Layoff Stories
Layoff stories are now housed in the Forum section of Fired For Now. I’ll be leaving this page up so previous stories can be read.
To share a new one, please don’t use the comment section here.
Just visit and share your story of getting laid off or fired at the forum. You’re in good company.
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fired said:
Dec 19, 08 at 6:38 pmLet me start the ball rolling. My former boss likes to read industry books.
The morning I was laid off, I sent an email to my boss asking him if he’d like to see a book I had that would be very interesting regarding a project we were working on.
He sent an email back saying “Awesome! I’ll come pick it up - thanks!”
An hour and an a half later I was called in for a chat. I had no idea what it was about so I grabbed the book and brought it with me to save him the trip. He took it from me, and thanked me. Then he told me the news I was being let go, and holding the book out, said, “I guess you want this back?”
Totally awesome. Right!
Ian Schlueter said:
Dec 21, 08 at 10:32 amI was told Jan 2007 that I probably should start getting ready for a layoff, that they would let me know by Feb.. then May… Then Jun… then they called off the outsourcing deal in July… Aug drug by, then Sept and Oct… In November they promised us a date in Dec. Dec 11th 2008, nearly a year later I was told my last day would be Jan 30th.
It do appreciate the advanced notice… I really do, it was a relief to finally have certainty, and they have extended everyone a very fair package and are providing alot of assistance in resume writing and stress management etc…. overall it absolutely stinks having given the last 6 years to this place and to lose the job, but the package and the way that they are handling our terminations is really exceptional in the industry.
Beth said:
Dec 29, 08 at 4:27 pmSo, I had searched for a job for over a year. Because I am still in school, I could only work jobs that would be willing to work around my school hours during the school year. That, combined with the fact that I was not allowed to work during high school or the first two years of college, causing my work experience to be very little, made finding a job quite difficult. But finally, I had found a job at a call center. The management fully agreed to work around school and everything. On top of that, I enjoyed the people I worked with and even what I was doing (It was incoming customer service). I really liked helping people. But, 2 weeks after training was up, they told us that in 4 weeks, we were all being laid off. Because I had only worked there for a few weeks, I was ineligible for unemployment or any type of severance. And on top of that, I found out the company was EXPECTING this to happen, and hired new people any way without letting any of us know!
Now, I’m stuck searching, AGAIN… and now my problem is compounded even more, with the fact that the city I live in has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country… and I am competeing with hundreds of people for even the most menial jobs.
fired said:
Dec 29, 08 at 5:21 pmWow - that they would hire knowing that not only makes them utterly insensitive, but kind of incompetent too. Why would any company invest in training people they intended to lay off so soon? But in this economy, I think we’re learning anything is possible!
Suprise! You're Unemployed! said:
Jan 01, 09 at 8:02 pmI work(ed) at a local casual fine dining restaurant. They went all out for New Year’s Eve with a $55/head 6 course meal and a wine social that went until 2am. We were all pumped up about it… we worked until midnight, made good money, and all went home happy. Unfortunately the feeling didn’t last.
When we came in for our shift today we were greeted with a restaurant that was shuttered and deserted. The only explanation was a single sheet of computer paper with the word “CLOSED” typed on it. After some frantic calling around we found out that the restaurant was closed for good. Talk about total shock.
Happy New Year… You’re unemployed!
fired said:
Jan 02, 09 at 8:43 amThey didn’t even tell you in person? Firing people certainly has a way of bringing out the worst in people! Good luck with your search.
STEVE said:
Jan 03, 09 at 12:18 pmWHERE TO BEGIN?IT STARTED BEST I REMEMBER AFTER SERVING IN ARMED SERVICE 1969/1971(HONORABLE,VIETNAM VET) I WORKED ON A FARM AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE SO I SPENT MOST MY MONEY RESTORING AN OLD 1950 CHRYSLER.NEXT THING I KNOW HE CLAIMS HE WAS FORCED TO SELL HIS FARM IN FLORIDA AND HAD A FAMILY DOWN THERE THAT HAD BEEN WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME AND HAD TO LET THEM REPLACE ME.
NEXT AND I AM SKIPPING SOME 1976 I PARKED CARS FOR MIN WAGE AND THIS ONE GIRL I WOULD RETRIEVE HER CAR I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT SHE MIGHT BE INTERESTED .NOW I NOT REAL GOOD WITH SMALL TALK PLUS NERVOUS CONFRONTING THE OPPOSITE SEX SO I LEFT A NOTE IN HER CAR.SHE WENT BOLISTIC AND THE SUPER STATING “I DIDNT READ ANYTHING OUT OF LINE BUT …”LOST MY JOB
1976 AGAIN I WAS A DRIVER FOR A NEW DEALERSHIP AND ONE SAT. I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER WHO WAS I HAD ASSUMED WAS THE SUPER ,TO PAINT MY CAR AND HE SAID NO PROBLEM.I SET IT UP WITH A LARGE FAN AND CLOSE TO THE EXAUST FAN SO NO OVERSPRAY ON ANY OTHER VEHICLES WOULD BE AFFECTED…LOST MY JOB AGAIN
I CAN LIST AT LEAST 20 OR MORE OF THE SAME TYPE WRONGFUL DISCHARGE’S.I HAVE NEVER DONE AN EMPLOYER WRONG IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM.AND THIS STILL IS HAPPENING TO ME THIS DAY JUST IN 2005.
ONE LAST EXAMPLE: I WAS THERE 11MO.27 DAYS.AND YOU GET 2WKS VAC FIRST YEAR.THEY STARTED THIS BANN ON SMOKING 30 FEET AWAY FROM BUILDING NOW.I HAVE BEEN A SMOKER SINCE I WAS 10 AND THIS HAS BECOME A PROBLEM FOR ME FOR YEARS BUT FOR THE LONGEST TIME AS LONG AS YOU DONT STAY OUT FOR 2 OR THREE EVERY 10 MIN NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE.I LEARNED TO THINK BETTER WITH THE HELP OF A SMOKE WHEN I RUN INTO A PROBLEM ON THE MACHINE’S.NOW THAT YOU HAVE TO STAND AWAY FROM THE BUILDING IT IS MORE EVIDENT TO JACKASS’S AND SOME REPORT’S WERE MADE.NOW I HAVE WATCHED ALOT OF THESE NON SMOKER’S BULLSHIT FOR 20 MIN AT A TIME 3 TO 5 X’S A DAY TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM GOLF TO RACE CAR DRIVING TO BALL TEAMS TO HOME REPAIR AND I FIANALLY LOST IT AND EMAILED THE OWNER(VERY LARGE SHOP)STATEING THIS, NOT NAMING ANY NAME’S.MY 3 MIN CIG 4 TIME’S A DAY IS A FAR CRY FROM 5 EMPLOYEE’S 20 MIN(SOMETIMES GREATER) 5X’S A DAY.I WAS LAYED OFF 2 WEEKS LATER 3 DAYS FROM MY ANIVERSERY DATE….LAYED OFF
Sue said:
Jan 03, 09 at 3:41 pmOn a Wednesday I received an e-mail from my boss ordering me to fire one of my subordinates. I spoke to my her on Friday morning - it was painful and horrible. On Friday afternoon my boss fired me! What an a**!!!!!!!!
fired said:
Jan 03, 09 at 9:10 pmWow Sue, I’m really sorry this happened to you. That’s just plain cowardly — getting you to be his/her hatchet man first, only to be waiting in the wings with his/her own hatchet. Not to mention that my understanding has always been that Friday is a day to avoid for firing someone as it leaves them heading into a weekend without the ability to take any immediate action if they choose to. Having said that, I was fired on a Friday
Take care.
fired said:
Jan 03, 09 at 10:00 pmNorm said:
Jan 20, 09 at 8:44 pmI’ve been laid off 4 times in the last 8 years. So like you, I decided to start writing about it. My blog is called Jobless and Less. Here’s the link…
http://www.joblessandless.com/
Here’s a link to the story of my first layoff…
http://www.joblessandless.com/2008/12/my-first-layoff-how-it-all-began/
I’d love to exchange links since we’re kindred spirits. Send me an email.
Norm
Kathy said:
Jan 27, 09 at 8:16 amI was fired the day before Christmas Eve. I had been with this company 3 1/2 years and had put my blood, sweat, and tears for this company. Over the last year, business was either extremely good, or terrible. It really was going with the economy. I had felt as of the last 4-5 months that my DM was really trying to find reasons to replace me. I had never been writen up for anything in 2 1/2 years and all of a sudden I am being written up for everything. I realized that because of business being tough and the amount they were paying me was killing our payroll and that they wanted to replace me with someone they could pay less. The final writeup was something that occured in November but they did not submit the writeup until December because they wanted to get through the holidays. The writeup was for something really unreasonable so thats why there was no urgency. I have never been fired for anything in my life. I was devastated. I even emailed my Regional Manager, who was my District Manager when I was hired as a store manager. I just wanted to thank him for giving me the opportunity to work for the company and I hope I could use them for a reference. He didnt even respond. I have been interviewing and applying for every job possible and because I live in a state that the unemployment rate is through the roof, it has been difficult. I believe everything happens for a reason, because I continue to communicate with individuals that still work for that company and
they continue to tell me how unhappy they are. So, for anyone out there that is unemployed, or has been laid off, stay positive and remember all of your great skills. Things do happen for a reason, even if they suck at the time.
Tina said:
Jan 28, 09 at 11:26 amMy company was merging…but we were strong and financially solid. I was “laid off” because we were “reorganizing”. Total cr*p. It was politically motivated. I was with the company for 15 years and with the merger becoming complete in two days they didn’t want someone who knew the history of certain things around when all the new players came to play in one sandbox. My same job was posted on the site a week later. So, while they position it as a lay off, and I got severance I was fired flat out. As it sinks in it just makes me angry.
It’s all for the best though. The senior executives were tearing into each other constantly and it was like walking around in a field of land mines. I’m delighted not to have to walk around the land mines any more, but I have never not worked. It’s awful.
I know things will get better, but I completely understand the feeling of just trying to put one foot in front of the other. How a good day can lead straight to a completely depressing day. I do believe everything happens for a reason too. Right now I’ve just got to let go of the anger and start focusing on getting another job.
fired said:
Jan 28, 09 at 1:32 pmWow, 15 years is a long time. It makes total sense you’re angry and resentful. I found I had to feel it before I could start to let it go. I just made sure I’d rage in controlled spurts to avoid getting it on anyone else
I hope the severance was decent and you have a good cushion. Baby steps.
BigDaddyCool said:
Jan 31, 09 at 10:22 pmWell, here’s my story…
I worked for a circuit-board manufacturer in Southern California. I was pretty good at my job and I got along well with everyone there. But business wasn’t so good at one point and I started to notice that not as many of the manufacturing staff were coming in like they used to. We went from a staff of 120 to 50 in a matter of weeks.
Then it was my turn.
It just happened to be December 4th, the day after my birthday when I got called into the office to be told that I was being let go. I had a feeling it was coming and I asked if I could simply cut my hours down to part-time instead of full-time so that my wife and I could still have some money coming in. A couple of weeks before we took out a loan on the house to pay off some debt and the timing was really rotten.
The VP of Manufacturing told me that it wasn’t possible because they had no new business coming in. He showed me the business calander and I could see that he was telling the truth. I had organized those same calanders for them which told them how much business they could count on, so I knew how to read it and I knew he was telling the truth. I was told later that there was a possiblility that they would be able to bring me back around April or May.
Here’s the kicker…that was six years ago!!! They said that they wanted to bring me back and they would call me when I could. They never did call. So I went out looking for work but I had very little response and time and money that we saved was running out. We ended up selling the house (the house I grew up in by the way) and ended up moving out of state to try to find work. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find work in our new home either.
So now I’m trying to re-invent myself as a blogger (hail brothers and sisters, when do I get taught the secret handshake?) and I’m trying to make a place for those of us who have been unemployed for an extended period of time. Since I’ve been out of work so long I’m no longer called unemployed, apparently now I’m “underutilized”. That means: no longer collecting unemployment, working part-time or just given up looking because it’s so bad out there. I try to be informative, humorous and help when I can. I also comment about current events and how they can pertain to the job market and our prospects of working again. I can be found at http://bigdaddycool.info
I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t give up trying and don’t give up looking. You never know what you may attract your way that will change everything.
See ya around,
BigDaddyCool
squid said:
Feb 05, 09 at 8:36 pmMy initial experience with layoff/joblessness traumatized me.
In 2002, I tempted at this place for 1.5 years - working my butt off hoping that the company would hire me full time. They never did, and eventually eliminated my position. I wasn’t angry then. They were not obligated to hire me, plus they were going into bankruptcy. I had too much hope and I was naive at my first job.
I took the next job at a call center hoping that aftter my summer probation I would be hired full time. That never happened because the company cooked its books.
I temped again at this presitgious company, I put in the best efforts I could to get hired full time, but they only wanted me to fill in for a month until they could find someone else.
I think with all those high hopes and recent accounting scandals, I started not believing in corporate america and their “loyalty” to employees and the intelligence of management. I’m so skeptical that since 2004, I jumped jobs after jobs after jobs to obtain the mandatory experiences and skills I need to survive in the future.
Even witnessing how employers are treating employees in this current economy makes my blood boil. People say “be lucky you have a job” - I keep thinking “So What?” Unless something improves or changes in corporate America, I’ll always be worried. I’ll never be grateful for the fact I still have a job. That’s only temporary relief until the next recession. Fairness, respect, and compensation to every working American needs to be improved.
I currently work two jobs, don’t eat out, don’t buy unncessary crap. I get laughed at by my superiors at work, but I can tell I’m much better off financially than they are.
fired said:
Feb 07, 09 at 8:33 amSquid, I can definitely relate with your cynicism. I’ve jumped around a lot more than I would have liked to job-wise and it’s easy to feel beat-up by the system. I try to look at the things I am grateful for, which gets harder in times like these. Hang in and thanks for sharing your story.
PW said:
Feb 12, 09 at 11:39 amI feel like crap today. The local news agencies are all abuzz - announcing that it’s one year until the 2010 Olympics. I’m so worried that it’s hard to see beyond today. Slim prospects, poor finances, significantly lowered expectations seem all the more poignant.
fired said:
Feb 12, 09 at 4:02 pmYeah, PW, I hear you. How can we get all excited about something so far in the distance when it’s hard to see through to next week and next month? It makes sense you feel like crap. The only reassuring words I have is that it is temporary. I’ve learned enough to know that whatever I’m going through emotionally at any given time, it doesn’t last. It may come back again (lol), but I don’t stay in the same negative state without let up. This too shall pass. Remember to breathe.
sourgirl said:
Feb 12, 09 at 7:22 pmI wish I could say that I was laid-off. People find out that I am no longer working for the place I worked for many years, and they say, “OH did you take a better job?” Um, no. They then look at me funny;”OH, you must have been laid off? Um, no. You can see, they were going to sympathize w/me about the economy and dirtbags that run these companies, but now I imagine they realize that I must have done something bad, and deserve to have been fired, because of course, I was. I just want to say, I am and have been a bang up awesome employee. I try to get along w/all the best I can, even crazy people, and I am a loyal hardworking assistant. But I am also a wise-cracking, tell-it-like-is person, and that, ultimately is what got me fired. From a place where such things never happen. My previous employer took common everyday stuff (a little internet action; irreverent comments made in work emails to coworkers) and made all that stuff sound so against any company’s generic computer policy, and so ultimately I was fired. When they were done w/their legal jargon, it sounded like I had sold company secrets to China. I tried to fight it, but everyone signs a statement, and “malfeasance” is a very effective legal term used to cover anything the employer doed not like). There was no attempt made to address the problem and keep me, someone who had never been in trouble previously. My boss, her best friend, and their boss did not like me, (apparently never had) and did not like what I had written in emails about them. (To a coworker, privately, not broadcast to all the world). SO, WATCH WHAT YOU DO ON THAT COMPUTER BECAUSE IF THEY DECIDE THEY DON’T LIKE YOU, THEY CAN SCREW YOU ON THAT W/VERY LITTLE TROUBLE. It all was so senseless, and I was wrong, but not so wrong as to be booted out and treated like a criminal almost. Now I get my daily dose of screwed, w/my self-doubt and self-kicking. I did get another job, but my fear-factor is in full force. I want to relax and like my job, but I just can’t anymore. I certainly can’t trust anyone anymore, and how can you get passionate when you know that it doesn’t really matter how good of a job you do. They either like you or they don’t; or they DID like you, but NOW they don’t, and what you actual work quality is has little to do with it. I have decided that a career, or a job I love and am TRULY appreciated for is not in the cards for me, and I will just job-hop for the rest of my job-life. That way, I have no hopes or expectations to crush. In a way, it’s kind of liberating. It’s just a paycheck, and that’s good enough.
PW said:
Feb 13, 09 at 11:11 amHi “fired” - I feel a bit better today - thank you for your note and reminder. My former assistant and my former graphic artist called today to see how I was doing. They were lamenting about how quiet the office has been since I left (got zipped) in November and how they never go out for lunches together anymore. I suppose that I wasn’t always particularly quiet during my time there but really, does the workplace have to be like a morgue? We really did work hard together, sometimes under impossible and ridiculous deadlines and always under stress so it was good to bring some humour into the mix and to go out to lunch together. Builds good teams.
fired said:
Feb 13, 09 at 11:42 amGood stuff PW. Would you consider meeting up with them for lunch now? sounds like it could be a nice thing for all 3 of you :-
As for me…I’m back to sloooooww motion here. It’s downright bizarre.
fired said:
Feb 13, 09 at 11:49 amHey SG - wow, do I identify with a lot of what you’ve said. Office politics and hoping to please a bunch of different people, many of whom you may not even like or respect, is hard on the soul. And I’m so sorry you had to find out the hard way about using your company email for anything ‘unofficial’. Really sucks and I can understand you being pretty cynical now. Sometimes it’s hard for me to see that things may be different than they are right now, but I have to keep reminding myself that today does not dictate the future. Good luck!
PW said:
Feb 13, 09 at 12:01 pmHi “fired”, of course. I suggested that but left it up to them as the company is still letting people go and apparently they are keeping a close eye on everyone - from how long you spend “chatting” on the telephone, to monitoring what time you come in….Don’t worry about the “slo-mo”, you are a contracted professional hired to spin out quality work at a moment’s notice. All you need to do is to project confidence, readiness and ability. But remember two things (1) Think first (don’t make anyone there look bad) and (2) “Busy fingers are happy fingers” (even though it’s slow, as a contractor, possibly an hourly one, you still need to appear to be busy).
Justgot Canned said:
Feb 14, 09 at 6:25 pmI never had one written or verbal reprimand, recieved awards and recognition for going out of my way to get jobs done, worked off the clock on projects to make my boss look good and one day out of the blue I was fired for insubordination because I ended a call with a company investigator who was trying to get me to admit that I was paying myself for time that I did not work. Our store’s computer system made you clock out before doing your end of day which meant you had a choice.. continue working for free or edit your time the next day to reflect when you actually stopped working. I made the mistake of editing my time to actually reflect when I stopped work. My boss trotted in to my store two days before she was scheduled for her quarterly visit, smiled “hi girlfriend” called some number and handed me the phone. This guy started questioning me..no accusing me of paying my self for time not worked saying I was committing fraud. I refused to break and admit to something I did not do. after about 25 minutes or so of him saying just admit it your caught and me saying no, I am not guilty of anything, I told the guy that before I say another word I am going to consult a lawyer. and handed my boss the phone. I was fired for insubbordination because I refused to to participate in an investigation.. I did not refuse to participate, I refused to admit to something I did not do. lol Unemployment told me the company said I retired.
fired said:
Feb 14, 09 at 10:24 pmJGC — what an unfair situation. It sounds like one of those situations that getting fired may be a blessing — no one should have to be subject to that kind of manipulation or unjust treatment!
Tina said:
Feb 16, 09 at 1:06 pmJGC: Didn’t I read similar stories like yours for managers who worked at Wal-Mart? There’s a great book called “Squeezed”…really highlights the bad treatment many employees receive.
Here’s to finding something better - where your efforts and dedication are appreciated. Good Luck.
fired said:
Feb 16, 09 at 3:55 pmI AM RE-POSTING THIS STORY LEFT BY READER KAROL FRAME. SHE POSTED THIS AS A COMMENT ON ANOTHER POST, BUT I FOUND IT SUCH A MOVING ACCOUNT, I WANTED TO SHARE IT HERE WHERE MORE WOULD SEE IT HERE IN LAYOFF STORIES. FFN.
My husband left today to go out west for a small job offer. We live in a rural area of Tenn.. Absolutely no jobs here! I was laid off from my retail job the day afer Christmas without warning or notice.
I am angry,and I try not to get depressed on the small, very small unemployment check I receive weekly. I pray and hope things will turn around and get better not just for my family but for those who are in the same boat as we are.
Like most people, we didn’t spend foolishly. We had what we would call comfortable. We have cut back to basics, buying just what we need, no frills, no extras. Instead of eating out once a week like we use to, we cook at home, watch movies we watched a hundred times. We cut down on basic internet, phone and groceries. We are hard working, devoted to working, and to our family. But with layoffs, hard times, and now with the economy, families are separating so one spouse can find work, no matter what it is.
I love employers who care about the well being of their employees. Those who aren’t afraid to take a chance on someone who due to cut backs, don’t question gasps in work history. Those who feel that giving people a chance to do see what they can do means more than people who have degrees or think more about keeping the workers who go the extra mile and who are willing to learn the job than keeping those who ride on the shirttails of others or take credit for someone else’s work. But through my own experience, I find that doing the work, never questioning the work system, who come to work on time and never calling in for sickness, are the ones let go. There could be reasons for it, of course, but usually it is the lowest one, hired last, that are the first to get the pink slip. Fairness? No. Corporates who would rather cut back on people who need and want to work for those bonuses to management and CEOs.
I may not have a lot of experience in the corprate world. I have experience in retail, in hospitality, and I can do most jobs offered but because I do not hold a College degree and have to change jobs and careers, I am usually over looked. Yes, my resume is full of experience, certifications and licenses but because i don’t possess that Associates, Bachelors or Masters, I, like so many are ousted out of the job market. Going back to school isn’t an option for those who are so far in debt or can barely survive now, who need a job just to make ends meet without going under. I am 47 years old! I hate having to start over again. I just want a job, with a company that believes in their people. Given the chance, there are people like me, who want to work, who need to work to Survive.
Don’t give excuses, run arounds that degrees tell companies that these are devoted people. I have known people with higher education with less common sense and less devotion to employment ethics. When in reality, those without are the degree are willing to give their all and their best to a company that is willing to hire. I am not looking to get rich, and I am not looking for handouts. I don’t ask for assistance for anyone. I know their are people who need it and I refuse to put myself there. I want to work because I feel whole and I feel more useful. This recession is anything but a recession. It is a depression. I know things will get worse before they get better. I just think it is shameful for companies to think more of themselves, budgets, bonuses and what the company is doing for them and not what the company could do for the many people who they lay off. It is greed, it is what makes them richer. But it is those they lay off who got them where they are and who keep them in the position of where they are at. Without company workers everywhere, those companies will fail. Lets face it, people need to work. People will spend more in the economy if they have money to spend. But before that can happen, people have to get back on their feet, pay off the bills that are piling up everyday, and be able to feel good about themselves and the country as a whole.
The endless list of unemployment aren’t just from the auto industries, banks, and the like. It is from smaller companies, retail stores, fast food companies, etc.. In order for the economy to pick up, all companies need to hire, even if it means taking money from the upper management departments’ pockets of bonuses and shares, and giving it to departments to hire people at a set wage.
I am angry about the situation I am in. Every job I have ever had, I worked hard in. I did my best. was never late to work, was reliable and didn’t complain about having to pull double shifts when people called in. I got satisfaction from knowing I did my job, and despite how hard it was at times. I did it, and I would be glad to do it again, given the chance. Handouts, pity parties are not for me. I am an honest, dedicated, workacholic. Sitting back is not for me.
And I will get through this because I have the determination. If it means moving cross country, I will and am going to one way or other!
Tina said:
Feb 17, 09 at 8:24 amKarol,
Your determination is inspiring. The big dogs and fat cats do continue to ride the Gravy Train while the rest of us are scrounging for Kibbles and Bits.
At some point down the road, things will turn around and it will be an employees’ market again where we are the ones who can pick and choose the company we want to work for. We will listen to friends and associates who have good things to say about their employers, and will stay far, far away from those whose ethics and morals never go beyond their own off-shore accounts.
Best of luck to you as you weather the storm. Just know you’re not alone and many of us feel the way you do.
Brian said:
Feb 17, 09 at 9:50 amI performed a song to a Bend, Oregon group called Ignite Bend. The song was about a past experience I had being laid off and having to leave my town to look for work.
It’s toward the end at 32:45 in the video stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ignite-bend
Ironically, I was laid off that very day. So the good thing is my performance was genuine.
Tina said:
Feb 17, 09 at 11:33 amBrain,
That looked very theraputic! Did you land a new job elsewhere? fyi, I did enjoy the Texas Hold’em ignite segment in the beginning
Brian said:
Feb 17, 09 at 1:37 pmTina,
It was! I’ve got a couple good ops on the board, if not I’m a seasoned freelancer so I’m not too worried. Thanks for watching and the Poker bit was my favorite presentation.
Pushed Aside said:
Feb 17, 09 at 3:05 pmI worked hard for 5 years at (oh man, I’d like to put their website in here), and worked in several departments. They were a great company until they got greedy. They invited another company in & things started to change. It changed for over 2 years, gradually getting worse. Where we used to have large, corporate, catered Christmas parties, it changed to “Holiday” parties and then this last Xmas it changed to “we’re having our party in the basketball court and everybody bring in your own food. The presents that were brought were for the needy kids of the community, so if an employee brought their kids there, they wouldn’t be allowed to open the presents or sit on Santa’s lap. (that was for the Children’s Home Society). Explain THAT to your kid. No Johnny, you can’t open those presents or sit on Santa’s lap; only THOSE kids can do that”.
LONG time employees (15-yrs, 10 yrs)were cut over those 2 years and I figured I was pretty safe since I was hourly. Well, during the last year, we had several meetings and due to the upheaval of the state of the company, every time we went into a meeting, we would “size up” the crowd, and try & determine if “this was the time”. Well, on Jan 5th of this year, we had 17 people in this meeting, and I “sized up” the crowd. I saw 10-yearers, and a 11 yearer and good dedicated employees, so I said to myself “naw, we’re o.k.-besides, I’m hourly!’
NOPE! They gave us a 30-second speech about the economy & the HR director walked in with a stack of envelopes and said in here are severance packages and we’ll see you out to your car. Well, $2500.00 is no golden parachute, but I guess it helps. I guess it’s o.k.-I haven’t had a vacation in a long time, so now I’m enjoying being a house husband and levelling up on “World of Warcraft”! I’m a level 40 now and enjoy having a few beers on the porch! I’m sure not going to stoop to working at a 7-11 or Wal-Mart, so for now I’ll just take it easy on my 275 a week till I find something suitable.
Pushed Aside said:
Feb 17, 09 at 3:11 pmI just can’t believe that due to the incompetencies and bad decision making upstairs, we little guys down on the totem pole have to suffer.
Justgot Canned said:
Feb 17, 09 at 5:04 pmI wish I could say to Karol that having a degree really makes a difference but in Nor-cal where I live it doesn’t unless it’s in nursing.
I moved here to a smaller Northern California town from the SF Bay area 5 years ago to downsize and get my two children ages 11 & 18 away from the crappy middle class crime hole we lived in with the hopes we would be able to spend more time doing family things and less time working to make ends meet. well things went awry because I took a chance and sold my home in the Bay area, bought my home here, and moved my family 300 miles before I had secured a job. I ended up going through all of my savings. I have a degree and it still took me 1 year just to find the sweat-shop that just canned me.
Now that our unemployment rate is near 13% and even the sweat shops aren’t hiring and I’m really getting worried. It’s been since Jan 21st and Unemployment has yet to determine if I am worthy or not..I am almost out of money, Its been raining for almost two weeks so my yard sale plans are on hold. I even applied for a job as the Walmart greeter.
Tina: I too had heard about Walmart’s getting nailed for treating thier employees the way I have been.. the company I worked for is a multi billion dollar company that could care less about employee wellness or happiness at the bottom tier. According to company statistics I read online, I was overdue to be let go.. the average length of stay for an employee with this company at the retail end of the food chain was 18mos for sales associates and 3-5 years for retail managers. Only the managers are given full time hours, Unless the store is high volume, you work alone “single coverage” which means no breaks or lunches. My store had no restroom, I had to call security to stand by in my store and then walk half way across the mall to go to the restroom. God forbid you had to go and security was unavailable or worse got your “monthly bill.”
Because of the single coverage issue I ended up buying a mini fridge and microwave to heat and keep food properly. Food court food is dangerous and not the least bit healthy.
Tina said:
Feb 18, 09 at 8:25 amCrazy, crazy, crazy times. Too bad I can’t get paid for playing backgammon or cooking up delicious dinners for less then $1.00/serving. I’m calling the orthodontist today to see if I can negotiate a better rate on my kids’ braces. The cost of those is easily equals a new car (OK, a Kia but hey…). Unfortuantely the braces can’t wait…hopefully my 15 year old car will last another few years.
Dave said:
Feb 18, 09 at 12:51 pmI have several experiences, unfortunately after 25 successful self-employment years as a commercial photo studio/graphic design firm/ad agency owner. That was before the twenty-two client bankruptcies that contributed to overcoming my normally high level of perseverance.
One issue started the minute I showed up for an exciting new job with a Texas ad agency when the “CEO” mentioned to me “the creative director didn’t want you here but I overrode that decision…” What a welcome. Well, I found out shortly after that it was a mom ‘n pop agency with a good “front” and the creative director was the mom part. It went downhill from there. Free fall is probably a more accurate term to the point where I had to leave for my sanity and self-respect. Details are too ugly to write about, but so were those two people. Oh, two others left that same week and the third was looking.
Before that was a family company that, on paper, looked like a dream job. The brother in charge, a clinically-defined psychopath, corrupted my marketing manager function to calling individual homes in the white pages attempting to solicit donations for his private company. Personality conflict was his position; a difference in personal ethics was mine.
And the goodie! I closed my client bankruptcy-damaged studio and relocated my family to Texas for an “incentivized” VP Marketing offer after the President, one of three brothers, called a month earlier than the written offer deadline to ask - “are you coming on board or not?!” Being desperate, I caved in and accepted - my mistake.
I’ll eliminate the middle of that 16 month ordeal but the “layoff” of all four non-family management people came only weeks after a bank and police investigation into identity theft of my personal account revealed that it was a disgruntled, unpaid vendor who found a way to get paid through my account and an old debit slip; and that the CEO brother had the secretary tear up written checks for services offered after he showed me that “my” vendors were paid. How does one put THAT into a resume?
Finally, the underemployment position in RV resort management that I was forced to take (or not feed my kids) led to the Midwest Regional Marketing Manager position that lasted less than eight weeks before the company “restructured” for the first of two times in a year and stranded five of us in a two room cabin in Indiana for the winter. The same company at least got us back home to Pennsylvania on a seasonal job that was even lower than what I started with.
Now I’m 62, with kids 12, 14 and 16 and starting over from scratch, having lost everything - including Texas house and savings to the real estate/unemployment disaster. We were fortunate to have found a too-small and too-expensive rental house in the Poconos that my wife’s new job in NJ pays for, barely; but now we’re competing with the deer for the apples we threw in the yard to them last week. Pitiful.
Tina said:
Feb 18, 09 at 1:38 pmDave: What a time you’ve had. Hope your wife’s job remains stable and you find something soon.
Tina said:
Feb 18, 09 at 2:10 pmOn the plus side, I did just negotiate a deeper discount with the kids’ orthodontist for paying upfront. I’ll gladly take any increase in savings that keeps money in my bank account. I felt like a beggar asking, but I think that’s becoming more common.
fired said:
Feb 18, 09 at 6:18 pmWow Dave. A roller coaster to be sure. I know it’s been rough, but I’m envious of one thing: feeding apples to the deer. It’s been so long since I’ve been out of the city, and I can’t see it happening anytime soon. Hang in.
fired said:
Feb 18, 09 at 6:19 pmTina — great headway on the orthodontist. I know it feels like begging, but negotiating is just business in any industry. Don’t for a minute feel like it makes you less than anything :-
Suddenly, I Have NOTHING! said:
Feb 20, 09 at 6:31 pmWell,
I was working as a service writer for a local dealership, I was doing pretty good and had a strong customer base. Just in time for a larger company to take over. They called it a merger and we all feared for our jobs but we were assured that we all were keeping our positions.
This happenned in May 2008, A few months went by and we were all starting to feel a bit more comfortable. But I guess that one company can’t really support 2 dealerships of the same brand (Chevrolet), so then the one that was located in east bum closed and that’s when the layoffs started. I was cut in that group of a bunch of people.
2 Days later I received a call that there was an opening within the same company at another car line (this place has everything). So I went from Chevrolet to Kia, Mazda, & Suzuki in Nov 2008.
After being promised that was it for layoffs and that the location I had moved to could not function with further cuts I was told on Dec 29th 2008 at 4:59pm that I no longer had a job.
Stressed as I was, it got a little better when I got my unemployment checks and I realized that I could survive on that until I found a job……. so I felt like it was a little better.
until now. This week I didn’t rec’v my direct deposit, so I called the unemployment office only to find out that ” My employer sent correspondence and that my unemployment benefits are being suspended for review”
This is great!
Now I have $20 in my account and a car payment due and don’t know if I’ll be getting more $, why I’m not, or WHEN i’ll be able to find a job. Talk about anxiety. Not easy in NY
fired said:
Feb 21, 09 at 7:39 amSuddenly — this economy is causing extreme hardship to so many. It’s not fair. You have every right and reason to be angry. I hope you can find out quickly what the correspondence was about and why your benefits have been suspended. And in the meantime, hopefully you can get some support from friends or family as a stopgap till you get firm answers. One thing I try and remind myself of: it’s always hard to think clearly when our emotions are in high gear. So many times I’ve been in situations where things feel desperate, achingly painfully desperate. And when my emotions settle a bit, my brain can function better, and answers come. Good luck. Come back and tell us what happened.
Suddenly, I Have NOTHING! said:
Feb 21, 09 at 11:41 pmWell, Suddenly to me I guess I should say. I know that I’ll find a way to make things work. I cross my fingers that I get a full time job so I can make my credit card minimums and my car payment (which right now I’ve deferred until april). It’s hard not to get emotional when you had your best year ever last year and you know all sorts of things are due between now and May and now everything that you’ve worked for is gone. Registration, Taxes (I owe $379), and misc other things. I can’t believe my employer would be so cruel as to lay me off and then battle my unemployment. I’m not one of those people that doesn’t look for a job. There just seems to be nothing around here. And how depressing is the thought of starting back at min wage again ?
*sigh*. I know I will find some way, some how to get things back in order again. I just have to find my path.
Blanca said:
Feb 23, 09 at 6:12 pmwell i haven’t been fired or laid off…so i am not in the same situation as others might be BUT my hours have been cut…my work used to pay us for lunches but they sent us an e-mail saying they wouldn’t be doing that anymore they also said no raises this year i guess i still should be glad because i do have a job but i can’t things are really really tough my husband works for UPS (graveyard)and he had to get a part time job at a school and we are still in the whole we are about to hit foreclosure and it’s such a horrible feeling i feel bad for my kids, for my self and for my husband my mother in law got diagnosed w/ lung cancer this past summer and everything went down hill from there 1st off let me tell you this is a lady that never in her life SMOKED not even once it was all due to second hand smoke from working so many years at a restaurant before they passed the NON-SMOKING law, anyway i believe that was the beginning of the end for us my husband took a few days off and we have our kids in private school so we just totally fell a month behind on most everything…when we started to notice that we where close to foreclose i kinda gave up and said let it be what can we do i am tired of playing catch up we tried a plan that the bank (Indymac) suggested but it ended up putting us behind again…anyway it’s been a nightmare and i am lost i have no idea what to do…we have gone to a few seminars that promises to help people in our situation or worse but it’s a very slow process i don’t know weather to give up and rent or keep trying i love my house but maybe it’s just not meant to be anymore one thing i will NOT do is take my girls from their school education it’s too important. WOW it feels so good to let it all out i refuse to let any friends or family know our situation i guess ’till we know exactly what will happen my husband is so stressed about it that talking about it it’s no option we just don’t we know we both are thinking about it constantly but it’s just something we don’t mention at least for the time being.
fired said:
Feb 23, 09 at 7:51 pmBlanca, I really understand. I’m facing a decision about my house right now and have some understanding of how difficult it is to consider giving up. And in the past, I’ve also been where you are now with your children. It is so hard to weigh all these things and not want to compromise on the things we value, like education for our children, or have worked so hard for, like our homes. I really hope you’ll be able to share some of this with close friends or family — the burden of keeping this so close to the vest in itself adds to the weight. I know even sharing here in my blog is part of my own process, although I have been also using close family as a sounding-board. Often, we judge ourselves a lot more harshly than others and you may be surprised to find a strong shoulder to lean on if you decide to open up about this with people you trust. We carry a lot of shame around these issues, and it’s so easy to see our failure in these events, but in the last year, I’ve been learning that these things really do not say anything about my value as a person. They don’t define me. They don’t reduce me to a failure. They simply say that I’m dealing with stuff, and all things considered, doing a pretty good job of it given the hurdles. Chances are you are too, and wouldn’t be judged, but may find some really valuable support. And if nothing else, keep writing, even if just for yourself, or here. It helps.
Justgot Canned said:
Feb 25, 09 at 4:51 pmHey, fired… a house is not your home.. its just a place to store your stuff.. your home is your family and the people who’s arms you can fall into when your are hurting or had a bad day.
fired said:
Feb 25, 09 at 5:44 pmyeah, I hear you. ‘Course you’re right. Now I just have to get over being overwhelmed but how much work it is to prep for this :-
Justgot Canned said:
Feb 25, 09 at 10:15 pmWow, i am sorry.. I just re-read my house not a home comment and I realize that I sounded just like one of those bad advice writers for the newly unemployed.
When I sold my home in the Bay area to move up north here, I agonized. I absolutely loved my 2700sf Mediterranean styled home with the master bedroom that was almost 900sf alone. My daughter started kindergarten from there, we bbq’d with our friends every chance we could and I felt like I was a failure. But our business had started to spiral after 9/11, and there was no doubt We needed to stop the financial bleeding and get a grip. We were stuck holding 1mil in electronics inventory that was losing value by the second, stuck in a commercial lease that was strangling us just to warehouse the crap, our mortgage was about to reset. Our commercial landlord slapped us with a 50k suit and put a lien on our home. The only thing we had going for us was that our house had appreciated from 300k to 600k..we had equity. I ignored my pride, sold my home and cashed out. I cried the entire time we packed and the whole ride up here. In retrospect thank god we sold when we did. less than a year later and the bottom fell out of the market, we would have lost the house anyways. My message is this to you..Follow your head..you will always have the memories, but the stress of that the financial weight is not worth it.. homes, husbands, jobs, and money comes and goes.. your health and being there to see your kids have kids is worth the sacrifice of letting the house go…
Craig Brown said:
Feb 26, 09 at 12:24 amIt’s stories like these that made me do what I did. I created a Social Network for laid off people. Funded the whole thing with a friend… then we both got laid off! Now I’m like the Hair Club for Men guy. “…and remember, I’m not only the club president but also a customer”. Wouldn’t mind having the cash I spent on it… Oh well, here is YOUR chance to help other people while helping yourself. Join the network. Totally non-commercial (not even an ad on the site!). The url is: http://www.layoffsupportnetwork.com
Thanks!
fired said:
Feb 26, 09 at 5:29 amCanned — no apologies needed for the first comment. I understood exactly where you were coming from. But thank you so much for this post. You’ve described so beautifully what it means to go through a transition like this…and hearing it helped. Gracias.
Love of a canned employee said:
Feb 27, 09 at 9:38 amThis whole thing started over a year ago. Sept 07-my SO gets this great job offer. Hand picked by the VP because the dept he was in…was disappearing. He felt amazing. November 07 he gets assigned to this huge China migration project–is told that he might get the change to travel to China. He’s totally stoked and I’m happy for him. From December 07 to June 08 our lives become miserable. The people he’s on the project with are making him miserable, he’s having to flip to China time to work, and there is this 1 girl that is throwing him under the bus non stop. She tells his boss that he isn’t working (when in fact he is killing himself) and his boss sides with her! She takes ALL the credit for the project and he’s crushed. July 08 the VP tells him that he’s being moved to a different dept within IT, but either way we’re both really excited. He likes the people, his boss LOVES him..everybody is stoked. 2 weeks before SO gets laid off he confides that he doesn’t think he’s going to have a job much longer. The VP is now avoiding him and people are acting weird. Sept 08–he gets the call into the office. 30 minutes after he got the call…I got a call at the office from him. He’s devastated. 2 days later they fire his boss. Watching him crumble has been the worst. Thank goodness for his severance and the fact that I still have a job otherwise we (and our 2 yr old daughter) would be living in his parents basement.
He went to a job fair a couple days ago and saw the former VP there applying for an entry level help desk spot.
Karol Frame said:
Feb 27, 09 at 10:45 amwell, the update. My husband is still outwest. I am still unemployed, and still packing up this house. Nothing has changed. My husband is staying with his family, keeps being put on hold from this company that wanted him to come out. They said it takes times for the initial personal interview, the background check, etc. he is frustrated that they say they need techs but it is a hurry up and wait situation. he hurried out there alright, only to have to wait for them to process his paperwork. We have enough in savings to see us another month or two. I still received my $58.00(minus 10% for taxes) unemployment checks. I am still apllying to every job I can. And I am still trying not to get discouraged. Why? Because I know I am not the only one out there who is in the boat I am. Reading all these stories, it helps, to realize that talking it out helps some. I find myself sleepless a lot of the time. Wondering about what IFs and worrying about this or that. This has made me stronger. I am not giving up. By the time my husband comes out for our youngest son’s graduation and we pack up the truck to move outwest, whether it is to stay with family or not, I know I will feel better knowing we are in this together. I am still not on assistance and God is my witness, if I can get by without it I will. I hear about Bailouts and more layoffs. Those that are no longer getting unemployment because their benefits have been “expired”, etc. I wish the Pres. would give the American People their Billions in Bailout money and let the ones who couldn’t handle the finances (banks, car industry, etc.) fend for themselves. There would still be spending, and still be jobs for the demand, but nope, sorry, it is given to big corporations and it is still people like us struggling. But I guess that is now the American Dream. Get a job, risk lay offs, but dream someday to have that old job- hopefully a better one- come along. My dream now, is to find a job, no matter what it is, just to pay the bills I have coming in next month. The rest I will worry aobut later, like putting some aside, and being comfortable again….HOPE is what keeps me going, and My Strength.
fired said:
Feb 27, 09 at 4:50 pmI AM RE-POSTING THIS COMMENT IN LAYOFF STORIES FROM READER ‘TIMEBOMB’ WHO LEFT THIS ON ANOTHER POST. FFN.
I was recently fired (like yesterday). The worst part is, I don’t know what for. The only possibility is being unable to solve a problem with a customer, and telling the customer I’d have to do more research. The customer was a “VIP” with a lot of pull. I received a phone call from the recruiter (I worked contract IT) informing me of “this morning’s incident”. I asked “What incident?” The only thing I can think of now is killing several people, or simply beating them crippled - at best. If I were drinking, and I saw the person (I have an idea of who it is), I’d catch an aggravated assault charge. I can’t think of anything else other than f*cking someone up.
fired said:
Feb 27, 09 at 7:15 pmTimebomb — I remember how angry I felt when I was first let go. People there weren’t honest and direct with me either as it was early on in the recession and this company was afraid of signaling that they were in trouble, so didn’t want to be upfront about any financial difficulty. Without any explanation that made sense, and coming totally out of the blue, I was shocked, angry and resentful. I understand your rage right now. Write it out. Scream it out. But — and you probably know this already — stay away from anyone connected with your work. Vent with friends and family. Keep yourself safe.
Mary said:
Mar 01, 09 at 8:23 amI have just been laid off from my job of 20 years. But, I am feeling differently about it then most others. The company we worked for was restructuring, so most of us lost our jobs. I felt that it was an opportunity. We had a chance to get out and explore. Find a new career. Maybe get paid what we were worth and appreciated. Our company did not believe in raises, so we had not gotten a raise for the past 5 years. There was no room for advancement. We were all smothering. By the time we had all left, most everyone was feeling like I was. They could not wait to get out!
squid said:
Mar 02, 09 at 4:49 pmDo Degrees matter at all?
Not to say that I am laid off, but I’m wondering if my current employer is using tactics to force me out.
I have BA and MA degree and worked in accounting. I took the switch to learn more about finance…only to land in corporate culture of vultures. Really, these guys won’t lift a finger to help you.
Being there for almost a couple of years, they put me through entry level work and recently thought best to use my time to cover the phones. Imagine, wasting all my time to obtain a master’s only to be doing receptionist work. I’m staying until they do let me go, but say I need someone to cover me while I’m out (I’m always the one backing up other people’s work, but my boss didn’t think maybe I need back up as well), the personnel pretty much wagged their fingers at me and told me to figure it out. Great teamwork.
This is for Karol F. post. I like to think that degrees are worth it, but when managers are playing politics with your career, I stopped believing in that system.
Karol Frame said:
Mar 03, 09 at 10:16 amI did not mean anything bad about people with degrees, so if I have offended anyone, I apologize. It is just that many have so much hands on experience that those who have a degree may not know exactly what the job may or may not be until they have some hands on. I know that the industry where I worked, I did everything to better myself, educational courses, certifications, etc. didn’t help me in the longrun. Now I am thinking about going into another career direction when I am financially able. Degree or no degree, people are not finding the work they need to support thier families and it leaves them wondering what they did wrong, which is nothing. But if this economy is to get back on it’s feet, jobs in every line from corporations to fast food need to open up. Afterall, people who earn, spend and without a job, they can’t. Going GReen is one thing, but there are so many jobs that aren’t on the efficiency lines. People deserve to work everywhere. So show me the green and let me show you what I can do for you!. Good day everyone.
Alexa said:
Mar 05, 09 at 5:13 amMy former financial firm transferred me to NYC. That very morning my furniture arrived to my new (overly expensive) shoebox of a studio apartment I walked into work. To my boss who worked out of the office 5,000 miles away sitting at my desk.
I knew right there - no more job. So I walked home on a spring morning with my office belongings box and added it to all my unpacked home furnishing boxes, thinking, “Welcome to New York City”.
More on my blog at http://tudorcitygirl.blogspot.com
Including the top 10 things for the unemployed to avoid!
Good luck to everyone. We’ll end up in jobs we’re happier at.
TudorCityGirl
janinelondon1 said:
Mar 05, 09 at 7:31 amMy name is Janine and I was laid off two days ago. I am a copywriter,a woman,over 46 years old and foreign. Hello of course I was the first in the department to be let go.
I am not angry and I am being brave (although last night cried for hours). I don’t want pity from anyone.
ffn said:
Mar 05, 09 at 8:23 amHi Janine. Thanks for posting. I’m really sorry you’re going through this along with so many others. And as a copywriter myself, and and ‘older’ one, I certainly identify with your situation. I’d encourage you to share your story on the Forum. Just hit the Forum tab up next to the Home tab. There’s a section there for layoff stories, and you may find more people see it there and may respond. Take care!
Susan Being let go said:
Mar 05, 09 at 1:41 pmMy question is what are people looking for. I live here in florida and had a rought time of it. going from one temp service to another. What is it that companies are looking for. For one the training down here suck royal. They don’t give you enought time to learn the job. Or people down here are so jealous that your going to take away there job. This is not the case people. I just want to keep the job. I don’t go into a job thinking I’m going to take someones job away from them. No matter if your doing the right thing like being on time or doing overtime to some companies it’s not enough. They just get you into the job and within a few weeks they try to get rid of you. Give us a chance to get to know the job and how things work. So please tell me what do companies want. Please give me an answer. someone who is very tired.
ffn said:
Mar 05, 09 at 2:53 pmHi Susan — thanks for posting. Good question, for sure. Why not post on the forum where more people will see it? Just go up to the ‘Forum’ tab on top, right next to the “Home” tab. ‘k?
eve said:
Mar 16, 09 at 4:08 pmMy “fired” story… I have no idea why I was let go. I think it is due to a discussion I had with my CSO, she told me I need to be at work and people are counting on me. I told her I had no idea what the issue was- in fact I was picking up extra days and staying late. I was in sales “Top Performer” and that is all it took- I think. How do these people sleep at night? In this ecomomy to let someone go over a misunderstanding?
ffn said:
Mar 16, 09 at 4:13 pmHey Eve - you may want to consider posting your story on the forum. More people may see it there and you may get some replies and support. Best, ffn
MarsRover said:
Mar 16, 09 at 11:11 pmAfter finishing college in engineering, I began working for NASA for about 3 years, and due to a technological delay, our mission was delayed and approximately 300 employees were laid off. While age and dependents are in my favor (20s, single), every now and then I feel angry and sad that I was laid off. At times, I felt that my boss was trying to make me his “pet,” forcing me to do crap that I didn’t like and then spoon feeding me garbage that “this work isn’t fun, but it’s important.” Other times, I feel really sad, since I did enjoy the work, the prestige, and the people there. I think I have a good lead, still working in aerospace but in another spectrum. I didn’t burn any bridges before I left; in fact, several peers e-mailed me after I was laid off expressing their regret and managers wrote recs, refs, and even commented how well I acted the weeks before the layoff (good technical work, pleasant).
Still. I don’t know sometimes. Some days I feel optimistic. Other days I don’t know.
Jen said:
Mar 17, 09 at 11:53 amI have been ‘laid off’ from a NGO. I think that my boss hired me knowing that as soon as the 6 month project was over, they were going to fire me. They did say that the position was permanent, but in hindsight, I think they were desperate, and just needed some one to do the temp. project. I like the job, and it is a great NGO, but it really pisses me off. That is a really smarmy, conniving thing to do, esspecially for a religous NGO!
ffn said:
Mar 17, 09 at 12:37 pmI hear you Jen — and you’re right, dealing in good faith (pardon the pun) is more alarming when you expect more. I’d encourage you to post your story on the forum where more people will see it and you’d likely get more discussion. I hope some other great NGO snaps you up. best, ffn
Blindsided said:
Mar 20, 09 at 10:02 pm“Your contract has been terminated effective immediately” were the words I heard this week after being told less than 15 minutes earlier that “I don’t want to share you with another group; I want you just for our group. Here’s your tasks for this week.” Less than three weeks ago, I was told my contract was being extended another 6 months. Ha!
Like others posting here, I gave this job my all; often working more than the standard 8hrs/day. I literally did whatever it took to get the job done–my mgrs are all over the world so I often worked around their schedules. It was my dream job, and I couldn’t believe it was mine.
No reason was conveyed as to why I was being terminated. I wasn’t even allowed to say goodbye to anyone. I’ve had contracts end, but never like this. I was left stunned, confused, and totally speechless.
ffn said:
Mar 21, 09 at 4:21 amBlindsided — wow. This kind of double-speak does leave you blindsided. I completely understand your shock and confusion. My guess is you’ll spend a fair bit of time replaying all this over and over, and experiencing a range of emotions including anger, hurt and betrayal. I’d encourage you to join the forum and post your Layoff Story there. You’ll likely get replies from supportive people who’ve had similar experiences. Keep breathing. Best, ffn.
Porty said:
Mar 24, 09 at 11:17 amI just get frustrated that so many of my friends and colleagues given notice at other companies got like 2, 3, even up to 6 month severances, and some were even allowed to stay on with their company while they looked. I was laid off in December 08. I wasn’t surprised and in fact had already cleaned my cube and “archived” important creative and portfolio pieces I needed to save (I’m in advertising), but it was still a shock. I was out the door in less than 15 minutes from notice to sitting in my car wondering what I’d do now. It would have been nice to be like my other friends who have had time and finances in their search. Oh well. Truly that which doesn’t kill us only allows us another day to try again. This is a cool site. Keep it up and good luck in your job search (I’m assuming you’re still looking.
ffn said:
Mar 25, 09 at 5:21 amHi Porty - thanks for sharing your story. I’m in advertising as well and I know what it’s like to be out the door in less time than it takes to walk to the agency kitchen for a coffee. There’s no way to minimize the kind of shock you feel entering into another reality. Good thing you had your work with you for your book. It may not pay the bills immediately like severance, but it will in the future. Why not post your story on the forum under Layoff Stories there where more people can respond? Best, ffn
Anne said:
Mar 26, 09 at 2:54 pmAfter 5+ years a new CEO came on board and I was let go 3 months later. I should have seen this coming. I was “unofficially” put in charge, although I was just the bookkeeper. I just happened to have seniority and everyone who was above me had quit for one reason or another in the year leading up to this. My husband says it is because my new boss felt threatened by my relationships with staff. We had really pulled together, I pulled 60 -70 hour weeks with no extra benefits and much grief. But, the up-side is I am happier unemployed than I would be working there now. Just wish I could find some sort of position to make up some of the loss in pay.
ruth said:
Mar 27, 09 at 5:13 amLast autumn I decided I wanted another job - things weren’t going great at work: 4 other collegues were having interviews elsewhere, everyone just wanted to leave. After 2 months, I too found the perfect job: great company, lots of responsibility, bigger pay check, nice coworkers - perfect. After 4 weeks the editor in chief told me they were going te have to let me go, because, ehm, well, THEY COULDN’T AFFORD ME AFTER ALL, because of the crisis. So 2 days later, I was unemployed. Out of the blue. I’ve never been so insulted in my life. Yet, I told them I understood, no hard feelings, I was incredibly dimplomatic, kind, polite - and I don’t know why. I’m such a pro…. right.
Now, I hit the gym everyday, and I watch movies. That’s basically it. And I get rejected all the time. 4 months ago I was a very busy journalist, interviewing great, interesting people, traveling, having a blast. Now, I stay in bed a little longer everyday, and I don’t even care… A*holes…
ffn said:
Mar 28, 09 at 6:18 amHey Ruth — what a disappointment and slap in the face. I’ve even heard of people who have moved cities for a new job only to be told it’s gone a few months later. The ongoing rejection is tough — and some days will be harder than others. But you hardly need me to tell you that. Why not post on the forum? There are some good people there and the support may be welcome. best, ffn
Lisa said:
Mar 29, 09 at 8:17 amI worked for a large non-profit until last week, when I was laid off. I am a graphic designer/art director, and in this company I was the one with the most talent, the most experience, and most likely the highest paid, which is probably why I got shown the door. They gave me a lame excuse as to why there were letting me go, which I called them on. I worked hard and everyone loved working with me because I came from an agency background, which meant nothing threw me and I got it done fast.
People were so shocked I was the one who was let go out of a department that had some dead wood floating around. I had to comfort people who were crying because I was laid off, but to me it was a relief to get out of there. It was a very bad fit, because the management had to be the most out of touch, ignorant people I have ever worked for, but I was hoping to wait out the economy there.
To prove what idiots they are, my manager called me a week later to do some freelance for them. At least it’s nice knowing they had to come groveling back. Ridiculous.
Tara P said:
Mar 30, 09 at 5:04 pmI was an assistant to the president of a mortgage company, and to the #1 broker in the office. I had worked for the company about 3 years. I was working like a demon and was basically a loan officer. They reworked my job description to give me more responsibilities and said that after 90 days, they would put me on a bonus and commission structure. Well, because of me and my marketing efforts, they were doing loan after loan after loan in a bad market. I was laid off on the 89th day because they would have had to pay me more. They didn’t expect me to succeed. They filled my job the next day.
I was unemployed for two months and found a great job as a project manager for a small company. I was in love with the job and the people. It was truly like a family there - we had great times and it was wonderful. Four months later, four people were laid off. We were told it was necessary due to the market, etc. The two bigwigs at the company promised improvements in infrastructure, changes, and future success. I started July 2008 with 26 co-workers. I was laid off Friday and there are four people left. It’s very, very sad. I don’t feel angry or bitter about this one - just sad and of course, terrified. I had a lot of anger with the first layoff, and that was what motivated me. I’m glad I don’t have the bitterness and rage this time. And at least this time I qualify for unemployment. I think sometimes we just have to just allow ourselves to feel the anger so we can move on. The four months between the first layoffs and my layoff were fraught with uncertainty and fear. Now, it feels almost like a relief. I can finally let go and move on. IN a way, it’s almost freeing.
wherethe windblows said:
Apr 04, 09 at 1:15 pmWell, I was a sales counselor with a kitchen & bath specialty company but lost my job due to the housing bubble collapse back in 2007. I was out of jobs for close to 2 year before getting myself out of a depression & deciding to switch career.
How I could survive during my jobless time is a great thank to God for letting my hubby have a pretty stable job even though he had to take some voluntary unpaid vacation… so kinda like a pay-cut but his job is safe (hopefully into the extended future). Oh and the un-employment checks of course.
I hold no grudge against my past company as we were informed in Oct 2006 that the company has lost between 1-2 mil. per period in business & 10% of its business. We were one of the best during the housing boom too. I saw it coming and besides they have tried to keep me a little longer even when I was one of their latest hire as in they have laid off someone else even before letting me go. i was their most recent hire but has still been with the company for over 2 years… it is a great company in mine eyes.
So, after 2 years of unemployment… life still have to move on. In between collections of unemployment checks, I have picked up a part-time job with flipping burgers (I do have a BA Degree in my field) that is only a walk from my house. It did both save gas and also did bring in some much needed cash PLUS also paved a way into a whole totally career change for me.
I did that because like I saw the housing burst 5 years coming even before it actually happens (insight from within the housing industries); I am seeing also a college bubble that is in the near future to come.
Why? I DO NOT BELIEVE in the over expensive college tuition that I do not believe I should invest ‘again’ in for my next career move for that next ‘trendy’ job (like in health care etc… that they say “but aren’t true; you’ll see in the coming future”) and also for the “uncertainty” of the job market long after 2010 even. I have taken my chances flipping burgers for 1 year, earned that experience which I did… then moving on to a management position that that last year of flipping burgers got me (that permanent job that is salaried & with full benefits). Which helped me with a career change instead of more debts that my family do not need ***.
I have also gained a few very important aspect in this career move. I get that management experience without getting in deeper debts and if the economy do turn better, I have that experience that can cross back into my field of sales (as in managing the whole sales department… even today, my ambition remains strong). If the economy do get worse, I am in one of the most stable career trend now… back to basics, people need to eat especially cheap. Another thing it will add to my resume that I am willing to go far and whatever it takes to get a job done that also adds character of strength to my resume I think. Most importantly, I also have a career that is bring in cash & stability for now to my family.
So far that I know, we actually get a ton of applications into our store now even if we are fully staffed. And as far as I know, since I was last hired as a manager, we are getting many degree applications for that managers’ positions. But little did they know, when crossing industries, the best thing to do would have been to work from bottom up to gain that foot & experience into that industry… or they are just seen as over-qualified and yet not qualified due to the lack of experience.
So, here I am… employed but my husband believes I am underemployed due to me not using my degree in my field that should make a little more. But here I am, making the best of what my environment throws at me, surviving it using the best tactics I have learnt to employ to make the best out of it. Here I am, just thankful.
P.S. I have also read & research the net everyday for inspirational stories that have kept me going and one of the most interesting one that I came across is someone asking this question: Who is better off in today’s economy? That high-school student working at the food industry at min. wage that will be promoted in a year or 2 to become a store manager or that college graduate whom after graduating cannot find anything within their field who is just entering into the food industry with that mountain of debts already on their back???
Education is one thing… the real true smart decision is another. Education did not prevent most of us with that degree to make that decision that get us into today’s credit woes we are almost all in today!!! And worse… our future generation have to PAY for OUR foolishness!
Was I Fired said:
Apr 12, 09 at 11:47 pmI went in to work one day and my daughter came in to see me on her lunch from school. She was upset and crying. When My boss asked what was wrong I told him her knee hurt from her recent surgery. I never neglected my customers or did do my work while she was there. I didn’t get any hours the following week and when I went to get my pay check the schedule said see me. I went and talked to him and his words to me were that he wasn’t putting me in the schedule any more. He said the reason was that I lied to him that my daughter’s knee wasn’t hurting and she had boy trouble. I didn’t think that it was any of his business why she was crying. I had been collecting partial unemployment while I worked for him. Was I fired or layed off? I think laid off because he never said I was fired just not being put on the schedule anymore. What does that mean?
steve haugen said:
Apr 14, 09 at 2:46 pmWell get a load of this what my company did to me and others. Was told that there was a work force reduction when in fact they where hiring throught out the year and told us that it would go by your hired date which in fact they really didn’t do. So the company hired people that where only 20 yrs old and laid off which they say. When in fact layed off the people that where 40-50 years old off. Which i’m waiting on a charge to be served against them or have my job back. Just a reminder that age discrimination is a big thing now so fight for your rights.
Wrong Fit said:
Apr 25, 09 at 9:13 pmI took a job last July after being unemployed for several months. I initially did not have a good impression of my future manager and another co-worker, but had a good interview and was hired. I was told on the first day, that everything I needed to know I would learn on the job. After being there for four hours my manager, had me working on a clients account. I did not even know how to log onto the computer at that point. From that day forth I was just given work without any explanation of what I was doing or why and was told to just figure it out. I was given a workload that the previous employee who had been there for ten years had, without any formal training.
I tried super hard to keep up with the workload, working a minimum of 10 hours a day, with no break or lunch of any kind. However, after nine months of working up to 55 hours a week, I was told they did not think I was the right fit for the job and that because I was salary, I should be able to work as much as they wanted (I told them from the beginning, I needed to be able to pickup my child from school).
Even though I am sad at the idea of losing a job, I am happy I am no longer in a place that did not respect my needing to take care of my family and also was not willing to provide the necessary training for the position. It is unreasonable to expect a person to take over a job for a person that did it for 10 years and be able to master it in a few months. Especially when the only person who knew how to do that job is no longer there. All I can say is good riddance to them.
Gill said:
Apr 26, 09 at 9:36 pmI recently got laid off too. I have worked 20 years at my company and put in overtime without pay. A couple of months ago our manager takes 20 of us out to lunch out of the blue for an “important” meeting. Turns out that while having pizza we are told how the company is suffering and we cannot support the current staff levels. And of course all of us at the lunch are fired. We were told to leave after eating pizza and wait for our personal stuff to be sent to us.
20 years, long hours many weekends and that’s the thanks we got. A cheap pizza lunch.
Tina said:
Apr 29, 09 at 5:41 amGill: That’s just awful. How many people regurgetated the pizza after hearing the news? Horrible. I hope the severance package was better then the pizza. Good Luck.
TudorCityGirl said:
Apr 29, 09 at 8:22 pmManagement is a bunch of morons - taking long time employees out to a pizza lunch and telling them there!
I think companies should start giving good workers they need to let go some advance notice.
But anyway, I’m sure you got good severance. Enjoy your time off with it. You will end up in a new job someday you like even more. Good luck to you! Change is good…
Kirsty said:
May 01, 09 at 11:21 amHaving read all the stories on this page I am shocked at how some of you have been treated, it seems we’re just disposable to most employers! My parents were just telling me last week that their neighbour had been laid off last week after 30+ years in the company! Talk about a kick in the teeth!
I have a slightly different story than most of you as I’ve never been laid off but I have been having my own struggles with employers and the job market so I really can sympathise with you.
Basically I left college in 2006, had intended going to university but couldn’t get a place that year so I thought no problem I’ll just take a job and if I decide I want to go to university I’ll reapply the next year. So off kicked the full scale job-hunt, me all enthusiastic sat down and wrote a great resume, applied for everything I felt I could do well excitedly and got my first interview for an insurance job that went very well….but nope I only made the reserve and I was gutted! So I kept applying and getting interviews and kept getting more rejections and facing rude interviewers. I eventually got a job offer almost a year later which I accepted, started work soon after and the employer turned out to be just horrible, he treated me like I was stupid from day one and had no patience or desire to train me, his arrogance had me fighting back tears the second day in. So that was that for me, I wasn’t going to make myself miserable on a daily basis so I left them 3 days later. Had an interview lined up that evening for a car dealership my father worked at for a PA position, apparently I performed best in the interview but “I wasn’t what he was looking for at that time”, my explanation was that my Dad worked there and a cousin worked there so they were questioning my confidentiality! But anyway the same company agreed to take me on for 6 months to work in their service department, I loved it, was finally in my element and knew that was the career direction I wanted to take, I also had a great relationship with most of the staff. The day eventually came that I was supposed to leave and I got not even so much as a goodbye never mind a “thank you”, another kick in the teeth.
So there I am back on the job search again, I again attend lots of interviews and eventually one comes through 5 months later, it has a 45 mile commute but it doesn’t bother me as I just want to be working, earning money and having a job I enjoy. The interview goes smoothly, they call me back that day to discuss salary and then they call me back a few hours later offering me the position, I accept, they want me to start 2 days later, so I tell her I’ll call her back first thing the next morning to confirm I definitely could start on that day (I had an appointment I had to see about cancelling first). I’m just about to call her the next morning to confirm everything is fine and I can start that day, when she calls me to rudely tell me “I’ve been trying to call you, we’ve decided not to offer you the job anymore” So I say to her “I was just going to call you to confirm I could start fine on the day we agreed” she says “I don’t think it’s going to work” I in shock just say “ok and bye” So that was the thanks I got for trying to not mess anyone around and be completely professional. I got off the phone and cried and didn’t even want to see another job ad for another week.
So it was back to the drawing board again unfortunately, but during that time my partner received a job offer in Edmonton, Canada so we made plans for that and I applied for my visa so I just looked for a temporary job then and hounded the agencies until one got me an assignment at one of their branches and typically I performed so well that they offered me a permanent position which of course I couldn’t accept as I had my visa for Canada which was a little sad as I enjoyed working there.
So I’ve been in Canada two months now, still pretty much looking for a job and trying not to get discouraged, I know I’ll get there. I’ve had a few disappointments here too though unfortunately. Mainly the job I went for as a Service Writer at an RV dealership were I got invited back for second interview, had two great interviews, salary was discussed only to never hear from them again.
As much as it’s been a miserable few years trying to land on my feet, I feel like I have learned a lot from my experiences and another good thing is that interviews rarely make me nervous anymore. I haven’t gained anymore patience though as I still get fed up looking for jobs to apply for and waiting to hear anything from potential employers and of course this recession doesn’t help matters. Although it doesn’t feel like it, we all will land on our feet again and I always like to think that those crappy employers will get what’s coming to them some day and it won’t be nice!
Tessa said:
May 03, 09 at 6:06 amI was let go back in June 2008 from a major firm in Bloomington, IL. Since then, I have been taking temporary assignments or substitute teachin. The last temp assignment I was hired for last month was supposed to be a long term assignment. I got called on Wednesday night from my service and was told that even though my work was superior, the cilent was letting go 12 people due to licensing issues. I was in shock and pissed off.
My husband has been jobless since January. He was told to either quit or be fired because he had to take time off due to an unreliable car and our children getting sick. We live right out in the country. We both went back to school but still need income coming in in order to pay the bills. It sucks.
Bjames said:
May 08, 09 at 6:11 pmI was just fired from a job as a phone sex operator. It was the last of my 5 or 6 little part time jobs I was using to scrape by to fire me. They claimed that out of 1,200 operators, that I had the worst performance. Somehow I doubt this claim, but it’s a nice slap in the face. Also, my supervisor de-activated me without telling me, went on vacation and it was a lower peon who broke the news to me. Awesome.
WILLIAM CADENILLA of ChowJOBS said:
May 28, 09 at 7:18 pmGUYS and GALS keep your head up. Be positive. Check my blogs ChowJOBS.com and ChowJOBS-losangeles.com for job listings from direct employers in NYC and LA, respectively.
MY RELEASES RELATED TO THESE BLOGS ARE BELOW:
(1) ChowJOBS.com (New York)
ChowJOBS.com has listed 500-PLUS job openings at Barclays, NBC, CBS, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and UBS, among others, in the month of May. Go to “Categories” along the sidebar and choose job listings by industry. Or click a day in the calendar along the sidebar to see what jobs were posted on a certain day.
So what are you waiting for? Visit ChowJOBS.com now for real job listings from direct employers in NYC.
About ChowJOBS.com: This blog was established by the CADENILLA CONSULTING LLC to provide New York City-based job leads in a wide variety of categories to those who want to remain or start a career in this city. Note that the CADENILLA CONSULTING LLC is not an employment agency. Nor paid by employers to list their career openings. ChowJOBS is a careers blog supported by the Ads which appear on its web pages.
(2) ChowJOBS-losangeles.com (Los Angeles)
ChowJOBS – L.A. (www.chowjobs-losangeles.com), a blog providing job leads from direct employers, has posted a list of employment opportunities from employers in Los Angeles County since May 20. Since then, ChowJOBS – L.A. has posted jobs from CBS, Bank of America, Aerosup, Napster, JP Morgan, Siemens, and the Hilton. Overall, more than 140 positions were listed. In addition, ChowJOBS – L.A. provides information about pets in need of adoption. These pets are currently being taken care of in shelters operated by LA Animal Services.
Check ChowJOBS – L.A. every day for job listings and pets in need of your care.
About ChowJOBS – L.A.: This blog was established by the CADENILLA CONSULTING LLC to provide “bare bones” job listings or leads covering a wide variety of categories to those who want to remain or start a career in Los Angeles, California. Note that the CADENILLA CONSULTING LLC is not an employment agency. Nor paid by employers to list their career openings. ChowJOBS – L.A. is supported by the Ads which appear on its web pages.
Srilanka News said:
Jun 10, 09 at 3:48 amI have not fired but I resigned as they indirectly forced to do that.
I don’t want to post my company here. My job was assistant Accountant.
shiloh said:
Jun 13, 09 at 11:16 pmI was laid off and caught very off guard at Oracle. I would never go back to those jerks. I have been thrown under the bus by my crappy management so many times that I would be an idiot to ever go back and/or get rehired by them.
I am grateful that I was laid off - it was sort of a blessing in disguise. HOWEVER, I’m pissed after 3 months of daily searching I cannot find a job. I’m either over qualified or under qualified; or just not the right fit, blah blah blah. I’m tired of this economy and the lack of jobs! I’M MORE TIRED OF MEDIA making such a big deal about things and magnifying the issue that it give financial companies, software companies, and other large corp the “ticket” to lay people off.
I have a secret - I have managed many of those so called BIG LARGE CORP that claim they are trying to trim the fat or have no money, and well you know the drill - they HAVE THE MONEY ITS ALL BS. TRUST ME YOU SHOUDL SEE WHAT THEY SPEND MONEY ON NOT EMPLOYEES BUT OTHER THINGS.
LOOK AT LARRY ELLISON BASTARD COULD PAY 10k PLUS EMPLOYEES WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY HE SPENDS ON HIS TOYS, WIVES, AND WHATEVER ELSE THE GREEDY IDIOT SPENDS IT ON.
BITTER AND TIRED OF BEING W/OUT A JOB BECAUSE OF GREEDY CORPORATE JERKS
Biofuels forum said:
Jun 20, 09 at 1:20 pmI got layed off from a part time job just right before the recession hit. I haven’t been able to find a job or even get a call back since then. The economy is really bad. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s going to get a lot worse due to the powers that be that are screwing it up.
social bookmark said:
Aug 26, 09 at 8:22 pmI don’t get a layoff, but I just can’t find a job after graduation. To begin with, I graduated last December. At that time, there were so many layoffs. I tried so hard to get a job, but I’ve failed. What a sad story? Poor me!
Cheapest Loan Rates said:
Oct 05, 09 at 2:18 amI just chose to work for my self
Was very hard at first but for me college was about what I leart not the diploma at the end.
Dawn
11 Horrific Layoff Stories said:
Oct 06, 09 at 11:28 am[...] that could give them an edge. It comes as somewhat of a mixed message, then, that one poster on FiredForNow.com reports being fired after doing exactly that. According to the anonymous commenter, he had told his [...]
TD said:
Oct 06, 09 at 6:02 pmmy father was laid off after 43 years working for the Same company. He was 1 yr away from retirement and they said they did not need his services.
steve said:
Oct 07, 09 at 4:45 pmthe steve at the beginning of the page sounds like he deserved to get fired 20 times thru his life….prob wrote to his owner in all CAPS like he did in the comments…and who starts smoking at 10 jesus
connecticut reverse mortgage said:
Oct 09, 09 at 11:17 amWhat a form… All the fired folks together at a forum sharing their layoff stories. Sounds extremely funny but feel pity too for those who are fired after about 20+ of their service from a firm…
transfer smart said:
Oct 22, 09 at 12:10 amMy name is Andy and I was laid off two days ago. I am at transfer smart,a man,over 46 years old and foreign. Of course I was the first in the department to be let go.I am not angry and I am being brave. I don’t want pity from anyone.
CPC said:
Oct 22, 09 at 8:18 amI worked for over a year as a bank teller, and 3 months ago i had got a new manager. She seemed nice, but somehow i just got a vibe from her that she didn’t like me even if it didn’t really look like it. She also recently hired one of her good friends. Also my assistant manager was a witch, but she would act differently when my manager was around, and when she wasn’t she would her mood would change like the weather. I lived the farthest from my job, like 50 min. and i always showed up on time never late, and never at all called out sick. They always had me go help out at other branches(might i say they were farther travel) but i was always willing to travel to help out in all the branches. They told me that they can depend on me for all that. And they said how customers love me and i always have a smile on my face. Well this past monday, my manager pulled me in her office and the assistant manager. They showed me a paper print of a transaction i made, that i made a mistake…and they fired me. I’m just shocked how unfair that it was, usually u get fired for stealing or being late all the time etc. but for making a mistake on one transaction!!! You can obviously tell that they didn’t like me for some reason and just found an excuse to get rid of me!How fair is that.
car leasing deals said:
Nov 29, 09 at 3:46 pmI got laid off from my last ex employer, they gave me all the tools to log in from home and because i used the facility they sacked me for not being in work, even though i proved all work was completed and up to a very good standard,
Any way to cut a long story short i took them to tribunial, they settled out of court, i ploughed the money into a new venture and never looked back, i will never get fired again as im now my own boss
nokia schematics said:
Dec 07, 09 at 5:23 amI just chose to work for my self
Was very hard at first but for me college was about what I leart not the diploma at the end.
forex tips said:
Dec 07, 09 at 5:26 amWhat a form… All the fired folks together at a forum sharing their layoff stories.
Karen said:
Dec 18, 09 at 6:09 pmI was laid off in May and my husband was laid off today…. UGH is all i have to say.. We’re not telling family until after christmas.. How are we supposed to fake it?
Forex Rebellion said:
Dec 28, 09 at 9:59 pmMr. Fired, thank you for your note and reminder. My former assistant and my former graphic artist called today to see how I was doing. They were lamenting about how quiet the office has been since I left (got zipped) in December and how they never go out for lunches together anymore. I suppose that I wasn’t always particularly quiet during my time there but really, does the workplace have to be like a morgue. We really did work hard together, sometimes under impossible and ridiculous deadlines and always under pressure so it was good to bring them some relax times.
Lathamed said:
Feb 08, 10 at 2:12 amI incurred a LOT of debt to pay for law school. I got what seemed to be a good job at Latham & Watkins.
When I arrived at the firm there was no work. They kept reassuring us that we would be fine. Everyone was unnerved in January when the stealth layoffs went down. Then it happened.
End of February, they massacred half my class, plus half the second years and half the third years. We were given no notice period.
It’s been almost a year and I cannot get over this. I haven’t found a job that is even remotely comparable, nor have I made a dent in my student debt. So much for this being my ticket to upward mobility.
Straight Broke said:
Feb 09, 10 at 10:26 pmI understand how you feel latham. I went to school for 11 years after high school (I am an orthodontist that straightens teeth). 8 of them were at a private university. Now I am in debt over $300,000.00. The day I hit the market I was greeted with the harsh reality of what is called the business cycle. After months of looking for jobs in the private sector, I was forced to join the corporate dentistry field as loan payments would be due the first week I was out of school.
I worked as hard as I could while I with the company. I got there early, stayed late, never complained about the under-staffed conditions, and did all the little things that I could think of to make the company a little more of a profit. I even gave patients that lost touch with reality the benefit of the doubt, and went the extra mile to make them happy. But that was never enough. They always pushed for more. Management and I would constantly squabble over ethical decisions on starting patients. Even though a patient was not in the proper oral health to start with braces, because of numerous cavities or gum problems, corporate would constantly tell me that I would have to shape up or that they would replace me with someone who was more in tune with their philosophy of treatment during the current economic condition.
I would constantly brood over the idea of having to start a case that might have oral pathologies or I would find myself having a difficult time accepting a patent for treatment that would have a compromised result because braces alone was not enough and surgery was needed to have an acceptable result. With production goals that were out of tune with the recession, I found myself constantly having to explain myself to management for not starting these cases. I tried my best to be ethical and make the company money at the same time, but corporate dentistry was not about ethics.
I was let go after 6 months, and have now been jobless for 2 months. I have done everything, from shadowing older orthodontists and showing them what an asset I could be to walking into offices to introduce myself and hand in resumes. I have yet to find another job. This economy has been ruthless. I don’t know what else I can do.
EC said:
Mar 31, 10 at 5:27 pmTier V Petition sign up and be heard Now!
http://www.change.org/petitions/view/the_99ers_need_a_tier_v_added_to_unemployment_benefits
Van leasing deals said:
Apr 13, 10 at 3:09 pmI was laid off with the previous company I worked for and at the time it seemed the end of the world as jobs are scarce and its a frightening thought being back on the job market. 12 Months on I can honestly say aside from the stress at the time its the best thing that happened to me, it really puts a perspective on life and employment I still work hard in my new job, but also live life to the full rather than be a slave to my job, we are all numbers at the end of the day and as hard as you work if your face doesn’t fit you will be next in line for the boot.
Doorlopend krediet oversluiten said:
May 14, 10 at 6:14 amDont be afraid and do not worry too much about the fact that you’ve lost your job. You now know that the feeling you have right now is not something you want with the future. This should give you hope. You now know that you want a better job in the future which gives you stability and pleasure. Sometime quitting a job could be the best thing you have ever done in your life if you look back at it afterwards.
Kerastase said:
Jun 16, 10 at 2:45 pmI left to go travelling and have just returned but i’m struggling to find work. Nut you can never give up.
Jerry Thomas said:
Jun 19, 10 at 11:20 amI know it is not easy to cope with those tough times when you were told suddenly that you are in the layoff list but just never give up and hope for the best.
Shkoder said:
Jul 30, 10 at 3:27 amI Am licensed cosmetology’s,so used to work for the J.C Penny, Salon,at the Wastland Mall Michigan, as a Hair Stylist, where two of my class mates was working there,and they refereed me, so I start working there, and most the people I used to work they where very nice, except the manager, her name was Tony, I say this because she start making face accuses about me, I speck fraction English, so she used to say I don’t speak English good, and other time she said that customer complained about me, saying I told her that her hair look terrible, which tats not true, because the same customer come back over and over to see me. So I told one of my gay friends and he told me “don’t worry about because she do this with everybody,” but it come to the point she let me go saying that I was late to work when I was not, what happen is, I went straight to the work station to take care the customer, and I punch in later on, I did this few times, but I don’t se it to be a problem but she make it a problem and she fire me, she ask me sign some forms but I refused, at the same week she fire a black girls her name Temika.
If you ask me, (Tony) she is a redneck prejudiced, and a thief, she is riping the company off, she is stilling the company,I say this because every time she hire a new stylist, she get bonus if the stylist stay three months or more, so she keep them three months or more,and after that she find the way to fire them, JC Penny salon manager at Fairlane Mall who was fired from her, who used to work there and she said the same thing to me when I went there to look for job, so I am not the only one who complaining about her, there are many people who been fire for no reason from this salon,and I think she don’t have what it takes to be a manager, she don’t have a business ethics, and been trying to find other people who used to work there that she fire them, and sue the company for prejudiced, and accusing the employees, thief’s and lier’s, which is the opposite, she is the one, but she can cover her back, because her and the JC.Penny General manager are dating, so what she say goes, and he approves.
Do not support J.C Penny Salon at Westland Mall.
And please spreed the work, if you know someone who worked at this place and believe that she/ he got fire for the wrong reason please respond to my posting, so we can get her down.