out the News Articles section and see how far and wide this story has gone.
- anyone out there with lots – and I mean lots – of vacation accrual? Like the maximum (225 hours?) and/or a value of over $10,000? Please let me know via email at hellerdrone@gmail.com. This is important for the battle to ensure vacation accrual payment at the end of this voyage.
- check out the latest comment on vacation accrual and WARN. Very interesting.
- the Hair Salon is closed. Finally. Mister Ray and his minions quietly left aboard a raft hastily put together with the week’s hair clippings. What they did to Captain Steubing was a crime. Bon voyage!
Next week: we are never sure what the course will be but we hope to stay it. We expect more information on benefits during this 60-day period. We expect to still be here offering as much information as possible so that you can make it through. We expect the Hair Salon to remain closed. We expect onboard entertainment to include Shields & Yarnell, The Captain & Tenille, Sebastian Cabot, Nipsey Russell, the fake Jan Brady and the real cousin Oliver, and the DiFranco family. If you don’t know who any of those people are, get away from me, you are too young and I hate you.
Your cruise director wasn’t sure whether or not to post an upbeat music clip given what we’ve all been through. I’m sure there will be more storms to weather, more issues to discuss, more ups, more downs.
Today’s 80’s music video clip brought to you by the issue VACATION.
Peace out. Be safe, especially if your Friday night will start in some watering hole that serves drinks with frou frou umbrellas. Look for weekend stuff including tips on resumes, organizing, job searching and keeping your mind off this crap.
Heller Drone
Cruise Director
Here’s what we got in Seattle:
“I regret to inform you that The Firm has adopted a plan of liquidation and will shut down substantially all of its operations on or about November 28, 2008. At the time of the shutdown, the employment of The Firm’s employees will be permanently terminated. Until then, please be aware that The Firm has work for you and expects you to report to work. Employees will be paid full salary and benefits until the shutdown. Where applicable, employees with accrued but unused vacation time may be scheduled for vacation prior to November 28.
You do not have displacement or bumping rights for other positions within The Firm. However, in order to conduct an orderly liquidation, The Firm may continue to employ a very limited number of employees after the date of the shutdown. If you wish to be considered for such work, please notify me by email; The Firm will let you know about past November 28 work within the next few days.
This letter constitutes notice to you pursuant to statute. As a terminated employee, you may be entitled to certain benefits, which will be the subject of a separate communication. The shutdown is being treated as a plant closing under relevant law, and includes the termination of employment of employees employed at 701 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104.
In the event you require additional information, please feel free to contact your local Human Resources Generalist, Wendy Kwan, at (650) 324-7192 or email HellerEhrmanMgmt@hellerehrman.com.
Sincerely,
Heller Ehrman Management”
Any word on where the different folks in the Seattle office will end up at?
None.
No word on any of the other offices – just lots of speculation such as Madison going back to the firm they came from (Foley?). Didn’t most of Seattle start as its own firm and then was absorbed by Heller?
I am not sure. I know we’ve been here as Heller since the building opened in 85, but prior to that I am uninformed.
Heller Seattle was made up of three offices — the original (and tiny) Heller Ehrman office and two homegrown offices, Wickwire and Syrdal Danelo. Syrdal was a wonderful place, and its a tribute to its spirit that it lived inside the combined unit and survived, despite 20+ years effort from San Francisco to kill it. Hey Peter…want to start it back up again?
Does anyone know what happens to the 401(k) plan? I left Heller awhile ago but some of my money is still in Heller’s plan through Vanguard.
Apparently things are financially dire for the remaining partners – they will not be getting their monthly draw for September. That’s a sacrifice for sure, but I heard the older retired gentlemen will be cut off too! That just is not right! Some heads should roll……
HellerEscapee: The 401(k) plan will continue to exist for a while. If it was closed down, Vanguard would be obliged to contact you and offer you the choice of rolling it over to another plan, or withdrawing it (unwise if you are younger than 59.5, for tax reasons). At any time, you could contact Vanguard and do a direct rollover to an individual IRA (a new one, or one you already have but not a Roth) without any tax event.
dose any one know what would happen to earned Sebatical? Dose the WARN Act covers Sebatical as vacation? Dose Heller by law is required to pay employees the 1 month Salary & 2 weeks vacation as promissed??
Observer: Thanks for the information about the 401(k).
LB our policy says that it should be paid out but you should confirm it again in writing.
thanks AHE