RATS! The Recession Got Me!

[brad192]

I Just found out on Friday that there will be a significant layoff at the company where I work. Unfortunatly, it includes me.:( 23 of us were called into a "special" meeting with management & given the bad news. March 27th is my last day on the job. No severance package was offered. :(:(

I know it's happening all over, but jeez...3 1/2 years in my position & all they can say is "sorry, your services are no longer required". This just stinks. :mad: Anyone got a wee bit of pixie dust for a down on his luck engineer?:blush:

[PirateLover]

:pixie: on its way. So sorry you have to go through this. I have a feeling I may be looking for a new job come summer...

[DixieBelle]

Here is some Pixie Dust for you!!!
:pixie: :pixie: :pixie: :pixie:
I wish you luck, and hope you will find an even better job!:magic:

[Ian]

Wow ... no severance?? That's pretty harsh.

I'm definitely no legal expert or anything, but man ... it's pretty unusual for someone with 3+ years at a company to be let go with no severance. Are you a contractor or a full-time employee?

The rules vary state-by-state, but it might be worth just touching base with an employment attorney. I think there are quite a few laws around severance, who gets it, when they get it, etc.

Anyway, I'm really sorry to hear this happened to you. I was laid off in September and was very fortunate to find something relatively quickly. Here's hoping the same is true for you.

Oh, and make sure to file for unemployment as soon as you can. You've been paying into it for three years, so get it while you can.

[pinktweety]

Sorry to hear about your situation but this could be a blessing in disguise. You never know what bigger and better things await you!!:pixie:

[tadshome]

:pixie::pixie::pixie: I hope that something comes along for you soon

[Mousefever]

Brad, I'm so sorry to hear about your job. :( I hope you find something even better soon!

Amy

[crazypoohbear]

I hope you are able to get another job very soon.
Sending pixie dust your way :pixie::pixie::pixie::pixie::pixie::pixie::pixie:: pixie:

[Hammer]

Brad, I am sorry to hear your bad news. Here is wishing you luck in finding a new position quickly :pixie: .

Regarding severance pay, I looked it up and there aren't severance pay laws per se, but check if you signed an explicit contract when you were hired and see if it is in there. If not, have others in your position received severance in the past? If so, you might be able to get it by implied contract, though, that is harder to prove.

[JPL]

Brad

Sorry to hear your news :(

Here is some :pixie: to help you find a new position fast.

[Melanie]

I'm very sorry to hear your news, Brad. :pixie:

[merlinmagic4]

:pixie: :pixie: I do hope that bigger and better things come your way.

[ElenitaB]

Brad, sorry to hear that!

Here's some special job-attracting :pixie: for you!

[offwego]

Brad sorry to hear this, lemme guess automotive? (I live near Windsor Ontario cross the bridge from the Big D)

I hope you find something quickly, are you able/willing to relocate? You may want to look into that as an option as engineering isn't going to get much easier to come by locally by the sounds of things.

Keep your spirts up and know we will all be pulling for you!

[Beast_fanatic]

I'm really sorry to hear this, Brad. :pixie: headed your way that you find something great quickly!

[Mickey91]

Sorry about your job loss. Here is some pixie dust!
:tink::pixie::pixie: :tink: :pixie::pixie::tink:

You will be in our prayers. Hope you find something even better soon! Just change the pronunciation and maybe you could be an imagineer!! :D

[RedSoxFan]

:pixie::pixie:Some pixie dust that you'll be able to find a new job soon. Good Luck.

[brad192]

Thanks everyone for your :pixie: and your kind words, I'm still kind of in shock about it all. The company is a privately owned company. I won't mention the name, but the guy that owns it also owns a professional basketball team here in Detroit. He can pretty much get away with anything when it comes to how the company is run. They have a long track record of not treating their employees well. I've seen people who have 5+ years experience arrive in the morning thinking everything is great, and an hour later they're being escorted out of the building with a small box of their personal possesions. I checked around & the company has never offered severance to anyone, no matter the position or length of service.

I was considering a move a little while ago, but then the economy tanked & I thought I'd just hang on and try to ride it out here, as this facility is pure R&D and didn't seem to be affected much by all the craziness going on. Guess I was wrong. I've still got about 5 weeks to put something together, but here in Michigan that's problematic at best.

My stomach doesn't feel so good right now...:sick:

[DisneyWhirled]

Sorry to hear about this, Brad. I won't bore you with my situation, but I am out of a job as of June 1. Fortunately, there is a small severance, but it won't last too long!

Best of luck to you in your search. Try to stay positive, it will really help!

[Mickey'sGirl]

I'm so sorry Brad. My DH is a tier 2 Mechanical Engineer...and the vibes ain't good anywhere these days! I hope you find something you are happy doing without a lot of struggle. Have you considered using your education and training to work with some kind of quality audit company (ISO9001 or the like comes to mind). I am sure that there is going to be a huge increase in that kind of activity with all of the accountability that will come with these bailouts. :pixie: for you.

[TinkerbellT421]

Sorry to hear about the job loss. Sending pixie dust your way to help you get through this and hopefully find a new job asap. :pixie::pixie::pixie::pixie:

[disneyfan328]

You think 3 + years and being let go is bad - I can one up you (lol) I have been with my company 16 years (as of March 1st) and I am being let go at the end of March as well. While we are getting severance it kills me that they are keeping people that have been here less time with less knowledge and giving the jobs of 8 of us to 3 people that probably can't handle it!!!! I feel bad for you (and me!) but mostly I feel for my customers (i am in accounting) as I know that there accounts will not get the same treatment that they are used to. but what can you do? :shrug:

good luck regardless. we all could use a little:pixie::pixie:

[MNNHFLTX]

That does stink, Brad. I'm so sorry. :(

I can't believe they are having you continue on the job a month; your heart won't be in it. They should provide that month as severance pay and let you all go now to start looking for a new job.

[murphy1]

Oh, no Brad, I'm so sorry! My dh is an EE and has been through it, we have been very lucky right now, but I'm nervous he could get ax'd this year. Eng is a very tough field to go through this especially now, I wish I had a lead for you. This economy stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was laid off two prior jobs, one my first job out of college!! My dh is an sr. level, I'm not sure how it will pan out. I want to go back to Florida, I keep telling him to check out NASA, he used to do defense work. One thing he did was contract engineering, it held us for a few months, but Cobra is worst which we had for the kids, but I also have medical issues. Good luck to you!!!

[TikiGoddess]

I'm so sorry to hear your news, Brad. Here is some pixie dust flying to you from CT :pixie:!!

Kathy

[tyandskyesmom]

Yep...it stinks out there right now. My DH has been an unemployees Union Carpenter for almost 2 years now. He gets work here and there but nothing steady. We had to go back on my employers insurance (with the Union is is included as long as you work the necessary hours) that we now have to pay for and yet we still have to keep paying Union dues. It's looking bleaker and bleaker every day.

Let's all just hope and pray or whatever you "thing" is that our economy gets back to normal (or better!) real soon!

[brad192]

Yupper...a am a contract engineer with the company, allowing no severance. However, my imediate "boss" indicated to me that there would be a solid chance at a freelance position with the company that would allow me to keep my income coming, as well as letting me seek other alternatives!

Whether this plays out or not, I'm open to just about anything.
I'm still in "Panic Mode", but I'm dealing with it.

Hey, the "Panic Mode" diet works! I've lost 6 pounds in 14 days! At least I'll fit into my interview suit!