Being Layed-Off.

Well, this is not a new experience for me, but definitely one that is not graciously welcomed. I come to find out today that I as well as the rest of the company that I work for, is being layed off. They have been gracious enough though to give me till the end of December.

Now as I've previously stated, this is not the first time I've been layed off. That would explain why I don't really care either. But sometimes you just sit and wonder, when am I going to get that big break. I've been layed off about 3 other times, which doesn't say much for a track record, but beats being fired which I've never been. This was the longest job I've held down at close to 4 yrs. My record prior to this was 1 1/2yrs.

So now comes the challenge to find a new job. Something that I can make more money than what I am making now. I'm not worried about finding something else, as I am very skilled and know I can find something. But I don't care what I do, so long as it is more money. I don't want a crappy job, but something worthwhile. a job worthwhile, kinda sounds like an oxymoron.:confused:

I wanted to create this thread to hear others views on this topic of being layed-off. How do you react/feel when you receive this type of news?

DVS, sorry to hear about this :( On the bright side it looks like you got some decent notice.

I have personally never been laid off or fired, but if it were to happen, I guess I would have to know the reasons why it happened to me before I could state my feeling about it.

A good friend of mine got laid off a year and a half ago...it was a smaller company and the reason he was given was "financial reasons". Low man on the totem pole was the first to go. He was ok with that....until he found out that they replaced him with someone else for lesser pay, and then giving the higher ups more $ in their wallets. He was told the company was going downhill, but guess what? It's still running today.

Having been in the situation myself ,you have my sympathy.The length of notice that they have given you is a liability rather than an advantage.It signals a long and stressful decline towards the final day when somebody higher up the ladder decides that the profit that they are making on your services no longer justifies the effort of keeping you employed.In short,your company has told you that you are of limited worth to them.Wherever possible,they will avoid spending any further money on your well-being.If your co-workers flee before the due date,their workload will fall to you.If your swivel chair should break unexpectedly,the old one in the corner will have to do.Your colleagues will become,at various times,despondent,angry,confused and withdrawn.If there is any chance that some jobs can be salvaged,there will be an ugly round of rumours,backstabbing and duplicity by those who lack the creativity to move on.

In short get out as quickly as you can.Find the first job that meets your minimum needs and has long term potential and grab it.Once you are in the lifeboat,you can decide which way you want to paddle.It is no use waiting on deck on the off-chance that another cruise liner will come over the horizon,get into the most comfortable lifeboat you can find and distance yourself from the sinking ship as quickly as possible.Good luck,my friend - the most fortunate people are those who make their own luck.

Thank you Taranaki!:D

I am currently looking for employment and have no intention of staying on this sinking ship.:)

Wow, Taranki, that's a really good analogy. I guess I can think of that in other areas in life when times start to suck pretty bad.

Having talked to you and hearing the problems you have had, it still feels like a kick in the guts to be told.
At least they have given you till the end of the year....but there is no way in hell i'd be going out of my way to help them out.
My best advice is to get out as soon as you can....hopefully straight into another job.
The painful bit to is how these bastards can turn your life upside down at the stroke of a pen.
At the end of the day, your not Mr DVS at that desk doing this and that for the company....your just a number in a company that will shit on you when they can, but take all the glory when they have to.
As we have talked before...ive never been layed-off, but have been very close on severial times and it really can stress you out waiting for a reply.
If i know you mate you will make there life hell if you hang around ;)


PS.....I'll be in touch soon

Originally posted by primera man
If i know you mate you will make there life hell if you hang around ;)



Do you think I wouldn't?;) :D :D :D

Oh shit man.. just read this. I can't offer much advice, having never actually been laid off myself (though you may remember that I had a close call last summer), and having a tough act to follow, with some excellent advice having already been offered earlier in this thread. I have friends who have gone through stuff like this, and it sucks royally.

One of my closest friends lives up in Vermont and was laid off back in February. The market for his line of work is so dry that he can't find squat, and may have to move back to Connecticut just to find a job without having to make a career change. He is also being evicted from his residence as of this Saturday, and because he doesn't want to surrender his dream of living in Vermont until he has to, he and his wife are actually planning on "camping" on their friend's property, possibly for the whole summer, until her teaching job starts back up in the fall, and he can find a new job. Times are indeed tough :(

On a more positive note - I will say keep your chin up, and be smart about where you look, and how you look (which should be second-nature for you). I am highly confident that you will land something bigger, better, and more lucrative than anything you've done before. Get out while you can (I really like your point about not staying aboard a sinking ship), and best of luck my man.. though I don't think you'll need luck :sun:

:( :( ouch sorry to hear this DVS, i know how it feels to get laid off. I myself have gone through that on several occasions. Non the less i got back on my feet and score a better and higher paying job everytime. Also never been with a company longer then 9 months before being laid off, i myself have never had the pleasure of being fired aswell. I'm on a roll now been with my current company for almost 11 months. But going to work one day with not a worry in the world, then geting a phone call that very evening saying the company has laid off your entire department due to financial reasons realy blows. Im happy to hear u got atleast a till december notice. Most i got was pick up your stuff tomorrow, or last month till the merger good luck to everyone. I got to agree that id rather get laid off then fired.

:) :) But being the creative mind you are here in AF i'm positive that you will find success and that much needed break beyond the horrizon. Good to know your searching now and not wast time, for time is money. Well good luck to ya DVS see ya on the boards...

I have been through that event twice know in under 2 years, As in a previouse thread back in 2001 I was telling you guy's I was being laid off!

Well in 4/26/01 I was laid off shity company still running today with the same prick that let me go & tried to call me back cause he needed all the pass codes to the computer I was working on & the software I only worked with I gave the old:flipa: .

Well then I got hired on with AMD 5/20/01 spent my time there till 11/26/01 was laid off from there, left sadly I really liked that job.

I got another job In a diffrent carrer as a Telecomunication Technician on 02/28/02 still in this place but the pay is shitty, the training is great though I am learning Fiber optics, Telecom, CAT6 CAT5 installs & trouble shooting, within the nxt 4months I am being sent to NEWYORK then San Diego Then Texas.

Can't wait till the day the economy picks up, BTW to make maters worse my Pathfinder is being reposesed this month cause I can no longer pay for it:(


DVS there will be a light at the end of you tunnel you have had some great schooling, you are very bright, you will fing something.
All I read from you is always with brians even if it's stupid jeberish!:)

Thanks for the additional support guys. I've got 3 companies lined up right now, just waiting to hear from them. Hopefully soon.