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⚠️ Active Layoffs — Updated July 2026
Cisco Layoffs 2026: Severance, WARN Act & What to Do Now
Cisco announced two of the largest layoff rounds in its history — 4,000 in 2024 and 17,000+ in its Splunk integration restructuring through 2025–2026. If you are affected, here is what to do before you sign.
✓ Based on WARN Act filings, reported severance terms, and 2026 employment attorney guidance — Updated July 2026
Jobs Cut
21,000+
Aug 2024 – Feb 2026
Severance
3 wks/yr
Min 6 weeks
WARN Act Filed
Yes
CA, TX, NC, MA
COBRA Coverage
6 months paid
Health insurance help
OWBPA Applies
If 40+
21 days to review
⚠️ WARN Act Status — Cisco
Cisco filed WARN notices for California headquarters operations and offices in Texas, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. Verify whether your specific office or team was covered by a WARN filing.
🛡️ If You Are 40 or Older — Federal Law Gives You Time
The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act gives workers 40 and older at least 21 days to review any severance agreement, and 45 days if this was a group layoff. You also have 7 days to revoke after signing. Cisco cannot legally require you to sign immediately.
Calculate Your Financial Runway After a Cisco Layoff
Enter your severance weeks, savings, location, and expenses. Get your month-by-month survival timeline — and see exactly what to do next.
Open Cisco Layoff Calculator →
Cisco 2026 Severance Package: Reported Terms
Cisco has one of the more generous severance programs in enterprise tech. Reports from affected employees indicate 3 weeks per year of service, with a floor of 6 weeks, and 6 months of COBRA coverage paid by the company.
| Component | Corporate / Salaried | Hourly / Ops |
|---|
| Base severance formula | 3 weeks per year of service | 1 week per year of service |
| Minimum severance | 6 weeks | 2 weeks |
| Maximum reported | ~26 weeks | ~8 weeks |
| COBRA coverage | 6 months premiums paid | Not confirmed |
| RSU treatment | Unvested RSUs forfeited | N/A |
| PTO payout | Accrued PTO paid out | Accrued PTO paid out |
RSU and equity situation
Cisco uses standard 4-year quarterly vesting. Unlike Amazon's back-loaded schedule, Cisco RSUs vest evenly, which means mid-tenure employees may have significant unvested equity worth negotiating.
Your Timeline After a Cisco Layoff
1
Day 1: Do not sign the same dayCisco provides a review window. Take all of it. If you are 40+, you have at least 21 days legally.
2
Day 1: File for California or local state unemploymentDo not delay — file immediately at your state unemployment portal.
3
Within 60 days: Decide on health coverageCisco pays 6 months of COBRA. After that, compare ACA marketplace rates before that benefit expires.
4
Before signing: Calculate your unvested RSUsCisco's even vesting means any tenure milestone has unvested value worth asking about.
5
Before signing: Review confidentiality scopeCisco's NDAs cover a broad range of customer data and product information. Understand what you are agreeing to before signing.
Other Company Layoff Guides
Severance terms based on reported employee outcomes, WARN Act public filings, and employment attorney guidance as of July 2026. Individual packages vary significantly. This is for informational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. If you have a specific legal question, consult a licensed employment attorney in your state.