Update: As I suspected, I got laid off today (along with five others).

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

They told my good friend, the office manager (who just got back from medical leave and whose mother passed away on Christmas), that they were going to cut her hours from 40 to 30 "or she could quit."

They laid off three guys who work in the shop (welders/mechanics) of my now-former company, and the CAD Designer. They also laid off the admin. assistant in one of the departments who said, "I do a good job; my guys will look out for me." OK, no one is looking out for you. I did a good job. It's about the money (of course, the fat cats kept their cushy jobs).

The construction coordinator was told to do her job plus the admin's job "or quit."

One of my friends who doesn't work there thinks I got the better deal (severance plus they are going to pay my vacation and sick leave).

Yikes!

[debbierlus]

1. I am very, very sorry to hear this - best of luck to you are your colleagues....

[msongs]

2. what is the name of your "former company"? nt

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

19. Would rather not name the former company. Not a big or well-known firm.

[patrice]

3. Sorry! Been there done that twice. I know how you feel.

You KNOW your work is good; you know you are busy ALL of the time; you know you are an asset to Everyone. None of that matters.

America is gone. I don't know where we are now.

[Canuckistanian]

4. They really said that - "...or quit"?

No pep talk, no "we value your services, but can we ask you to do a little more"?

Just a a cold, hard threat like "do this or else?"?

[TwixVoy]

13. Welcome to corporate america

[kimmylavin]

26. Jeez, at least they got that.

When they started laying people off at my company, the rest of us were told that we should be happy to pick up the slack from six other people - we were lucky to have jobs.

Then they laid off a few more - BY MAIL, with no warning.

Then, after the rest of us (about 20 left) were told that our supervisor thinks of us as nothing but "blobs of hours," six of us were called into a room and told that we were now "On Call." That was in July, and I haven't heard a single call.

Makes you feel warm and fuzzy all over, doesn't it?

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

32. I mean, I wasn't in the room or anything, but that's what my friends told me.

[msongs]

5. what is the name of your "former company"? nt

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

20. Don't want to name company (not a well-known one, though).

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

22. Don't want to name company (not a well-known one, though).

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

23. Don't want to name company (not a well-known one, though).

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

24. Don't want to name company (not a well-known one, though).

n/t

[patrice]

6. Sorry! Been there done that twice. I know how you feel.

You KNOW your work is good; you know you are busy ALL of the time; you know you are an asset to Everyone. None of that matters.

America is gone. I don't know where we are now.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

38. Soon we will be like third world nations.

People will resort to bartering and selling goods on the streets, food prep, and various scams.
It's inevitable since people must feed their families and find some kind of housing. Unemployment
has run out for many people and friends and family are dealing with their own issues.


Suburban America is becoming obsolete. Houses are unaffordable and communities aren't
designed for alternative working and living conditions.

[patrice]

40. We, ourselves, need to make those changes necessary to make our communities suitable for

alternative working and living conditions.

[LooseWilly]

43. Funny, you just described what Oakland's been like for decades...

I guess the inner city's growing?

When your suburb starts passing laws that they will ticket and tow any vehicle that doesn't move for 72 hours (move being defined as traveling at least 1 mile), in the name of "preventing blight", then you'll know you've "arrived".

[EmeraldCityGrl]

44. More people from the suburbs will migrate to the city. They will

need to take advantage of things like public transportation, food banks, community services in general
They also have a better chance of employment. Some people will learn to turn their suburban neighborhoods
into something more community friendly by establishing pea patches, childcare centers, community centers
for meetings and classes.

Ridiculous laws are being passed to generate revenue as more municipalities go broke. It's unbelievable the
stuff they come up with.

[Catshrink]

7. Sorry to hear your news.

:grouphug:

[mdmc]

8. I once worked for a place that fired half of their case managers

then told the remaining case managers would have double caseloads (20 instead of 10 clients).
We all just rolled our eyes, told them they were insane, but said "sure" and just kept doing what we were doing.
The company lost its contract with the county. The case managers all went to the (unionized) county or to another outsourced service agencies. All of us made more money and watched as our bosses tried to explain how we were able to "handle" the large caseloads.
I remember our country overseerer asking the case managers and the bosses, "Are you sure one person can handle 20 cases?" All the bosses were like "yes.yes." and the case mangers just rolled their eyes.

[mdmc]

9. I once worked for a place that fired half of their case managers

then told the remaining case managers would have double caseloads (20 instead of 10 clients).
We all just rolled our eyes, told them they were insane, but said "sure" and just kept doing what we were doing.
The company lost its contract with the county. The case managers all went to the (unionized) county or to another outsourced service agencies. All of us made more money and watched as our bosses tried to explain how we were able to "handle" the large caseloads.
I remember our country overseerer asking the case managers and the bosses, "Are you sure one person can handle 20 cases?" All the bosses were like "yes.yes." and the case mangers just rolled their eyes.

[Maru Kitteh]

10. I'm very sorry to give you the 5th rec. This just sucks.

[Xipe Totec]

11. Welcome, sister!

As a veteran of multiple layoffs, I say take the money and don't look back.

At least you are in a position to blame the economy for the layoff; nobody will think less of you.

Say so to your prospective employers when you go out looking for a job.

It was a great company. I understand the decision, given the economic situation. Everybody was great there, but I'm ready to move on and take on the next challenge in my life. I am just looking for the right company in need of my unique skills.

Keep your chin up, and let them know you're a winner.

[NNN0LHI]

12. I am sick to hear about this

Unemployment isn't fun. I know it from personal experience.

I really hope you find something soon.

Good luck and best wishes.

Don

Edit: And try not to let it get you down. Its not your fault.

[Odin2005]

14. That sucks.

:(

[goldcanyonaz]

15. As an engineer, I know many CAD designers being laid off. They now expect us to do those jobs.

In the past few years I notice job descriptions for electrical engineers reading "CAD experience" which is something we were never expected to know or do in the past.

[Nikki Stone1]

42. They are trying to double up to "save" on salaries and choke more work out of everyone.

Greedy bastards.

[goldcanyonaz]

16. dupe.

[lib2DaBone]

17. Sorry to hear. I know how you feel. I was laid off today as well...

Last week.. we agreed to take a $4-an-hour pay cut. Then today, they came back and said that was not enough.

Where will it stop? The Corporations and Banksters are out of control.. 10 times more criminal than any Mafia enforcer and more ruthless than any street-level crack dealer.

I call them crack dealers in three-piece suits.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

18. (((hugs))) lib2DaBone.

Crack dealers is about right. Unreal. I'm sorry to hear you were laid off as well.

[democrank]

21. So sorry, SCRUB.

Hope some good will come of this.

[democrank]

25. So sorry, SCRUB.

Hope some good will come of this.

[mnhtnbb]

27. So sorry to hear this. Hope you are able to find something else

before too long. At least they gave you severance!

[DesertFlower]

28. sorry to hear this. nt

[KG]

29. pah! you're just a gloom and doomer!

:eyes:

[Stinky The Clown]

31. I assume you forgot the sarcasm tag

[KG]

34. sarcasm tags are for lamers.

i've been a proud gloom and doomer since i got laid off 16 months ago. :P

[Cleita]

30. I'm sorry that this happened to you and the others.

No doubt the fat cats who are keeping their jobs are a useless waste of desk space. They usually are.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

33. Pretty much. CFO, Treasurer (all he ever does is play on his cell phone),

Exec VP and Pres. Plus, the senior vice presidents and another vice president. That VP, who I worked with, is always fucking shit up; of course, he keeps his job.

[HughBeaumont]

35. As you know, this is never something you want to hear.

I really want to think that everyone here will keep the unemployed in their thoughts. I also wonder if people are cheerleading economic failure or pining for a depression in hopes that will be the "last straw" to get people off their asses.

Every time I hear about layoffs, it only makes me think "how much longer before it happens to me"?

I think the one good thing that came out of this is the severance and the vacation package. At least you have that to take with you.

Your in my thoughts and I hope you'll pull through. Corporate America has become a sham and a disease. It almost seems like there's no end in sight. Recessions do end. I just wish they didn't drag on so damned long.

[roguevalley]

36. I'm so sorry, Scrubdashrub. You are not alone unfortunately. My two

brothers bit it too. Stay strong and come here often. HUGS!

[Berry Cool]

37. I'm very sorry.

And also sorry for your good friend. And everyone else. Sheesh.

[MH1]

39. Sorry to hear this ... for what it's worth:

I have been in some meetings at my job recently where they talk about a (current or imminent? not sure) shortage of "craft" workers, i.e. trades ... welders were specifically mentioned ... if these people know what they are talking about, and they should, your welder friends at least should be able to get hired again soon. Of course the pay might be lower and I'm don't mean to imply that the situation doesn't suck ... just that maybe it doesn't suck as bad as it could.

If you want a contact number for a company that might be hiring craft workers, p.m. me. It might be Monday or Tuesday til I get to it but I'll at least get you some info.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

41. Thanks for all the support you guys.