It was another one of those days that I was off work but still working -- this is pretty much an every off-day thing, but that's beside the point. I didn't get a chance to take part in the company-wide meeting by internet or phone, but word of what was said reached me quickly, that being that the company, which is in relatively good health though in a very ailing industry, will be doing a 10 percent jobs cut by summer.
A lot of people are upset, but I'm not completely among the ranks. My particular unit in the company held a conference call a few Fridays ago to talk about whether or not we were facing layoffs. Our top bosses in the unit basically told us all, "You're safe because what you do is one of our few money-making ventures, but you're going to be doing more with fewer resources." Jobspeak for your work life is going to drop to a lower rung of hell.
The company will apply a last-in, first-out method of picking who gets the boot. I don't have enough figures to do the math, but the fact that I've only been working for the company for three and a half years when there are many people with decades and decades of tenure isn't a good thing.
But the things is, I don't think I'd be bitter were I to get laid off.
Sure, I'd still be upset. As miserable as my job can make me, I am very grateful for a good salary that allows me to live very comfortably. I'm grateful for health insurance and paid vacation days that I hardly ever get to use. I'm grateful to be able to use my skills and smarts on a regular basis. I'm grateful for all the gadgets the company has provided me with to do my job.
And I'm not an idiot. This is not the time to be starting over. The economy is grasping for life. I have marketable skills, but my skills lend themselves to the types of jobs that are getting cut left and right. There aren't just a whole lot of jobs to be had.
But as I've mentioned before, I know my current career isn't one I want to stick with long-term. It's taken a tremendous toll on my psyche and has made my life not my own on several levels. I'm working on a long-term plan of how to prepare for the future, how to make a transition into the next stage of my employment, but it would be best if I could save up a little more money before I tried anything new.
I have enough money saved up that would get me by for a little while should I be among the unlucky 10 percent. I have family I can turn to if needed. Certainly it would be best to leave on my own terms, but if the company fast tracks my plans for me, is that necessarily a bad thing? If living miserly and working at Starbucks would mean I'd have my life back, is it worth it?
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Thursday, November 20, 2008
Contemplating unemployment
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12 comments:
Whatever happens in the next few weeks/months, good luck. You're incredibly with it and intelligent, and you know what you want in the end. I firmly believe that you will land on your feet no matter what happens. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you though.
And if I'm correct in guessing what you do, I would think you wouldn't have anything to worry about- people will probably care more about your work in down times when there's less distracting them. But, that's just a guess. :)
I left the industry you are now in in January, and now have a job as an office assistant that pays about $10K less than I was making. It is 100 percent stress free, and I get off at 4:30 like clockwork. I don't worry about work when I get home. Those are the pros, but there are days I really regret using my skills and hope to goodness I can one day enter the profession again.
Also, take it from one who knows, it is unsafe to assume it will be be easy to get a job at Starbucks or Ann Taylor or Barnes and Noble.
I tried for six months when I was unemployed to get jobs at these places, and no luck. They think you are weird applying since you have a college degree, and they thought it was peculiar that I had all this professional experience on my resume and now was dying to go make lattes. As in all jobs, it is all about who you know and these places hire people who are their current employees friends, roommates, sorority sisters or whatever.
I did eventually get a job as a waitress at this sucky chain restaurant -- and it blew big time. Hell on Earth. One hundred times harder than my professional job, and I had prior experience serving. I quit after three weeks when the general manager treated me like shit and I had a strong urge to punch him in the face.
Then, I got a job at a locally owned German coffee shop, that I thought would be cool. Wrong. It drove me crazy being talked down to buy my boss when I couldn't remember all the stupid cash register codes for all the pastries, and I hated the shitty customers who thought you were a no brain twit they could demand stuff of to make themselves feel better about their life.
Also, it is tough being out of the biz. I was depressed for months because I felt like what had been my identify for so long was no more. My fiance was in the biz, all my friends were, and suddenly I wasn't.
Anyway, sorry for the long comment. I should have just called or e-mailed you.
Good luck!
Whatever is meant to happen from this news will happen. It's good that you have a solid attitude about it and know that for now, if you can stay put to do so. I was looking for new jobs too but have put that on hold for now. Right now, I need a steady, reliable paycheck.
Best of luck to you. I think what you are feeling is the general consensus among corporate America...especially in the financial sector, which I'm in.
I heard that Starbucks is laying off people as well, and retail jobs won't be so readily available anymore with the economy as crappy as it is.
I know exactly what you mean, and I'm in the same boat. But I still haven't figured out my escape plan -- you're ahead of me on that one!
Good luck!
Sometimes I really brainstorm ways that I wouldn't have to "work" at all, like subsistence farming.
Well, at the very least if you were laid off it wouldn't be out of the blue. That's how my husband was laid off this month, and let me tell you it affects your attitude. We were completely unprepared and now we are reeling.
Unemployment sucks-don't be fooled. Good luck to you, whatever happens.
I'm pondering exactly the same thing at the moment. Somehow, whenever there is a crunch I seem to be aligned with someone high up that feels like they need me to get their job done so even though I would be happy to take a redundancy package I'm never allowed to! I suppose thats good but I would def be happy to get out there and just temp to be honest.
Good luck whichever way it goes for you - one thing's for sure - the Modern Gal is very resilient!
I also was laid off out of the blue, so it hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm glad you can at least plan for it if it happens.
I think you're taking the right attitude here. Sure, no one wants to be laid off, but wouldn't it also be a kick in the pants to get started on something new? It could be a blessing in disguise.
It sounds like you're in a position to be okay no matter what happens.
I think it's kind of sad that we're pushed into careers sometimes. A job at Starbucks with a bit of a safety net in the bank would provide a lot of time for creative pursuits.
Late chiming in, but I think you have the right idea to look at it as an opportunity. Attitude makes all the difference. Being happy is valuable and while we all need money to pay the bills, sometimes less money but more happy is a favorable equation. You know all this already and are headed on the perfect path for you, this just may be a hiccup on that path. No matter what, good luck and know that great things are coming your way.
If you quit, you aren't eligible for unemployment, right?
Small matter.
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