03/01/2004   English German
  Edition # 49  
San Francisco, 03-01-2004

Netscape End of Life?
Figure [1]: Deserted: The Netscape Campus

Michael Shortly before Christmas last year, AOL cleared out the last buildings on the former Netscape campus. Out of 800 people, about 500 were immediately laid off, and around 100 were offered the opportunity to move to the East Coast, to Dulles, to AOL's headquarters. "Immediately laid off" meant being informed at ten o'clock and having to leave the building by 12:00 noon. A hectic scene ensued, with personal belongings being cleared from cubicles, farewell scenes everywhere--a sad day. The company was generous and paid everyone a four-month "severance package," which included salary plus health insurance.

Fortunately, I wasn't affected, but unfortunately, 90% of my colleagues are now gone. Interestingly, immediately after the layoffs were announced, some competing companies like Yahoo or eBay held so-called "Open Houses," specifically for those laid off from AOL, probably to snap up the best talent. I'm still in contact with my ex-colleagues through mailing lists, and some have already found new jobs, but the job market situation is not very promising.

But things are looking up. And unlike in Germany, where I have the impression that everything is really going downhill and everyone is just complaining, Americans remain positive: Things will get better. And believe me: It helps.

Greetings from the valley floor

Angelika und Michael

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