Since posting the original tip about Earthlink weeks ago, the comments attached to the post have become a kind of sounding board for current and former Earthlink employees. The comments have included rants, anecdotal work stories, internal operations updates and some often scathingly frank analysis of the company's executive make-up. Today, following Earthlink's announcement of massive layoffs, one employee delivered a comment that revealed Earthlink as place where employees were passionate about their work/co-workers and equally passionate about the future of the company:
"I was (and am until December 21st, 2007) a senior software engineer for Earthlink… These people represented the absolute core of this company, the cream of the crop, the best talent of every business unit. One minute later, I was told the entire room was getting whacked. I couldn't help but laugh…"
[reader comment continued…]
*
"I LOVED working for this company, I bragged about it to my friends, family, people on the street, simian mammals ... I truly believed in it. I no longer do. I'm canceling my voice service, because I know its going to stop working in January… To those who got the same news I did today, in that dark conference room, you are the strongest and soundest minds in this whole company. I am impressed every day by each of you, and Earthlink 'will' suffer your loss, painfully."*
In a direct exchange with an Earthlink insider, we also learned a few new details regarding today's layoffs. According to our source,
Earthlink employees in California were supposed to receive their severance packages and meet with HR reps to discuss their separation dates and package details. Apparently, the FedEx package from the headquarters in Atlanta containing the necessary paperwork and details never arrived and now many employees have been left in limbo with no idea when they will be officially terminated or compensated until sometime in September at the earliest.
