Correct. They are there to manage the company's human resources. They're not there to help us. It's in the name of their title. The company perceives people as nothing but another resource to exploit.
Well technically the worst (but absolutely legal) thing you can do, from their perspective is to be very well versed in your rights for the state or province you're in. Is it a dismissal without cause? Then what severance are they offering? Did your negotiate it? Basically they'll want you to sign something and promise not to sue - in exchange to signing this they'll offer something. Negotiate that... Usually in the form of X weeks of pay per years of service at your employer, but X can vary and be negotiated. You can also negotiate a referral letter from your boss even though companies usually say "we don't make referral letters" - as part of my package negotiation you will...
My guess is that this technique works better with a small company --- trying to get cute with a multinational with the legal budget of a small nation (and ironclad contracts + knowledge of local regulations) might not work well.
You might - refusing to sign, sending a well written formal notice, articulating a good demand with a rationale. It could be that based on your skills, the economy, opportunities in your field, etc that their standard severance won't "make you whole", i.e. allow you to find replacement employment that pays the same in a reasonable timeframe.
Ultimately a judge might rule that you had a reasonable expectation of financial stability from your employer, and by laying you off they're taking that away. The severance is there to bridge that expectation, so if you can demonstrate that their offered severance package is really far, you have a case.
Now the employer knows that - so if you prepare properly and ask/negotiate you have a shot!
Hah well no, but they also won't pay that last day. If you use PTO they have to pay you and might not even fire you that day because of HR rules about needing to be in person/with witnesses etc
Funny story: I was on vacation when a previous job ended in layoffs, which happened on a Friday. On Sunday night I got an IM from a coworker letting me know about the layoffs, but I still went into work on Monday, feigning ignorance. Here, if you show up for work but they have no more work for you, they still have to pay you for a minimum of 3 hours. Anyway, unemployment Insurance is a federal thing, here. They still delayed the 2 weeks of pay they would normally have to pay it by calling it a temporary layoff, though they paid it 6 months later when temporary became permanent.
Years later at a different job, I was home, sick from food poisoning when layoffs happened. Came into work the next day only to be invited by the HR person into a meeting room where they explained what had happened. I still had a small assignment I'd promised to a VP, so I asked if I could just finalize it and send it off. They let me and I did it (took maybe 30 minutes) and then I left. About 4 years later, when I was looking for work, that VP remembered me, and that contributed to being rehired there in a new position, and I've been with that same employer now for the past 12 years (that VP has since left.) Best place I ever worked at, both times.
You can be laid off while not in the office or out on paid leave.
In many places paid time off is counted as compensation, which means they have to pay it to you if they let you go or fire you. So check that first as well.
I was torn up because I had to fire a switchboard operator who just couldn't make it in on time. It's one of those jobs where you have to be there when the business says it's open. She got some warnings and then within a week she was late again. I had to fire her. During the termination meeting she said "This is harder for you than it is for me."
Not really. But she didn't care much. She knew what the rest of us learned from COVID. Your life doesn't depend on your job. Shortly after this event she went to Africa.
"I just entered a rehab program for my drug addiction." According to King of the Hill, that creates a fire-proof shield if the company is bigger than x people.
A man coming back from parental leave doesn't sound like a protected class to me, unlike being a pregnant woman who is protected by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in the United States.
Also, I'm not saying it's a surefire guarantee. The important part is you don't have to be the fastest runner when the wolf is hungry, you just have to run faster than the guy next to you.
I think I would try to not waste any more energy on the place. But reality is I would waste energy being emotional about it for a while. Honestly there isn't shit you can do as revenge that will make up for it. Other than maybe getting a much better job.
Inviting them all to a party and making a toast about how gratefull you are for working there and telling each co worker how much you love them is the only logical thing to do .
First, decide if you want to burn the bridge and if doing something weird could be betraying the colleague that gave you the information.
Then, being somewhat creative I think you could craft a fake resingment letter and show it to key workers but don't sign it. Let them spill the beans. Depending on your contract it could mean big savings for the employer and it could mess up their strategy.
In any case, make sure to resolve any pending issues and get ready for the news.
I found out the day of a mass layoff and scheduled a surgery I needed for that morning. They are prohibited from laying you off on medical leave where i live.
I know it wouldn't do any good, but I feel like for fun you could bring in a fake rotting body part like a brain for lunch and when people/hr/whoever asks, just tell them that you wanted to savour the last of the remaining body parts you've been storing in the ice chest in your shed out back at work.
Not a good idea because you might get the cops called on you, but would be fun to see their reactions.