*hugs*

I'm sorry. That sucks.

*hugs* from this direction, too. Keeping all digits and limbs crossed for you.

Yuck!
I hope you aren't among them.
Whether you are or you aren't, you'll get through it!

(((kellydamnit)))

Oh, man. I also hope you're not one of them, kelly. When will you find out?

Ugh, take it easy, I hope you keep your job but remember, opportunities abound, especially for the smart and capable. Chin up.

Ok. I'm getting it. Metachat is full of competent or better people who seem like assets to any organization, and people keep getting laid off.

Brrr.

Kelly how many locations/how many does the company employ total? Man that sucks.

Best of luck Kelly - it sucks waiting to see where the ax falls. I've been through 6 or 7 downsizings/restructures, and there's really nothing you can do at this point other than hope for the best. Do your best to relax and remember that it's not personal. My thoughts are with you and I'm sending good vibes your way.

Good luck, Kelly.

Yow. Wishing you the best.

It's a Whole New Worrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrld! (sound of pipe hitting head)

Kelly, I wish you safe passage as this saga unwinds at your firm. Keep your head up, and your resume fresh.

There may be more coming. At my employer, I survived not one, but two, even three mass layoffs before they finally came for me.

Ugh. Good luck.

That sucks so badly. I am sorry kelly. Good luck.

Awful. Good luck.

Ick. Crossing fingers for you.

I'm not being snarky; but I just earned a nice bonus for joining the reserves. Of which most folks are just like 'us', but they have the traditional mil male/female haircut. I am quite happy with a guaranteed part-time job, and if I get sent to some nasty place; well, I still get paid. Proud smiles of Grandparent make the sneers of the disgruntled meaningless. Don't disparage the entire history of the United States just because of a crappy eight years + bad recession wake in the economy. So off of my soap box then.

Sorry to hear about your job loss.

May kellydamnit receive the job she deserves soon, if not this one, then something else really, really, soon.

Here's hoping you good luck, and all the faith in the world... be strong--you'll get through this--like everything else.

Good luck!

So yeah. Posting from home. Since.... dun dun dun, I'm now one of the many, the proud, the casualties of this destroyed economy.

Woo!

But, it's not so bad. Really.
I get six weeks severance. Not even counting the three weeks actual pay I'm still due and the half week PTO unused. And that's REALLY good. Since I'll be getting MORE than my normal pay for almost two months between that and unemployment. And I still have my NY tax refund due to me. So for money I can hold out for a good six months or so if I'm frugal. And I'm hoping to be employed before then.

I have some friends in similar industries who may be able to get me in. It might be a demotion and I'll be back to tech support, but so be it if that's what it takes.

My company has about 1000 people at my location, maybe another 1000 throughout the US at split between a location in Ontario and one in California, but I'd say 200 of those are upper management/execs who handle the woldwide business So 300 is a pretty substantial number from North America. Enough that I don't feel singled out.

So I've already started emailing folks about openings at their companies, polishing the resume, and all that. I may actually spend some cash and order a few busks this weekend so I can make some corsets to put on etsy, too, and see how that goes. I'll have the time to make them now and the materials cost is pretty low compared to the cost I can sell them at.

And I do have a worst case holy crap I'm so screwed plan... I take out student loans (since, thank god, mine have been kept current), and go back to finish my BA and get a MBA. I figure the two will take a couple years, and maybe when I'm done the economy will be more stable and I'll get in somewhere.

Oh .. I'm so sorry. That really stinks. You read about "300 jobs lost, 1000 laid off" and it's not just a number ... it's hundreds of actual people whose lives have just been very badly shaken up.

I'm wishing that this is the beginning of something wonderful for you rather than the end. Of something. I'm just sorry that this happened to you and to everyone. (((((((hugs))))))

{{{{kelly}}}}

I can not believe the number of people here who have been laid off... I'm freaking out a little bit. I'm glad you have a bit of a cushion, honey, and I hope you find something you like, just as soon as you want it. Gah.

And if you exhaust your severance pay -- you, as a resident of New York State, have at least 33 weeks of emergency unemployment coming to you, if not more.

Don't worry. You will get an awesome new job and come out of this in a much better position.

That sucks, but at least it seems like you have a general game plan for the near future.

Good luck Kelly! It sounds hopeful, good on you for being proactive already.

Yup, as jason's_planet said, unemployment benefits pay up to $403/week for quite a while.

I'm impressed with your game plan, kellydamnit. You're taking charge of your future, and I think it's admirable. Good for you! I'm sorry to hear about the job, but I am very certain that you'll land on your feet.

Good job on keeping your head up and taking control. Woot!

Oh, I'm so sorry. What a time of transition. It sounds like you have an excellent plan in place - truly well-thought-out Plans A and B - and that will stand you in good stead. Plus, the time is precious; I'm so glad your severance gives you some time to think and strategize. Something good will happen, of that I'm sure. I'm sorry you have to undergo an unwelcome change, but confident that you will emerge fine.

I keep thinking maybe now I can do something I have more passion for... my best friend's mom works for the union, and I've always been intrigued by the idea of being an organizer. Stuff like that.
But then, I started drinking some hours ago, so...

this is it...

*hugs kellydamnit til she stops shaking*

Consider giving your BA plan a much higher priority than a last ditch effort. Lately, I have read of too many people jumping from one layoff to another.

((((kellydamnit))))

(((kellydamnit)))

Sorry to hear it kelly. Lost my job yesterday too.

(((((kellydamnit)))))

(((((netbros)))))

Damn, I'd hire you all if I could.

Whoah. This is getting to be too much, people.

Big newjobfinding whuffles to you dear, and maybe this is just a first step to an incredible future.

netbros! You too!

good gravy.

Shit, this is all pretty scary. Good luck to everyone, employed or not. It doesn't seem like anyone is safe.

Clearly we need to start our own company. Metachat Incorporated.

Oh, crap, I'm sorry to hear it, but you have a great plan.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you both.

Ack! So sorry kellydamnit and netbros.

Thinking of all the unemployed buns out there.

Sending *whuffles*

Oh my, another one. Love to you all...

Hugs and wuffles to all.

thanks everyone. netbros, we should start a laid off bunnies support group.
this really blows.
the worst part is, I love my job. I love my coworkers. I'm going to miss it.