Wow, my husband dodged another layoff....

[diznee25]

The company my husband works for just had a second layoff today; the first one was a month ago. Today they laid off 4 people. Only 13 total worked at this branch...so loosing 4 people is very significant.) The company also let people go at their Florida office as well.

I used to work with my husband, and the few who were let go today I would consider "close" work friends. They took it pretty hard, as anyone would.

I am sooo thankful my husband's job is safe. You just never know what's going to happen....we just take it a day at a time.


diznee25

 

[MichiganKris]

That is good news for you. I know how it feels to watch your friends loose their jobs. Hopefully your husband will stay safe in his job.

 

[prncess674]

Well it is nice not to be let go, but it sounds like he is standing on a sinking ship. I would use this time during the holidays to get my resume in order and start working my network looking for other options. Even he does end up keeping his job it is never a bad idea to get your resume up and ready to go, especially if you have had the same job for many years since it can be a daunting task to put one together when you are under the gun.

 

[unfreshdiva1]

never a good time to lose a job, but extra tough around the holidays. Happy to hear your husband is safe.

 

[Jedana]

My husband's former company hired him in Dec 07. In Jan 09, they started letting people go...one month it was 50, the next 45, etc. By the end of April, over 200 people had been let go. My husband got the axe at the beginning of May, with 20 other people.

The firm is now standing still with less than 70 employees (in Dec 07, they had over 500). One of DH's good friends, and one of our Pack's den leaders both still work there, and they are having to fight to get any supplies (including pens, for crying out loud) and have been asked to take either a pay cut or drop down to a 4 day 32 hour work week.

Not fun. Luckily, after 2 years of no work, my husband was hired back in July at another company. In March, I'll have been out of work for 3 years...I can't get a job because I'm either too qualified or under qualified. Now that DH is back to work, I can go back to school (couldn't get it paid for, the system in FL is all screwed up).

 

[momxx5]

Congrats on your DH keeping his job. I know from experience that is a worriesome(sp?) situation and not a good one when a job is lost, worse yet when it happens unexpectedly.

This happened to us almost 3 years ago and we have not recovered yet. Our story is similar to Jedana's, although DH had to switch careers and is making over 75% less.

Prayers that your DH continues to have employment.
Prayers to all those who have lost their jobs....imho, the economy is not out of a recession yet.

 

[ccgirl]

Well it is nice not to be let go, but it sounds like he is standing on a sinking ship. I would use this time during the holidays to get my resume in order and start working my network looking for other options. Even he does end up keeping his job it is never a bad idea to get your resume up and ready to go, especially if you have had the same job for many years since it can be a daunting task to put one together when you are under the gun.

never a good time to lose a job, but extra tough around the holidays. Happy to hear your husband is safe.

I agree with both of these. I learned the hard way and keep my resume up to date at all times now. I am also constantly networking.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm sad for the others, but glad for your husband.

 

[diznee25]

Thank you for the replies everyone. Yes, I will definitely take pause today to think and pray for the ones who lost their jobs. One of which my husband and I were particularly close with....he was with the company for several years and so nice to work with. He and his family are into Disney like me and DH. Plus one of his children work within the Disney company. So that was a great topic between us. We would always compete to see who was going to WDW next! Which by the way, he won the last battle. He and his family just went a couple weeks ago.


diznee25

 

[DawnM]

I agree. It sound like next month he (or anyone left) could be let go. What a precarious job to be in. I would be looking for a different job too.

Dawn

Well it is nice not to be let go, but it sounds like he is standing on a sinking ship. I would use this time during the holidays to get my resume in order and start working my network looking for other options. Even he does end up keeping his job it is never a bad idea to get your resume up and ready to go, especially if you have had the same job for many years since it can be a daunting task to put one together when you are under the gun.

 

[Kitzka]

I'm sorry for your husband's co-workers but am glad that he survived.

Dh was laid off just before Thanksgiving. His company started out with 75 employees in the beginning of Jan and not only has about 12. It's a real skeleton crew. It looks like they will be declaring bankruptcy (not the restructuring kind) and will close up shop just after the new year. DH worked there for 11 years and the largest they had ever been was 90 employees. It was like our second family. DH was given the choice to be let go in Nov and be able to get some severance or at the end of the year and get no severance. Since we have always had the benefits through my company, we opted to have him leave now and work on getting a new job.

Luckily we can survive on what i make but it's going to be tough.

I'll be hoping that your husband is not let go in the next round. it's horrible going to work and wondering if this is the last day. DH spent all of Oct terrified to go into the office which is why we opted to take the guranteed severance.

Lara

 

[Swimalie]

I'm glad your husband is safe for now. I hope the others find work soon. My husband (a Fed employee) has been under a reduction in force since last Dec 23rd. Thanks for the Christmas present! They keep going back and forth as to if people will be let go or not. Right now we're told we're safe but we never know.

 

[diznee25]

Yea, my DH has been doing the resume' thing for over 6 months. Applying for jobs whenever they come up. Unfortunately, he hasn't gotten any call backs. (It's a tough economy.)

So it looks like for now he'll just have to stay where he's at, regardless of what happens. The bright side is after the layoff, the managers had a meeting and told everyone that if you weren't in the layoff today, then you'll be here for the long haul. But you never know....


diznee25

 

[Robinrs]

I posted on the CB how nearly half my office was let go a month ago, and ALL of my dept but me

I was left with a paycheck but doing the job of 5 people... I work from 7 to 7 and STILL do work at home.

Everyone left was left with an unbelievable task... in a sinking ship. It's frustrating and the attitude is "well at LEAST you have a job"..

I don't know how your husband feels but I am filled with survivor guilt... the people who left were like family... and it's so sad that they lost their jobs right before the holidays.

Oh, and it really helps to know that the ceo of the company just got a million dollar bonus..

 

[prncess674]

So it looks like for now he'll just have to stay where he's at, regardless of what happens. The bright side is after the layoff, the managers had a meeting and told everyone that if you weren't in the layoff today, then you'll be here for the long haul.

I wouldn't believe that, that is something managers say in desperation so they don't lose people even when the company is sinking but the company isn't completely ready to go belly up.

 

[diznee25]

I posted on the CB how nearly half my office was let go a month ago, and ALL of my dept but me

I was left with a paycheck but doing the job of 5 people... I work from 7 to 7 and STILL do work at home.

Everyone left was left with an unbelievable task... in a sinking ship. It's frustrating and the attitude is "well at LEAST you have a job"..

I don't know how your husband feels but I am filled with survivor guilt... the people who left were like family... and it's so sad that they lost their jobs right before the holidays.

Oh, and it really helps to know that the ceo of the company just got a million dollar bonus..

Oh yes....my husband and the rest of his co-workers have tremendous survivor guilt. It's one of those things where you're glad not to be laid off, but you feel so bad for those who did. There are no winners here.

Speaking of your CEO and his million dollar bonus:

Every year in December the company distributes Christmas bonuses. It's something that is never guaranteed, but nonetheless bonuses have always been given out, and they're usually a pretty decent amount. Now with the layoffs no one knows if bonuses are gonna happen. Guess we'll know by Dec. 23rd.... (Some of my DH's coworkers count on the bonus to buy Christmas for their kids. No judging them please! Just pointing out that bonuses become important when you get them year after year.)


diznee25

 

[mickycollege]

Hang in there! I know it's very tough!
I think your husband should keep looking on the side, like he's doing, just in case. Sounds like you can't be certain at all in his work, even though he's still on board.

Times are really tough. It sux that you always have to keep up a resume and look for a job when you're still working.

We need to pray for each other in these tough times.

 

[friskykitten]

Yea, my DH has been doing the resume' thing for over 6 months. Applying for jobs whenever they come up. Unfortunately, he hasn't gotten any call backs. (It's a tough economy.)

So it looks like for now he'll just have to stay where he's at, regardless of what happens. The bright side is after the layoff, the managers had a meeting and told everyone that if you weren't in the layoff today, then you'll be here for the long haul. But you never know....


diznee25

Yea, my company told our employees the same thing every time they had a layoff. I was let go in the forth or fifth layoff they had. Took seven months to find another job so I feel lucky compared to those who had been out of work for even longer. Since he is already looking and has his resume good to go, I can only say that he should keep his spirits up and continue to look for any opportunity that may work for him. I hope everything goes well for you and your husband.

 

[Robinrs]

Oh yes....my husband and the rest of his co-workers have tremendous survivor guilt. It's one of those things where you're glad not to be laid off, but you feel so bad for those who did. There are no winners here.

Speaking of your CEO and his million dollar bonus:

Every year in December the company distributes Christmas bonuses. It's something that is never guaranteed, but nonetheless bonuses have always been given out, and they're usually a pretty decent amount. Now with the layoffs no one knows if bonuses are gonna happen. Guess we'll know by Dec. 23rd.... (Some of my DH's coworkers count on the bonus to buy Christmas for their kids. No judging them please! Just pointing out that bonuses become important when you get them year after year.)


diznee25

We used to get a yearly bonus in January, also and we DID expect and count on it. It got smaller yearly but it did come. Now we get nothing, no surprise.

 

[Planogirl]

Our Management doesn't even wish their employees Merry Christmas. I've never worked anywhere that got bonuses but one place did give us a coupon for a turkey every year. That was something at least.

Congrats to your husband! These layoff merry-go-rounds are way too stressful.