Today we received a lengthy tip from a frustrated employee of Bracewell & Giuliani, reporting support staff layoffs at the firm’s Washington, DC office.
Here’s is what the tipster had to say, edited for length & clarity:
I work for the firm Bracewell & Giuliani, and would like to share the layoff process they conducted this past Monday, April 6, 2009.
Just a little over a month and a half ago, we were all told by the office administrator that B&G was one of the only firms in DC that was not going through any type of layoff. We were all assured that our jobs were secure and that if anything should arise we would be the first to know.
During this meeting we were also told about the expansion the firm was in the process of making. … They would be hiring more attorneys, associated and secretaries. We were told that the firm was growing and we were all lucky part of that team. They really pumped us [up], making us all feel extremely secure.
My suspicions [were] aroused when we were all told that they were replacing our Special Service team, with an different agency that was more affordable. Special Service folks were given the opportunity to interview with this particular agency, but if they agency did not hire them, they were out of a job.
These folks have been with B&G [as long as] 30 years.
On Monday… a secretary at our firm… was told that she was being “laid off” and needed to leave the building immediately. They called a cab and gave her a voucher. Shortly thereafter, they called another secretary and then another.
The following day the layoff rampage continued and they let IT folks go, and sent them out the door with out anytime to properly gather their items or tell people they had been working with for years good-bye.
The tipster takes issue with the way the layoffs are being handled.
The process almost seems rude, cruel and inhuman. It seemed to me that the HR bosses from Houston took great joy in walking around the hallways for the next few days, intimidating us. I also overheard a few people laughing and making jokes about the people that had been laid off.
At this point, no one cared about the stress they were causing us and how their nonchalant attitudes affected us. I felt terrible and continue to feel terrible for the people that were laid off, and feel so incredibly angry every time I see the Partners having their expensive catered lunches.
There were rumors of B&G layoffs in January.
Bracewell & Giuliani employs more than 400 lawyers at offices in Texas, New York, Washington DC, and Connecticut, as well as in Dubai, Kazakhstan, and London.
I worked there for years – this is not uncommon behavior for them. Terrible employee relations. No appreciation or loyalty – you’re just a “warm body”.
The truly inhuman treatment of many of the employees at this firm leaves me to believe that as is the assumption of most lawyers, they are as corrupt and uncaring as any people are. For the want of a dollar 16-30+years of loyalty has meant nothing. Bracewell, may you bear the fruits of your activities, in the worse case scenario.
I “laid off” in the fall of 2008 at which time managing partner Mark Evans announced that 2008 had been Bracewell & Giuliani LLP’s best financial year ever! B&G used to be the best place in the world to work, but they seem to be working at being as cruel, mean, ugly and uncaring to its employees as it can possibly be. Christian work ethics and principles left the day that Mr. Searcy Bracewell passed away. He would turn over in his grave if he knew how the people he cared so deeply for were being treated, much less by the firm his father established. I think he would be most ashamed of the Mark Evans and all the people at B&G who are degrading his name. Shame, shame on the uncaring employers…I’m surprised Rudy Giuliani isn’t concerned…he seemed like such a caring person when I met him, but perhaps not. I would think he’d be ashamed to have his name affiliated with these crooks. I could be wrong, but that’s one ex-employee’s opinion after the way I was treated and now to see my friends in the various offices being treated the same way.
They have also laid off attorneys in their Houston office for sure. Gave them 2 months notice and no additional severance.
We had lay offs in our office in November 2008. The selection process for lay off was suspicious. There were some real morons with a whole lot less experience that should give been cut first. These people were given 3 days to pack up and get out after being there 20-30 years. It caused a lot of emotional trauma to the staff. Made no sense. The lower level partners were pitching a fit because they were being hit up for contributions to the employee 401k. Prior to that, senior partners are high-fiving each other for a great year. It takes a lot of money to pay the high profile people they brought in – and they don’t produce jack. The rest of us were promised that was the end of the cuts. I think they lie.
Oh, they are back with their layoffs. Of course, it is the older folks getting booted out the door. Age discrimination at its finest!