Anyone else worried about keeping their job right now?

[Pugdog007]

Yep we were for sale 2 years ago but didn't get a buyer willing to pay a fair price, per our parent company. We worried for about 8 mos. Fortunately, we all received stay bonuses. Don't know that they'd be so generous next time. And I'm sure there will be a next time.

On the flip side, when we were taken off the market we were given acquisition money and purchased 2 companies last year. So I'm sure they're making us bigger so that we'll be more attractive to a financial buyer. Financial buyer = good; Strategic buyer = bad.

 

[Michelina]

Three departments around mine have either been downsized or outsourced to India. I know it's going to be our time soon but waiting to hear what will happen is almost as bad as finding out that you've lost your job.
We're doing 3 or 4 times as much work as we used to do with less people. I don't want to quit because I'll lose my severance and any retention bonuses, education allowances, etc but I am so stressed every day that I think it's starting to make me ill.

 

[ReneeA]

I am concerned about DH's job. We are in the metro Detroit area which has been hit hard with the layoffs from the Big 3...and we seem to be the one area in the country rapidly loosing jobs rather than making a recovery.

Anyway. DH is a project Manager for a union tile shop. They install tile in very high end homes, since they are they are almost the only builders that will pay for union work. The lower end builders all use non union since they are so much cheaper. Anyway, it's been really hard for them to stay afloat, and there is basically no legal way out of a union contract, short of going under for 2 years . They are really struggling, and it concerns me.

I mean, who can blame the builder? They aren't selling many super expensive homes in this area right now, and they are concerned about their bottom line. Why pay a union tile shop to do the job for 3x as much when you can get a non union shop to do it with their illegal aliens? I can now notice the difference in the quality of work after DH being in the industry so long, but most homebuyers don't.

For the first time since he was hired 5 years ago, he had an unpaid day off last week since there was NO work at all .

 

[olena]

Chris' job situation has been shaky for a couple of years now. With tech jobs like his going overseas, he decided to change careers. Only two more years of school left. I just hope everything's OK until then.

 

[ckret01]

I completely understand. My fiance (then boyfriend) and I met at work 7 years ago. We worked for a large Telecom company where I was doing order entry. This company laid off over $55,000 people because the higher ups stole money. (it was all over the news a few years ago). Well I got laid off and haven't been able to find happiness anywhere since. Nothing compared to the people I worked with and I even loved what I did. My fiance didn't get laid off as he was a tec guy. He got contracted out to another company but is still working for the telecom company currently (make sense?) Well now this telecom company is being taken over by another large telecom company and many more people are going to get laid off. My fiance is very worried b/c we just got engaged, are planning a wedding and are trying to buy a house. I understand the stress and it is a horrible feeling. I wish you much luck

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I recently lost my job. It was the 1st professional job I ever held, and now it's gone. My employer gave my position to the intern, who just got her masters degree. Since then, I found two part-time jobs, but together they are barely worth 1/3 the hours I used to have. I am hitting an age where I am really beginning to be concerned about things in the future (retirement, Roth IRA, ever owning a home, needing a new car in the next couple years, etc) and being unemployed now just puts everything at a standstill.

 

[lecach]

Well I talked to my former supervisor here (who is also a stockholder and board member of the company) last night. He said that he thinks what I read is based on hiring additional people. And also that a lot of our staff may not want to go with the new company because the offices would move and be much farther away for most people (except me - it'll be much closer ). So I feel a little better. He said "listen - if I thought you had something to worry about I would tell you to start looking. I really think you'll end up with a job thats better than what you have now that you'll like more". So I do feel a bit better. Still no guarantees but I figure that he's "in the loop" so to speak and I trust him. We're going ahead with our meeting on Monday with the builders of our home to discuss upgrades. Im just ready for next month to get here - we'll know whats going to happen then. Of course next month is my birthday too (37th) and I am NOT looking forward to that!

 

[Laurajean1014]

No. Although no-one is safe anymore, I feel that I have a great security. I have experience and management likes me. I just got a smashing review and a 100% bonus (no more 150% payouts anymore ).

So, for now. I'm


Just an FYI: Unemployment is at a record low for Post 911! This is extremely encouraging news! Good luck to anyone looking for a new career or job.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I recently lost my job. It was the 1st professional job I ever held, and now it's gone. My employer gave my position to the intern, who just got her masters degree. Since then, I found two part-time jobs, but together they are barely worth 1/3 the hours I used to have. I am hitting an age where I am really beginning to be concerned about things in the future (retirement, Roth IRA, ever owning a home, needing a new car in the next couple years, etc) and being unemployed now just puts everything at a standstill.

Hugs - If you do not mind my questions, but:

Do you have an undergradulates degree?

How old are you?

PM or email me if you would like.

 

[ReneeA]

Just an FYI: Unemployment is at a record low for Post 911! This is extremely encouraging news! Good luck to anyone looking for a new career or job.

Try living in metro Detroit. We are NOT living it up here.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Hugs - If you do not mind my questions, but:

Do you have an undergradulates degree?

How old are you?

PM or email me if you would like.

Believe it or not, I am a librarian! I have an undergrad in computer science, which I got NOWHERE in. Just as well, as many tech jobs have dried up or moved offshore, and I would have probably have to train for a new career anyways. My masters is in Library Science. I only been working in my new field for a year, so I am still trying to make the right connections and get the right experience. I am in my mid-30's. And over the last three years I depleted alot of my savings to straighten my teeth (of all things!), as I felt my appearance was stopping me from selling myself in job interviews.

Oh well! I just got to hang in there, and hope the right opportunity comes along. But when I lost my job, it was so predictable, as they gave it to a much younger, prettier person. And I am not seeing much out there right now but part-time nights and weekends (the hours that the full-time employees with benefits don't want!). Sigh.

 

[lecach]

Well I got good news this week. We ARE being sold but we're all keeping our jobs. We're getting bonuses and MUCH better benefits. And our office is moving to the town I live in so I will have a 6 mile non-interstate drive to work. Its such a relief. But I know even with this there are not guarantees.

I hope everyone else gets good news as well.

 

[FINFAN]

always. After DH went thru living you-know- what a few years ago...we have learned you are NEVER safe...even if you are not technically let go, you can be in a position where you must choose between you mental/physical health or your job....While others have called us pessimistic, we prefer to think of it as realistic. However, we have learned not to get too comfortable, and to not settle if you are not happy, or at least somewhat happy in your career. I think our kids actually picked up on this too, which is an added bonus. We have also learned to live on way less than we ever thought.

Pam

 

[olena]

Actually, we've been living under that cloud for about 3 years now and it has been depressing. There have been major cuts in recent years and lots of "restructuring" with the company shifting jobs from its US offices to its offices in Egypt and India. That's why DH has decided to switch careers to a field that can't be done overseas and he has been in night school for the past two years to accomplish that goal. He's about halfway there. We're hoping that his job hangs on until then.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well I got good news this week. We ARE being sold but we're all keeping our jobs. We're getting bonuses and MUCH better benefits. And our office is moving to the town I live in so I will have a 6 mile non-interstate drive to work. Its such a relief. But I know even with this there are not guarantees.

I hope everyone else gets good news as well.

Congrats!!! We are still waiting....

 

[Planogirl]

Well I got good news this week. We ARE being sold but we're all keeping our jobs. We're getting bonuses and MUCH better benefits. And our office is moving to the town I live in so I will have a 6 mile non-interstate drive to work. Its such a relief. But I know even with this there are not guarantees.

I hope everyone else gets good news as well.

Great news!!! I like hearing the occasional success story. Just don't get complacent.

 

[GJM]

We were hearing rumors for months that we were closing, they kept saying "No" Well in Oct. they closed, some of us were kept on to clean up, we all stayed to receive our severance. It just wasn't fun looking for a new job!

 

[Jockaroo]

I am surprised to see so many Carolinians on this thread. I understand what you are all going through. I had a job I loved with an investment/brokerage company. We were sold to a large bank. Our jobs were "relocated" and our department let go. That was in Feb. 02. I was able to find a different job in another field but hated it, so I went back to school for additional training in the area I enjoyed. I graduated in May--I'm still looking.

I wish all of you the best. The stress of the uncertainty of your job can make you physically ill--it did me; I got an ulcer. Try to take care of yourselves and those you love.

Maybe we need a dis-downsizing support thread to give each other moral support.

 

[Planogirl]

always. After DH went thru living you-know- what a few years ago...we have learned you are NEVER safe...even if you are not technically let go, you can be in a position where you must choose between you mental/physical health or your job....While others have called us pessimistic, we prefer to think of it as realistic. However, we have learned not to get too comfortable, and to not settle if you are not happy, or at least somewhat happy in your career. I think our kids actually picked up on this too, which is an added bonus. We have also learned to live on way less than we ever thought.

Pam

One of my "layoffs" was like this. My first one was a true layoff with the offices closing and a fat severance. The second one was a downsize and I was transfered from Underwriting into what I called the Complaint Department. I was the last one hired into the Underwriting area so I really had nothing to say about where I went. I had countless people yelling at me all day long about their situations and we weren't allowed to really tell them anything. After about 3 months of this daily abuse, I quit to be a SAHM for a while. That was a NIGHTMARE!!!

 

[Rex Rules]

Not so good news here, unfortunately.

After being told that he would be moving to the other plant, DH was informed that his services were no longer needed the day before Valentine's Day. Fun. He was the dyeing/finishing department manager. They gave his job to the off shift lead person. When the plant closes in June, all that work will have been shuttled off to Latin America.

However, we both are taking this lay off better than previous ones. Trying to keep a positive attitude. We both were able to find temp jobs within a week. Certainly not making what he was making before, but something to tide us over until the next thing comes along.

Everything happens for a reason. I'm sure that something good will come of this and eventually we'll find where we are supposed to be.