Goin' into early retirement....
 

(temporary retirement, that is)...

Welp, I got laid off yesterday. :shrug: We had our 4th (maybe even 5th... I've lost count) round of layoffs in the last few months, and after 8 years, 8 presidents, a Lean initiaitve, plant downsizing and I can't even COUNT how many previous layoffs we've been through over the years, I finally fell victim.

I'm not as freaked out about it as I thought I'd be. While it still felt like a kick to the gut at the moment it happened, it wasn't a total surprise. In the last 10 months, our Engineering Department has gone from 4, to 3, to 2... and now there is 1 (other departments have been cut even futher). In truth, the only part of the company that HASN'T seen any cuts are the upper managers/Directors... right now, there's literally about a 1:1 ratio of Managers to Staff.

So I've got a decent severance package, and I know I'll get at least 3 glowing letters of recommendation... right now I'm just going to take a little bit of time and figure out what I want to do. I'd been with the company for so long, and in different positions, that I really just morphed and moved where the company needed me to be and took on as much training as they'd throw my way. Now I just need to see where I can put what I've learned to the best use.

In the meantime, I'm gonna go visit my parents later this week (first thing my Dad said when I called them was "If I send you a plane ticket, will you come out for a few days?" so I figured this is as good a time as any.. though I'd imagine West Texas is blasted hot this time of year )

So :cheers: to my early (albeit temporary) retirement.

it's funny how sr/upper mgmt doesn't get cut.


Sorry about your luck, but enjoy the time off/break.


Take care Mrs. Neebs.

Sorry to hear that Neebs.

Glad to hear you got a decent severance and it sounds like you are making the best of it.

Enjoy your time off and good luck in your future searches! :dthumb:

Welcome to the party!!!:bfp:

Sorry to hear about that. At least you'll have plenty of time to ride!

Aw sorry to hear that Neebs. Sucky to get laid off and from the sounds of it you enjoyed your job.

Any chance of getting called back? Do you have employment insurance there? Not sure what it's called int he States.

Anywho.....good luck!

Yea we do! Sheesh, between my unemployment, sub pay and the money I save NOT going to work, I'm actually better off! No bs.

and that's what I find is ironic.... you can save more money by NOT going to work than going TO work.


makes ya really want a job, doesn't it?

Congrats(?) on the time off :dthumb:
And be careful out in West Texas.
Weird is in the water.

its the obama way, why work when you can do nothing and take a handout from the govt.

Sux about hte layoff neebs but it sounds like youre in good spirits and if it was a good severance plan you should be ok for a while. I assume you have a plan so far since you dont sound frantic about getting a resume together and job hunting.

Tom

Good luck Neebs! Sounds like you're making the best of the situation so enjoy the time off :dthumb:

if you can survive on unemployment benefits its great! I don't have a mortgage or a car payment so my expenses aren't too bad.

When the economy went down the tubes and my company stopped putting money into advertising, my commission checks got cut in half and our restructured comp plan F* us in the ass, i was praying to get let go. Thank goodness they finally got me the last round of layoffs before they shut down.

The people that wanted to stay were the ones that sucked anyway and weren't making much to begin with.

Enjoy your time off!

Same here, the kicker was when we took my son out of daycare and saved another $600 a month. As long as my wife is doing good at work then we're making more money than when I was working.
________
Expert Insurance

It's sad in a way but it's true. Sometimes it makes more sense to sit on your ass!:idk:

Go visit your parents, they're not going to be around forever ( my dad died 10 years ago and I would love to have one more visit)

You all set for health insurance during your time off?

Enjoy your time off and good luck with your eventual job search :cheers:

Jeff

sorry to hear that Neebs.

I thought mine was going to be over this month, I had two interviews for a job I have 4 years experience doing. I didn't get called back and they didn't return my call when I called about it.

I still have a couple months of unemployment left so I'm not that worried yet and like Tigg and Kaneman have said, I'm not doing as bad as I thought I was going to be. I'm still doing some scrap metal and a make some cash helping cleaning a bar on the weekends.

Truth!! :lol:

Sorry about getting laid off.. hopefully you can find something soon!

And hey, Central Texas isn't tooooo terribly far from West Texas.. :whistle: We have beer. And a track. Not necessarily in that order. :lol:

It's never the people who should get cut, ie: managers.

Sorry Neebs. Too bad the douchebag ration went up at your expense.

sorry to hear - at least have some fun while you're out lookin for another place to work

Sorry to hear! We've had a few more friends in the last couple of weeks on other boards put in the same situation...Some at their jobs 20+ years! I hope you find something soon, but while you're out, at least try to find some enjoyment in the time off.

I was sad to hear it - but hopefully you will be able to find something better. Good luck with the search and enjoy your time off, if possible.

congrats on early retirement although sorry to hear it didn't come at your own planned pace.

been there done that, it sucks.

better days ahead

Damn Neebs, sorry to hear that. Glad you are keeping a positive outlook, and thank goodness for severance packages right?!

Enjoy your visit with your folks!

best of luck neebs

when 1 door closes, another one opens.

Sorry to hear. I hate to hear that happen to anyone. Good luck with the job search and enjoy your time off as much as possible.

Thanks everyone... :) I'm holding up pretty well... went by the office today to help my friend/manager with the transition (just get him acquainted with what all I did, where everything is), then we went to lunch with another former co-worker (she had just jumped ship two weeks ago). *sigh* Really nervous for those who are left....

Yeah, I don't get to see my parents nearly often enough; I saw them twice last year (our wedding, and then my cousin's wedding a month later) which was miraculous, so I'm looking forward to seeing them.

My insurance runs through the end of the month; since it's an "event," there's no problem adding me to Chris' insurance policy effective the next day, so I'm set there, thankfully. :)

I wish I could take a Central TX sidetrip, but alas, I don't think I'll be able to break away. My Dad did say I could take out his Goldwing Trike though, so I might dare try it. :lol:

Seriously... I learned of a few more "changes" that went down Friday... wow... and there's talk that the cuts aren't done. One middle manager did get demoted, but didn't get a pay cut (tell me how that works? :lol: )...

Yeah I'm trying to. I had a great weekend, and then a very productive day today. It's summer, and it's Florida, so I'll manage some beach time in there somewhere. :)

I'm trying to figure out how you were laid off and still got a severance. Erik got a severance, but there is absolutely no chance he will be called back. Seven months has past and he is tired of his retirement. It has made him aware that he can live on much less than what he was making.

Good Luck to you and enjoy the time off!

these days, the term "laid off" means "permenant separation"

that sucks to hear neebs. good luck finding another one!

Exactly right!

Yup. That's exactly it. And I'm eligible for rehire by the company, it just won't be in that position (since it's been eliminated).

In the last couple days, more heads have been severed... two managers have been technically demoted, but haven't lost their titles or salaries/cars, etc.... :shrug:

Sorry to hear that Nee. Hope you find something new when you get back in town.

Damn right.