Mr. Writer was just laid off again.

[Writer]

At least this time it wasn't right before Christmas (last time was Christmas of '06). He just found out this morning. They want to find him another job within the company because they like him. Let's see how that works out.

Nothing ever seems to work out anymore, does it? Regardless of how hard one works.

At least we won't have a mortgage for the next couple of months, because we've moved.

~Writer~

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Writer!

Oh, how dreadful...

Good vibes to him, and you, of course...

I sure hope the company will come up with something else for him, and pronto...

This just plain sucks.

:hug:

[Writer]

5. Yeah, but it's the life of the 30 year-old set.

Always waiting for the next layoff.

There were possible job openings in Mr. Writer's last company, but I hope this company actually comes through.

Thanks for the hug. :hug:

[Kutjara]

44. Ain't that the truth?

OK, I'm in my mid-40s, but my entire career has been one long dance of layoffs, "downsizings," bankruptcies, "post merger restructurings," outsourcings...you name it. No matter how hard you work, how "valued" you are within the organization, how "indispensable" you've become to senior management, the instant the profit-growth line wavers even minutely from straight-up, it's "get lost, buddy, you're a cost we can't afford."

What's even funnier (in the same sense that a ten car pileup is "funny") is that a perennial concern of senior management is "employee loyalty." C-Suite plutocrats wring their hands in dismay at disloyal employees, and moan piteously at the erosion of "the bond of trust" between employer and employed. Meanwhile, they implement ever more stringent background checks on new hires, spy on employee phonecalls, emails, and web-surfing habits, drug test everything that moves, loot pension funds and 401Ks to buy themselves yachts, cut benefits to the bone, outsource skilled positions to slave-wage countries, and fire thousands of people at the first sign of economic trouble. But they still can't work out why their employees don't love them. Yeah, it's a real poser, that one.

Here's hoping Mr. Writer gets another job within his company. Fingers crossed and DU vibes to both of you.

[easttexaslefty]

9. I'm sorry

I hope he finds something else soon.....

[Writer]

16. I'm sure he will.

We're both feeling positive because we've been through this process recently.

Thanks. :)

[LeftyFingerPop]

2. Aw shit....

Sending you and Mr. Writer my best wishes. :hug:

I've been there before...it is no fun, but he will recover, and hopefully move on to an even better job.

[Writer]

6. He's got a good reputation, so I'm sure we'll be all right in the long run.

Thanks for the best wishes. :)

[latebloomer]

3. Argh!

I know how you feel. My husband lost his job in March, and has yet to find another. It makes you very tense!

Hope it works out within his company.

[Writer]

7. Thanks, I hope so too.

What industry is your husband in?

[latebloomer]

13. IT

Not the greatest field these days, though I actually read that the layoffs weren't as bad as in other fields.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. I am so sorry *hugs*

[Writer]

8. Thanks... we'll tough it out, I'm sure.

:hug:

[raccoon]

10. Sorry to hear that. HOpe he finds something else he likes. nt

[Writer]

17. I'm very certain he will.

Thanks!

[bertha katzenengel]

11. damn it!

:hug: for you and :hug: for the mister, too.

[Writer]

18. I like the group hug idea.

:grouphug: Thanks :)

[Maestro]

12. Sorry to hear.

I do hope things work out.

[Writer]

19. Thanks... here's some good news, however.

When Mr. Writer was in the office with his manager, his manager told him that he really felt that laying him off was a mistake, but that it was completely out of his hands. He said this based on the feedback he received over the last year, which was quite positive.

[Maestro]

51. That is good news.

It sounds like he has someone in his corner if a new position opens up within the company.

[Symarip]

14. I'm sorry, Writer.

But hey, if life was never bad then how would we ever know what it's like when life is good, right? Plus, you and your mister have each other which is what's most important. When I got fired from GE, it was the best thing that ever happened to me and I was knee deep in bills nad a mortgage that couldn't get paid. I'm sure it'll work itself out in the end.

Until then, if you need an appliance fix, it's on the house.

[Writer]

20. I got laid off from GE/NBC several years ago.

:P The Generous Electric Company paid for almost half of my wedding that year. :P

Unfortunately, we already purchased our refrigerator. Fortunately, it wasn't a bottom-mounted french-door model. :P

[Symarip]

22. The last sentence you just typed

Sang to my heart like watching a beautiful sunset. Or witnessing midget tossing in real life.

[Writer]

23. Like breaking up with that old top-mounted Frigidaire...

and finding new love with a beautiful, tall GE Profile side-by-side? ;)

[Symarip]

24. Does it have the crushed ice option at the beverage center?

There's nothing closer to heaven than crushed ice, on demand.

[Writer]

25. It not only crushes, but it dispenses.

[Symarip]

30. That's it.

Talk dirty to me.

[Writer]

31. If you'd like, I'll clean your filter...

[Symarip]

32. My compressor does seem to be running a little H-O-T...

[Writer]

33. Maybe after I get done cleaning your filter, I can insert... a new... water filter...

[Symarip]

34. After that... You could clean out the shelves...

They're dirty. Very, very dirty.

[Writer]

36. Okay, okay, okay...

I have to stop this. See poor Mr. Writer deals with testing software code, and rarely dabbles in hardware. I think if I continue down this road I might get in trouble.

[Symarip]

38. Can I offer you a cigarette?

That was incredible.

[Writer]

39. LOL

:rofl:






Yeah, dude. :smoke:

[av8rdave]

15. So sorry to hear....

Hope they find another position for him. Sending all my vibes!

[Writer]

21. Thanks, man. Mr. Writer is a good guy and deserves all the vibes in the world.

:)

[KamaAina]

26. Don't worry. It's just a mental layoff.

:sarcasm: </phil-gramm>

[Writer]

28. Good ole Phil the Turtle

I'm so glad I moved out of Texas.

:P

[bif]

27. Sorry to hear it. Welcome to the club

I'm a laid off writer too. Haven't had a full-time gig in 3 1/2 years.

[Writer]

29. Oh - it's not me, it my hub the software engineer.

This writer is heading to grad school in the fall, actually. :)

[blue cat]

35. sorry to hear

what field is he in?

[Writer]

37. He is a software engineer that specializes in QA.

[leftofthedial]

40. working hard is a sucker's game.

employers have less than ZERO loyalty.

Just get a job and make it your full-time job to keep it. Screw whatever business the company is nominally in.

[Writer]

41. Yeah... I agree with you there.

I have yet in my 33 years to see my hard work pay off, and it's finally starting to catch up with my poor husband.

I think his next job will be in a smaller company but a more stable environment... unless his current company places him elsewhere.

[lost-in-nj]

42. ...

:hug:

at least they are trying to get him a job there....

I will keep my fingers crossed and send good vibes.......


lost

[Writer]

43. Thanks so much.

You're such a sweetie. :hug:

[Sheets of Easter]

45. Bummer. I'm sorry.

On the flip side, it does sound as if it has nothing to do with performance, which is always a good thing. I hope the move within the company is at least a lateral one.

[Writer]

46. No, it doesn't have anything to do with performance - several in his group and in others got axed.

The possible (!) other job is with another group in the same company who needs his skill set. We shall see what becomes of it. I'm not going to say anything more in fear I'll jinx the operation.

Thanks, though. :)

[Guava Jelly]

47. Sorry to hear this my friend

He is a smart and talented man.You guys will be ok. :hug:

[Writer]

48. Yeah... just go-along, get-along. You have to roll with it...

and roll with it...

and roll with it somemore...

and... I sort of wish I were in Prague now. :)

[Guava Jelly]

49. I would buy you a drink

And we would have a grand time. Speaking of time. It's 11:09 PM here (I'm back in Berlin) and it's my bedtime.
You are in my thoughts my friend..Nighty night. :hug:

[Writer]

50. Nighty night, deary.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

52. Damn. I'm very sorry.

:(

Even if they can find him another position that's still got to be a whole lot of stress.

I will definitely be sending you good thoughts and I'll be hoping for the best. :hug:

[Writer]

53. We're taking this in stride, I think.

He has four months to find work, so we won't be in dire straits until then.

(We went to see Wall-E this evening, actually :))

Thanks so much for the good thoughts. :hug: