my husband lost his job this week - updated

[fizzgig]

Last edited Fri Nov 22, 2013, 06:01 PM - Edit history (1)

they called him on monday and fired him over the phone. they haven't given him a reason yet, but i'm sure they will when he goes to pick up his last check. he suspects a couple of things it could be, but they aren't very good reasons.

ill timing for sure, but i'm not in panic mode. he's already filed for unemployment and is putting out applications. he can drive big trucks and move heavy boxes, so i'm hoping he can get on with ups or fed ex, at least for the holidays. he's thinking about going to get his cdl permit, too.

there is no way we can live on my pay alone, but we have rent covered, bills are paid for the month, car insurance isn't due for a couple of months and i can feed us pretty cheaply. i'm no stranger to the food bank and am probably still signed up with them. we do have to get the car aligned and, as much as i hate to do it, that will probably go on the credit card. i can defer my student loan payments if need be.

it won't affect our thanksgiving because dad foots the bill on that. christmas will be what it is, i know everyone will understand if we can't do much.

our big problem is that we have $75 in savings, so we have nothing to fall back on. and it also means that he has no health insurance, so i need to figure out what that means in regards to the aca.

i know i will feel differently if nothing has changed in a couple of weeks, but we'll deal with that when it comes. no use in worrying about it, all we can do is hope for the best and plan for the worst. but good thoughts would be appreciated nonetheless.

update: quick turnaround on those vibes, everyone! he had a phone interview with ups while i was out shopping. they said they'd get back to him soon. it would be an on-call position, which is better than nothing. not banking on it just yet, but this is definitely positive news.

[Scuba]

1. Vibes to you and yours, fizzgig.

[fizzgig]

7. thanks, scuba

[Wounded Bear]

2. Best of luck to you both!

Hopefully, you'll be OK. The holiday rush leads to hiring at those places you mentioned. Perhaps if he does well he could hang on after the holidays, too. Getting the foot in the door is the hardest thing sometimes.

Again, best of luck!

[fizzgig]

8. many thanks

he had a phone interview with ups while i was out and they said they'd get back to him soon. it would be great if it turned into something permanent, but i'd be happy with even a couple months right now.

[Arcanetrance]

15. Right now they'll probably hire him on as a temporary driver helper

and usually from there they sometimes offer positions loading packages for the better helpers. Atleast thats how it was when my friend got me a job there years ago

[fizzgig]

19. that's what i'm hoping for

but we'll see. just day by day at this point.

[Arcanetrance]

20. Well good luck to him and the best to the both of yous

[fizzgig]

21. thank you

[bluesbassman]

3. Good vibes going out to you and your husband fizz...

You guys will be all right.

[fizzgig]

9. things took a bit of an upturn while i was out

he had a phone interview with ups and i'm hoping that comes through. it would only be on call, but that's at least something.

thanks for the vibes

[bluesbassman]

16. Great! Keep a positive attitude.

You're welcome.

[livetohike]

4. Hang in there fizzig. It sounds like you have a plan for this down turn and things will work out.

[fizzgig]

10. no use in freaking out

i'm pleased with myself for keeping an even keel about this, i tend to stress out about things.

thanks

[applegrove]

5. Vibes to you both.

[fizzgig]

11. thanks

[RebelOne]

6. I hope all will work out financially for you and your husband. n/t

[fizzgig]

12. thanks

i think we'll be ok.

[riderinthestorm]

13. Stay strong fizzgig! You're handling things really well.

((((((Vibes)))))) to your family

[fizzgig]

17. i'm certainly handling it better than when i lost my job

circumstances were a bit different, but still the same general situation.

thanks for the vibes.

[lunatica]

14. Good luck to you two!

Sending my best brand of vibes ever!

[fizzgig]

18. much appreciated!

[Blus4u]

24. things to explore....

You say with his job loss 'he has no health insurance', then do you have it through your employment?
If so, can you look into adding him at minimal cost? - life changing event - your situation may qualify.

Check into ACA....means testing (your 2013 tax return adjusted gross income) may qualify for substantial subsidy.

Here is a little story for you...
I 'lost' my job on my 61st birthday due to random, mandatory drug testing. In 5 years I was never randomly selected. I had been on vacation with my French Canadian wife and her family and friends, out of the office for 9 days, returning on my birthday. It was then I was tapped on the shoulder for the test. I was a performer with the company, averaging $3 million in savings for them per year (thru purchasing negotiations with suppliers), no attendance or any other issues, gave them 9 to 10 hours each and every day.

Bottom line is, I refused to take the test and stood on my performance and excellent reviews over the 5 years.
Policy was the policy and if you refuse, it is automatic resignation. If you take it and fail it is automatic dismissal.

After 9 days of partying with a bunch of wild French Canadians I did not want to risk it and potentially have the dismissal on my record.
So I stood on principle. It's going on 14 months now and because of my age it is next to impossible to find work that I have performed well at for more than 35 years.

Hang in there, kid things will get better and I hope you can add him to your policy or find reasonable pricing through ACA

Peace

[fizzgig]

29. next step is to call about what this means as far as the aca goes

we qualify for a bit of a tax credit, but not much. i'm going to get in touch with hr on monday in the hopes i can add him to the plan. i actually have pretty good insurance though my job, so that's the ideal situation. otherwise i'll get information on how to apply for just him, the state exchange site didn't address that. as far as cost goes, it'll pretty much be six of one, half dozen of the other as best as i can tell and my coverage through work is honestly better than what we could get through the exchange for what we can afford.

i think random tests are rather bogus. i just had to do one for a client contract at work and just faked it (i would have come up hot). i don't think you should be punished for what you do in your off time as long as you're not showing up to work under the influence.

my mom is your age and hasn't been able to get anything in her field, so i understand a bit the situation you're in. i can't imagine, though.

my best to you.

[LoveMyCali]

22. Best of luck to both of you

I don't think I would want to work for a company that would fire me over the phone anyway.

[fizzgig]

23. he'd been with them for a year and a half

and it was his second stint with them. pretty shitty thing to do.

[Skittles]

25. tell your hubby those on-call spots can be a test for fulltime employment

tell him to give it his all!

[MiddleFingerMom]

28. !!!

.
.
.

.
.
.
'Tis a GREAT time of year to have a strong back and be able to drive a truck. Like Skittles
said, treat it as an audition and PUSH!!!
.
.
.

[fizzgig]

31. audition is a great way to put it

i know how hard he's willing to work to help keep us going, so i think he'll make a good impression.

don't want to count any chickens, but i'm feeling optimistic.

[Skittles]

32. you hang in there and someone is always here on DU for you fizzgig

[fizzgig]

30. he's not afraid to work

and i think this is a natural fit for him. he works hard for us and i love him all the more for it.

[joeybee12]

26. Sorry to hear that, but the phone interview sounds promising!

[fizzgig]

33. i hope it pans out

he's qualified for the job, so i think he's got a good shot.

[Wait Wut]

27. Wish him luck on the UPS gig!

Years ago, a friend of mine took a 'temp holiday' gig with UPS and they ended up hiring her on full time. She actually loved the job.

[fizzgig]

34. i will pass it along :)

i am hoping this turns out well.

[grasswire]

35. fizzer, don't forget to take care of yourself too

I know how hard a worker you are and how your meals sometimes suffer from your schedule.

Know that all of us here are pulling for you both and hoping for the best, and very soon!

[fizzgig]

39. thanks grasswire

i've really got to get back on track with my eating habits, my pants are starting to not fit >_<

[elleng]

36. These are vibes,

in case you wondered, fizz.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[fizzgig]

40. thanks, ellen

[Tuesday Afternoon]

37. just now seeing this ... vibes for you and the hubster, fizz.

good luck with the UPS gig.

[fizzgig]

41. much appreciated, ta

[Locut0s]

38. Vibes fizz, you two will handle this well...

Sounds like you have a plan and are emotionally stable. You two will get through this. Wishing your hubby good luck with the ups gig!! I'm sure things will work out in the end, you are strong!

[fizzgig]

42. it's a storm we can weather

i can't stress myself over what can't be changed, i can only deal with what's in my control.

[DFW]

43. Love your attitude !!

"We'll get through this" will help you a lot better than "oh, no we're doomed."

My hat goes off to anyone who can maintain their cool under that kind of pressure.

[fizzgig]

44. thanks

i lost my job when we first started dating, so we've kinda been here before. it helps a bit knowing that we've already survived a similar situation.

[DFW]

47. I've been with the same outfit since I was recruited 38 years ago

I would have been a lost babe in the woods if that had happened to me in the beginning. I held on, and thus had the chance to make myself indispensable (and I still can't drive a truck!).

At this point, I have job security but have painted myself into a corner--no one is threatening to take my job away, but I can't find anyone to take over from me. Not that I care a whole hell of a lot by now, but if you know anyone who doesn't mind working 24/7, has a work permit for the EU and speaks German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian, Swedish and Italian, let me know!

[fizzgig]

50. i'll keep an eye out for you

[DFW]

51. Appreciated

We don't exactly advertise in the want ads, so I can use all the help I can get!

[Phentex]

45. Good luck, Fizz!

I'm sure it will all work out. Best Wishes to him.

[fizzgig]

48. thanks

we'll get through this

[otherone]

46. peace and low stress

I hope the best for you

[fizzgig]

49. thank you

[magical thyme]

52. more good vibes headed your way...

Hopefully the UPS gig will come through, and sooner rather than later. It's a good time for that sort of job, what with the holiday hiring and all.

[fizzgig]

54. thank you

i'm hoping the holiday hiring works to our advantage.

[Kali]

53. companies that let people go right before holidays are assholes

how cold and dirty! here is hoping something 10 times better turns up and you guys can have the best "revenge" - living well in spite of crap employers like that!