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Farewell to 996: From Layoff to Unicorn
墨書 Inktalez
My name is Li Siyue, and I am a senior product manager at a well-known internet company.
"Li Siyue, we need to talk," Zhang Yuanliang, the Product Director, said as he tapped on the glass door beside my desk.
I looked up and maintained a professional smile. "Please come in."
Zhang Yuanliang took a seat, his tone cautious. "The company is currently undergoing resource optimization, and the user growth project you were managing will be handed over to Xiao Liu."
"Handed over?" I raised my eyebrows slightly. "Why?"
"To cultivate new talent and adjust team structure," Zhang Yuanliang deflected.
"By the way, considering team balance, we will also be adjusting your salary accordingly."
Adjusting? It was clearly a pay cut.
"By how much?" I asked directly.
"The preliminary plan is to reduce it by 15%," Zhang Yuanliang said, watching my reaction.
"This is to take care of the morale of other team members, after all, your salary has always been on the higher side."
I knew all too well the underlying implication: accept this or be pushed out.
That's how the workplace operates; the more experience you have, the more of a burden you become.
"Where's my project bonus?" I pressed on.
Zhang Yuanliang looked slightly embarrassed. "The project bonuses will be temporarily frozen."
"Temporarily?" I laughed.
"This is the company's decision," Zhang Yuanliang emphasized.
I understood perfectly well that this was not just a simple project adjustment.
In an internet company, projects are your lifeline.
Losing a project means being marginalized.
"Can I understand the specific considerations behind this?" I said calmly.
Zhang Yuanliang stood up. "Li Siyue, you need to trust the company's decisions. The company needs fresh blood for its development."
With that, he left me staring at the computer screen.
---
I returned home and dove into my study to organize nearly half a year's worth of project documents and data.
The competition in the technology industry was intensifying every day, with layoffs and cost-cutting becoming commonplace for companies.
"Yue Yue, it's time to eat. What's going on at work?" My father asked, his eyes filled with concern as he looked at my materials.
"The company is trying every possible way to force me to resign," I replied calmly.
"They're cutting my salary, stripping me of projects, and all the project bonuses are going into the Product Director's pocket."
My father sighed. "I warned you not to join that startup. Look where it has led you now."
I understood his point.
When I chose to join this internet company five years ago, he had worried about me falling into workplace traps.
Now, his fears had come true.
"Do you regret it?" he asked.
"I do," I admitted honestly, "but it's not the right time to leave yet."
Having been in the Technology Industry for many years, I was all too familiar with the various tactics of disguised layoffs.
The company simply wanted to push me out in every possible way, hoping I would resign voluntarily.
"Our Internet Company at home is in need of a professional product manager like you," my father suggested. "How about coming back to help?"
I smiled, "Dad, I know you're well-meaning. But leaving now would be equivalent to giving up. Just wait a little longer."
My father scrutinized me, "What do you plan to do?"
"Gather evidence," I replied, a glint of determination flashing in my eyes. "To prove that their actions are unreasonable."
"Be careful," my father warned. "This circle is very complicated."
I organized the documents, "Alright, the workplace is like a battlefield; this isn't my first fight. I'll be cautious."
After dinner, my father returned to his bedroom.
I continued in my study, staring at the computer while sorting through project documents and contemplating my next strategy.
At that moment, my phone pinged with a message—it was from Xiao Liu, the colleague who had just taken over my project.
"Li Siyue, could you please send me the project handover documents before tonight?"
I stared at the screen, a faint smirk playing on my lips.
"Of course."
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