PANIC!!! Lay-offs at my job!!

[trene]

I just found out that they are going to start lay-offs at my job after the first of the year. The worst, they are going to start in my department first. I'm 42, overweight, and scared! Will I have a hard time finding a job because of my age or weight? I have skills but will that be enough? Someone please tell me there's no reason to panic........please.......

 

[LuvOrlando]

No reason to assume those traits have anything to do with who they are laying off. Good luck, I hope you'll be ok.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I just found out that they are going to start lay-offs at my job after the first of the year. The worst, they are going to start in my department first. I'm 42, overweight, and scared! Will I have a hard time finding a job because of my age or weight? I have skills but will that be enough? Someone please tell me there's no reason to panic........please.......

They can't fire you because of your age or physical stature.

I'm so very sorry you are going through this, but don't worry yourself just yet. If you do your job well, you probably have nothing to worry about.

 

[DebbieB]

I just found out that they are going to start lay-offs at my job after the first of the year. The worst, they are going to start in my department first. I'm 42, overweight, and scared! Will I have a hard time finding a job because of my age or weight? I have skills but will that be enough? Someone please tell me there's no reason to panic........please.......

What kind of job is it? Where do you rank seniority wise?

 

[trene]

I work in HR and in my department I am the last one hired. I've been there for 3 years but everyone else has been there much longer. They said, pretty much point blank, that the last hired in each department would be the first to go.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, that's different. That's entirely unbiased and understandable. Just so you know, I'm older than you, overweight, and I've been laid off twice - in 1998 (so I was older than you then, too ) and again in 2009. The first time, I had a new job in six weeks. The second time, the economy had obviously tanked so it took longer. I had a new - this - job in, um, eleven weeks? That's unusual for the times, I realize, but I took the first job I was offered.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

They can't fire you because of your age or physical stature.

Age, well that is a grey line and realistically, no they shouldn't/cannot but there are ways around it (it's a hard thing to prove without an attorney). Conversely there is nothing in the law that says one cannot be fired for a physical attribute, such as weight (as long as it is not a disability), it is not a protected status. Texas is an at-will state, so you can be fired for just about any reason, although most companies hedge on caution just to avoid lawsuits (frivolous or justified) and bad PR.

I just found out that they are going to start lay-offs at my job after the first of the year. The worst, they are going to start in my department first. I'm 42, overweight, and scared! Will I have a hard time finding a job because of my age or weight? I have skills but will that be enough? Someone please tell me there's no reason to panic........please.......

Control what you can control and try not to stress what is out of your control. You have no control over the layoff process, you have no control if they choose to use seniority (which IMO is a horrible method, but then again I'm all for pay for performance).

Often companies set general guidelines and rumor mills can twist the real process. Take each day, do what you can to always seek out new opportunities and learn new skills. Life shouldn't be about doing the same thing everyday, it should be about learning new things, taking on new challenges and new experiences, a constant means of learning.

This may include taking classes (even if they are at your own expense), whether they are directly job related or not. Volunteer for projects and make it known you want to take on projects. Volunteer for a not-for-profit, it will increase your skill set and allows you to network while helping out.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I work in HR and in my department I am the last one hired. I've been there for 3 years but everyone else has been there much longer. They said, pretty much point blank, that the last hired in each department would be the first to go.

Sorry to say it. Last one hired, first one out. You need to be factual.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, if you are the last one hired in your department and they have said that the last one hired may be the first one to be laid off, then chances are you might be laid off. It won't have anything to do with your age or weight...it would be because you have the least seniority...."the last one in is the first one out"...although I have been hearing of late that sometimes companies are getting rid of their more senior people first because usually more senior people are paid more etc. They "cost" the company more, so to speak.

In any even, panicking isn't going to help...you need to sit down and take a look at your finances. How much do you need to live bare bones? Are there "luxury" items you could get rid of if need be? Things like the more expensive cable package, the dailky trip to Starbucks for the $5 coffee drink....stuff like that. Not saying that you have or do any of this...but you get my drift. My friend lost her job due to an injury and she gets workmen's comp which is still less than her salary and she was amazed at the "incidental" money she was spending once she had to really look at every expense.

You need to polish up your resume. You've only had this job 3 years, so your resume is relatively current....take a look at it, add your experience from this current job, and spruce up the rest of it...strengthen the language and so forth.

Take a look at your clothing and make sure you have a good interview outift...or maybe even 2 so if you get called back to a place for a 2nd interview, you're not wearing the same outift. I am 48 and not petite and there are still nice outfits out there for us. A darker suit or those "color blocked" outfits are slimming...you know, the top of the outfit has a light color that runs up the middle (along the button line) and then the sides and back of the top are black, or some other darker color. I have one outfit like that and every time I wear at least 3 or 4 people say "Have you lost weight?".

Good luck. Don't panic. The Universe unfolds as it should and if you get laid off, the reason for the change in your life will be revealed to you eventually.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I don't know that last one is is the first one out. Now it might put you on the first to look at list but if you're better than co-workers and make fewer waves or no waves you might be safe. Squeeky wheels might get the oil but they are also the first ones replaced. Any squeeky wheels working along side you? Whatever you do, don't be squeeky in the next few weeks.

 

[shortbun]

They can't fire you because of your age or physical stature.

I'm so very sorry you are going through this, but don't worry yourself just yet. If you do your job well, you probably have nothing to worry about.

My take on this is that they don't need to justify why they choose who they choose unless there is a union contract involved. I doubt they would use your age against you and unless your weight dictates your ability to do your job or causes absenteeism, I'd not worry about that either.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well, I say dust off the resume and start looking. Sorry you have to deal with this.

 

[Keli]

I don't think the OP was saying they'll let her go because of her weight and age, I think she was asking how hard is it going to be to get another job at that weight and age.
You know, I'm pretty sure it's going to depend on your skill set, recommendations from previous employers, and the economy in your area.
I would get as many letters of recommendation together as you can right now from your boss and maybe your boss' boss if you worked with that person enough for them to write one. It's always harder to get one once you aren't around them anymore and since they all know you're likely to be laid off soon it's not like you're trying to abandon ship or anything.
I wish you the best of luck, hope you aren't laid off but if you are I hope you find another position ASAP.

 

[Robinrs]

I don't think the OP was saying they'll let her go because of her weight and age, I think she was asking how hard is it going to be to get another job at that weight and age.

I thought I was the only one who read that..

OP, when my job was considering layoffs, ALL of the top management who had been there the longest were gone FIRST. I had been there 14 years and all of my department was there 1 to 3 years. They made less so I had to go. This was the case across the board in my company.

I had just lost my Mom, lost my Dad 2 weeks later AND was a single parent.

As for the weight and age issue, I was 47 when I lost my job and bounced from place to place doing contact jobs until I was hired by a relative then brought back to broadcasting at 49. That station closed and I was hired at my current job in 2009 at the ripe old age of 53. And I'm no stick figure either.

Don't panic, just know that every closed door is right in front of an open door.

 

[Allison]

I don't think the OP was saying they'll let her go because of her weight and age, I think she was asking how hard is it going to be to get another job at that weight and age.
You know, I'm pretty sure it's going to depend on your skill set, recommendations from previous employers, and the economy in your area.
I would get as many letters of recommendation together as you can right now from your boss and maybe your boss' boss if you worked with that person enough for them to write one. It's always harder to get one once you aren't around them anymore and since they all know you're likely to be laid off soon it's not like you're trying to abandon ship or anything.
I wish you the best of luck, hope you aren't laid off but if you are I hope you find another position ASAP.

You are right. She isn't asking about her current job but about obtaining a new job.

 

[Free4Life11]

Don't know if this has been mentioned, but make sure you figure out how to apply for unemployment immediately! You will be in shock, but make sure you apply for it the same day you get the bad news so your benefits can start as quickly as possible!

 

[Hannathy]

Go ahead and panic, you are going to anyway, then smack yourself and get back to business. Like other posters have said get your resume in order. Decide who you will use as personal references and make sure you have all their contact info while you still have access to it. Don't burn any bridges as you leave. Review what you do now and make sure it is what you really want to be doing, will you be looking for the exact same job or is now the time to try and branch out.

VERY important start networking yesterday! Get the word out you are looking. Start looking for networking job searching support groups now so you know where to go when it happens.

Age can be a detriment so make sure you have pinpointed skills that you will bring to a new employer to overlook your age. Appearance is important, you don't have to be a stick but you have to be professional and neat. if you seriously need to loose a lot of weight I would start working on it, you don't want any red flags sent up as soon as you walk in.

My DH was older than you when he was let go and he found something. Yes it took him a long, long time and it was a lot of hard work, I won't sugar coat it, but he finally did.

 

[Planogirl]

You never know so don't make assumptions. I was one of the last hired at my workplace and they fired a lot of people over the last few years. I despise the job so I don't know how I stayed but I'm still there.

My point is to be prepared for the worst but don't immediately assume that you'll be gone.

Good luck.

 

[Snowysmom]

Layoffs can be a scary time however you can try to be ready for it. You can be proactive and get your resume updated. Start looking to see what jobs are available for you to apply to. If you are actively doing something about the situation you will feel better. As far as age and being overweight, I am middle aged and overweight. I got my current job over 3 years ago. My company has done major layoffs over the past couple of years and I am still there in spite of being one of the last hired. The people who were laid off were chosen for various reasons such as the department was being phased out or they did not perform as well as other employees. Age discrimination is an issue but at your age I don't think it is a big issue. Once you are over 50, it becomes a problem. At least you have some warning and can prepare.

 

[trene]

Thank you everyone for all the advice! I am going to take it one day at a time and be proactive. I actually feel much better knowing that I am not alone, thanks for caring!