MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and
chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.
27 January 2009
LT Got Laid Off, Too! →[More:]
Let's have a raising of hands of all the bunnies who were laid off by their employers - I'm eager to see how many of us currently there are.
Oh bummer, honey. I'm sure that I would have been laid off had I stayed at my last job. As it is, I've been unemployed since April, and am starting a job next month for half what I was making in the States.
Still employed here, though things are shaky and uncertain.
I'll count myself as laid off from my last job, though, since I was basically working for a consultant who decided she didn't want to be a consultant anymore.
Just found out yesterday that we'd just lost at least four engineers, with more layoffs coming. We've been in a hiring freeze, but this was still pretty unexpected. Let's just say I'm kinda worried now.
I've been out of work since the beginning of November but just accepted a new position last week. I'll be starting in two or three weeks depending on how long the background check takes.
Sorry to hear that, LT. It's actually a bit shocking to me to hear how the shaky ground of people's employment.
I'm pretty much self-employed. So I haven't been laid off, but I found that I have to do more little freebies, and small favours for people to keep me afloat. Of course, that helps my professional relationships but leaves less time for paying work. Eeek.
another one over here; I was laid off from the bookstore I worked at. Thankfully I get severance and EI which lets me take a little time to refocus and give the freelancing thing a serious go.
My company has been reducing staff for a couple of years, mostly by simply not filling spots when folks leave. Now we are facing our best year yet (no, really) as the market we entered four years ago begins to catch up with our technology.
When I was first entering the job market as a professional (we won't talk about when that was, OK?) the average time it took to land a job was six months and that was if you worked hard at it. Things have improved over time so that most people in the workforce have only known growth and prosperity. I imagine this sudden change of economic direction is unsettling, to say the least.
All my best to all of you who are out of work. Let's hope things turn around quickly.
So far I'm good, and hope I've found a good place to hide for the time being. Having been laid off 4 times in the early to mid 90s, I know what a bitch this is to deal with. You just gotta keep the faith. And look. Hard. The jobs don't come looking for you, especially in this economy.
Oh no, honey. I'm sorry. Did they find the blender and cocktail umbrellas you'd hidden in the supply closet? I told you post-it notes go down too quickly to provide adequate camouflage.
*whuffles laid-off bunnies, makes big comfort food dinner for all*
Glad to hear about your job offer, though, octothorpe. Congrats!
Damn, that sucks. My employer has not laid off any employees yet, but it did just send around the "voluntary" early retirement email to staff yesterday. Several other firms in my industry have been laying people off, so I wouldn't be surprised if it hits us soon, too.
I quit my job, but on Thursday they strongly suggested that I "voluntarily" leave a week before my two weeks' notice was up because they didn't have enough clients for there to be any work for me to do. And the paycheck that was supposed to be mailed out Friday has not yet arrived, which makes me suspect that they can't meet payroll.
So I'm guessing I would have been laid off had I stayed. As it is, I would like my friggin' paycheck.
Aww, sorry to hear so many have job insecurity. I was hit hard by the early nineties recession - reading everyone's stories brings back depressing memories. I hope you all bounce back quickly.
Any of you bunnies that need some quick temp work-seriously-need to stop by your local florists. I know my place is hiring temp drivers and help for Valentine's Day-Friday and Saturday especially but they may need help earlier.
Oh damn, that sucks! Sorry to hear it, LT. I'm waiting to find out how the massive deficit in WA state is going to affect the community mental health center at which I work; funding for social services is expected to be cut drastically (up to $55,000 per month in my county in just mental health services alone!) I'm a team leader (case managers), so I'm probably safe, but if we lose any more counselors, we're going to be in a real bind to see all of our clients each month.
Good luck to you and to all looking for work.
Sorry to hear about your layoff, LT. I'm expecting the axe to fall on me any day now. I'm busy looking for jobs in the Bay Area, as I want to move to live with my bf, but it's tough going, as I'm not licensed to practice there and everyone is looking. Precious few jobs to apply for, even in CA. AZ is worse, though, since everyone who does what I do for the state is currently looking for work.
So sorry LT. Just this morning I was thinking about the comment you made on the winding down thread. I sincerely hope that things change for the better real soon. I can relate as I went through something similar for much of the latter part of '08.
Hang in there bud, things will get better.
Sorry to hear that, LT - hope you find something soon.
We're ok for the moment but mr alto works in the automotive sector (for a tech consultancy) so it's contingency planning time for us. A bailout of sorts was announced yesterday so we'll see if his firm draws any benefit from that. My freelancing is going great (most of my work is for the eurozone, which for someone living in the UK is fabulous at the moment) but if it seems too shaky I'll go back to medical secretarying which is steady work.
Oh no, that's terrible - it's going around everywhere and it's so very scary for those of us who are hanging on by our fingernails.... it's a not "if" but "when" mentality.
Not laid off yet, but since the Manhattan luxury real estate industry has/had depended on those Wall Street bonuses, etc., for aeons, I'm somewhat nervous. There's more than enough for me to do here so the actual job is secure, but if we don't start racking up some deals soon, I'm not sure how secure it will be.
This also sucks, because I'd been hoping to get a bump or raise at my 12-month date, and I doubt that's going to happen now.
photo by splunge
photo by TheophileEscargot
photo by Kronos_to_Earth
photo by ethylene
