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01/14/2009 01:22:11 PM · #26 |
| In 2005, after suffering through 9 years and 10 lay-offs, my number came up and I was laid off from the computer company for which I worked. When I went to look for a job, I refused to re-enter the computer industry and looked to the stability of government work. Which is where I am now. My salary was cut almost 50% from what I had been making but the stability is worth it. My husband and I both work for governments, him local, me state. Both jobs are extremely stable even if the pay sucks; we've learned to cut back. Can't cut back any more than we have, but its working for now. We have 2 years and 10 months until retirement. Everything just has to hold on until then... |
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01/14/2009 01:25:29 PM · #27 |
Originally posted by dahkota:
In 2005, after suffering through 9 years and 10 lay-offs, my number came up and I was laid off from the computer company for which I worked. When I went to look for a job, I refused to re-enter the computer industry and looked to the stability of government work. Which is where I am now. My salary was cut almost 50% from what I had been making but the stability is worth it. My husband and I both work for governments, him local, me state. Both jobs are extremely stable even if the pay sucks; we've learned to cut back. Can't cut back any more than we have, but its working for now. We have 2 years and 10 months until retirement. Everything just has to hold on until then... |
I wish you the best, Gov. here isnt quite that stable anymore. Recently a local agency let go a husband and wife who worked in the same dept, on the same day. Each had been long time employees. They even let go an employee who had 32 years in. It sad when they do things like this.
Matt
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01/14/2009 02:05:57 PM · #28 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
... what I did have saved went to my ex in the divorce. Which brings up another issue; my kids. I have joint custody with my ex and they spend about half the time with me and half with her. If I have to move to get work...well...I guess my kids will effectively lose their dad in the deal. |
No matter what we think of each other, and you know what I mean...I hope the best for your children.
No child should be without a dad.
I was.
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01/14/2009 02:07:25 PM · #29 |
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
... what I did have saved went to my ex in the divorce. Which brings up another issue; my kids. I have joint custody with my ex and they spend about half the time with me and half with her. If I have to move to get work...well...I guess my kids will effectively lose their dad in the deal. |
No matter what we think of each other, and you know what I mean...I hope the best for your children.
No child should be without a dad.
I was. |
Thanks. I appreciate that. |
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01/14/2009 02:47:00 PM · #30 |
My wife is a real estate agent, but between the down turn in the real estate market and moving to a new state she now was a real estate agent. She's looking for a job, but there are a lot more job seekers then jobs right now.
Luckily we base all the bills on my pay, and even though my company is facing layoffs I think I'm pretty safe for now.
I'm hoping things turn around quick for everyone. |
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01/14/2009 03:10:13 PM · #31 |
Yes. I was fired by my boss the day after Thanksgiving because she claimed I had "lost my fire." I would have quit months before because her management was often illegal and immoral, but I knew that I would have difficulty finding a job, so I stayed. Right after I was fired, I went home, updated my resume and was eager to go job hunting later that day. It's been a month and a half now and even though I am a polished and articulate young lady (what past employers who hired me right away said) they just look at me with sad eyes because they know I'm screwed and they can't hire me. I'm a photography student and I'd like to find a job in a studio but that has proved impossible thus far.
My stepdad was also affected. He was the CEO to his pharamceutical company and they shut them down last month. They keep him on as a consultant for now, but he may now retire at 58. My mom is planning on retiring in March and is living off half of her paycheck right now. Up until now she has greatly supported me financially with school, insurance and even some allowance for gas money. Once she retires I don't know what I will do. I wanted to move out of their house years ago (I'm 20) but I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where the average rent for a average 1 bedroom is $1500...on a good day. I am planning on moving down to LA in June with my friend and her family because she has connections for getting cheap rent. I hate LA with a passion btw. I wanted to move in with one of my friends, but one joined the Marines, I ditched one because she was financially unstable, and my other friends don't have jobs either right now.
I am so at a loss what to do right now. I am a full time student and my tuition rate increased big time because my college had most of its money invested in Lehmann Brothers. I'm trying to get a degree that will likely be useless, I can't find a job, I can't move, and my account is dwindling...I can't start my own life. Things better get better.
Message edited by author 2009-01-14 15:15:00. |
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01/14/2009 03:46:49 PM · #32 |
Don't hate me, but the economy hasn't affected me. (Not right now anyways.) It has affected my stock, but since I wasn't planning on cashing in on any of those anytime soon it doesn't affect me right now. (Out of sight out of mind I guess.)
I would say the economy has affected me in a non-financial way. Because I'm stubborn and refuse to pay high prices for things like gas, soda and eggs, I quit buying them until they went down in price. The great thing was that I noticed that I really didn't need to drive my car so much and buy/drink so much soda and stuff like that. I've made several little changes like that in my life, which I think in the long run will benefit me and probably the environment too. |
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01/14/2009 03:47:50 PM · #33 |
Originally posted by fir3bird:
Originally posted by avalanche1030:
Out of 5 Executives we are now down to 2. |
With that change alone there should be many improvements at your place. :) |
I appreciate that they understand that it would be more prudent to cut loose 1 executive rather than 5 workers. Plus the ones who were let go were not bringing to the table anything that justified their positions. |
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01/14/2009 03:48:12 PM · #34 |
I think there's some good brain-power in this thread. I'll bet that if we all put our heads together, we could come up with some awesome scheme, as in Ocean's Eleven. What do you say?
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01/14/2009 03:51:28 PM · #35 |
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
I think there's some good brain-power in this thread. I'll bet that if we all put our heads together, we could come up with some awesome scheme, as in Ocean's Eleven. What do you say? |
O.K. You grab the rickshaws, I'll grab the hobos. And we're off!!
(Gotta love Seinfeld) |
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01/14/2009 03:53:10 PM · #36 |
| We can just walk into Circuit City, grab a big screen HD TV, walk out and then sell it for about half price. If we all pair up, we might be able to make some cash. |
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01/14/2009 04:25:32 PM · #37 |
My beautiful state of Oregon is in the top 5 for unemployment right now, and I'm sure my city is helping substantially with that ranking.
It started in the fall with a major manufacturing company closing its doors and laying off 1,100 employees. That was our city's wake-up-call. Other businesses followed.
- A car dealership that had been around for as long as anyone can remember closed its doors.
- There was a printing company that's been around for 101 years that closed laying off 30 employees.
- In December another major manufacturing company announced that they will be closing their doors this month laying off upwards around 1,000. They had already temporarily laid their workers off in December hoping to resume work in January. That apparently fell through.
- Another manufacturer of the same product is seeking financial counseling to try and save itself.
- I can only imagine that smaller businesses that fed these big ones will follow right behind them.
My company has been fighting layoffs for a year now already. They've been trickling some bad seeds out. The latest this month was a 20+ year employee. A year ago my shift had roughly 70 people, and as of today we have 21. Monday I had to let 11 of my temps go, and Tuesday they let another 10-15 go on the morning shift. That was all of the temps we had, so now the rest of us are wondering what's next. Temps are to be expected, because well they're "temporary", but I've never seen the company with no temps. I'm predicting a shift merge soon. I don't want to go to dayshift (it's just not my style!), but hopefully I'll still at least have my job.
The rumor was 40 to be cut in January. I hope that rumor was wrong, because we'd still have 20 to go... or another 40 if that initial count didn't include the temporary employees we just had to let go.
Moral is not good. |
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01/14/2009 04:38:58 PM · #38 |
Thankfully, I haven't really been affected much by the slow economy - I graduated with my BA in May and took a job working for the state government in June. I had to move in order to accept it, but I thought that I was going to be looking for a long time the way the media was sounding, so I took the job and moved knowing that I was fortunate. I work as an Agricultural Employment Specialist, and I know that there is a huge portion of the population that is affected by the economy in our area. My job is slow these days because employers can't employ and workers can't get work. Everybody is really frustrated on all sides of the situation.
edit for spelling
Message edited by author 2009-01-14 16:40:34. |
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01/14/2009 04:47:50 PM · #39 |
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
I think there's some good brain-power in this thread. I'll bet that if we all put our heads together, we could come up with some awesome scheme, as in Ocean's Eleven. What do you say? |
I'm in! What do you have in mind? I'm thinking maybe a scheme that gets us some of that bailout money. |
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01/14/2009 05:06:06 PM · #40 |
There's a big purge sweeping through my company today. We are the largest company in the world for what we do (Fortune 500 #335) Lost one in my department, lost one in a department next to me (someone I work with and also like personally) Lay-offs are never fun. I think I'm safe for now - but I'll let you know tomorrow if I'm still here...
I'm contemplating a new camera. -maybe foolish, but at times like this, art takes on a stronger role. Life gets a little harder and we see ugliness, greed and desperation around us. My art isn't gallery-worthy. But I enjoy it, and that makes my world a little better. |
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01/14/2009 05:13:04 PM · #41 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I work in engineering for an automotive supplier...I haven't been laid off...yet.
I'm polishing my resume and making sure to stay in touch with my external contacts. Unfortunately, Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in tha nation and it's expected to increase to 15% or more in '09. There simply aren't any jobs out there. As a barometer, the job listings in my local paper have typically occupied about 4 full pages. Now, they're down to less than half a page. Local job listings online are similarly sparse. There just aren't any job openings in any sector
If I do get laid off, I have some savings, so I'll be OK for a while, but most of what I did have saved went to my ex in the divorce. Which brings up another issue; my kids. I have joint custody with my ex and they spend about half the time with me and half with her. If I have to move to get work...well...I guess my kids will effectively lose their dad in the deal. I try not to think about that. |
That's a frightening possibility for your kids Spazmo. On the bright side, the last figures I read from the Free Press (I think a week ago) said Michigan is expected to drop to only about 11% unemployment by next year. Bad, yes, but not quite as dire as the 15-20% range. If you're in Detroit, on the other hand, the city itself has already gone above 16% unemployment.
I'm closer to Flint where I teach in the public schools & see ex-GM families moving out of my district (right out of my classroom) on a regular basis. Schools have been relatively safe for employment so far, but I don't think the harsh economic realities have had enough time to fully propagate out to the schools yet, so I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Schools have been a sacred cow to this point in Michigan, but I would bet that district budgets will need to be substantially trimmed before long.
Good luck to you Spazmo, and to all of us here in the state that is pioneering unemployment in the 21st century. :-/ |
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01/14/2009 05:41:00 PM · #42 |
| Government grants for medical research have been cut. Our grant did not get refunded. Anyone need an electron microscopist come July? |
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01/14/2009 05:51:42 PM · #43 |
I was an Assistant Creative Director and Web Development Manager for a local (Austin, TX) advertising company and was told in September that they couldn't keep me in the capacity that I was working in and would I move to a contract position. After the shock, I said OK (what choice did I have??) and then they worked me only 5 hours a week for a month???? OMG! So I got frustrated and told them I couldn't put my energy into their business anymore and left. I was told just this week that I am not elegible for any unemployement (I was out of work for 3 months!) but did find another contract position working for the State of Texas - it's a very short-term contract but it pays well so I might make it until my taxes come in (around the 1st of February) which should be a nice chunk o change. I'm just glad I don't have to sell my camera.. that was the final option.
Message edited by author 2009-01-14 17:52:28. |
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01/14/2009 05:57:59 PM · #44 |
| I worked in the payday and title loan industry and I was just laid off Friday. Their reason is that we as a company weren't making enough money and they couldn't predict the future enough to keep me. We just found out yesterday that we are expecting. It felt like we were finally caught up and could stand on our own feet and the damned rug got yanked out from under us. |
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01/14/2009 07:05:10 PM · #45 |
Like  fir3bird, I also work in manufacturing. I manage a steel plant that had 50 shop employees one year ago, but after slowing sales and the resulting two layoffs, we are down to just 18 employees. Sales are off 70% from one year ago, and here in Florida unemployment is at a 15 year high with record foreclosures. And this is not due to the media hyping the bad news, Hawkeye, or at least not in my state.
Edited to add a good luck to Man_Called_Horse with the truck driving. Many freight line (company and owner/operator) drivers here are working 2 or 3 days per week, and drivers are parking their rigs and walking away.
Message edited by author 2009-01-14 19:10:56. |
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01/14/2009 07:46:24 PM · #46 |
I live in the county that has the highest unemployment rate in the state that has the highest unemployment rate nationally (Michigan) (ie - it's very bad here).
Luckily, years ago, I didn't put my geochemistry degrees to work and instead opted to find gainful employ at the local, privately owned telco. So far people still want their phones and people still want their Intertubes, which means I still have a job. So far.
Still - I wouldn't mind dipping into the TARP fund, I could use a million or two to help the economy. |
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01/14/2009 07:59:51 PM · #47 |
The company I'm with manufactures electronic hardware for both commercial and military (US and elsewhere) and so we have been better off than most. I've gotten my notice twice this decade, however, at less stable companies, the first time right after 9-11. Many I know are out looking, or worried that they will be.
I've been looking in our area for jobs in the engineering field for a relative, and the listings are *very* thin compared to normal... and our economy here is supposedly in better shape than in many places. Scary times indeed. My thoughts are with all those who have lost employment or otherwise been affected. |
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01/14/2009 08:07:36 PM · #48 |
Originally posted by fldave:
Edited to add a good luck to Man_Called_Horse with the truck driving. Many freight line (company and owner/operator) drivers here are working 2 or 3 days per week, and drivers are parking their rigs and walking away. |
Thanks for the well wish, however, I am finding out that that option is even more unrealistic as well.
I guess there are a lot of unemployed truck drivers.
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01/14/2009 08:25:57 PM · #49 |
Originally posted by Marc923:
We can just walk into Circuit City, grab a big screen HD TV, walk out and then sell it for about half price. If we all pair up, we might be able to make some cash. |
didn't they close all of those? |
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01/14/2009 08:29:39 PM · #50 |
Originally posted by love:
I was an Assistant Creative Director and Web Development Manager for a local (Austin, TX) advertising company and was told in September that they couldn't keep me in the capacity that I was working in and would I move to a contract position. After the shock, I said OK (what choice did I have??) and then they worked me only 5 hours a week for a month???? OMG! So I got frustrated and told them I couldn't put my energy into their business anymore and left. I was told just this week that I am not elegible for any unemployement (I was out of work for 3 months!) but did find another contract position working for the State of Texas - it's a very short-term contract but it pays well so I might make it until my taxes come in (around the 1st of February) which should be a nice chunk o change. I'm just glad I don't have to sell my camera.. that was the final option. |
Hey, if you're good with the web stuff, try this company - bazaarvoice.com. They are hiring, and there are some good folks there. |
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