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09/13/2004 Entry: "The Golden Bullet"
I got shot today, metaphorically speaking. I always said layoffs at my company were like being under sniper fire in a village; you never knew when or who. But since I started working for technologies in my department, the layoffs have been fairly seasonal: Septembers, Decembers, and a few in late January-February to get the stragglers. I always knew that being laid off was never connected to job performance, so I stopped taking it personally a while back. I always said it was not a matter of if, but when, and today... it was my turn. They sacked our whole department. But... it's not totally awful. I have 30 days of employment left with literally nothing to do. They told us to shut down all our equipment, stop issuing reports, and that people involved in our projects have been told we are no longer working with them. They literally said, "Use these 30 days to find another job in the company." That's more than they have given most. Of course, our whole division is under a hiring freeze which I have not been told lasts at least 2 months. I could find jobs in other divisions, but, see, technology is all I know currently. Can you see me in marketing? Yeesh. After Oct 13th, if we still haven't found a job, they give us a standard severance package, some small "thank you gifts," and a reference in good standing. Yippie. So it's not total doom and gloom, but I think getting laid off has rounded this year pretty nicely as ranking up there with 2001, 1991, and 1987 as being the worst years of my life. Oh, I am sure it will get worse in some way, but I can't do anything about that.
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The Peanut Gallery responds with: 4 comments
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Hi Punkie, HUGS I've forwarded your message to the JASFA list to my B, to check and see if his employer needs anyone of your talents at the mo. You don't happen to know Interleaf, do you? If nothing else, at least you're getting out of Dodge with a good set of references versus leaving with bridges flaming behind you... although I'm sure that's quite tempting at the moment. Posted by Lije (principia_coh) @ 09/14/2004 01:32 PM EST |
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If you have to "get other jobs in the company" and you were just practically hired by another part of the company...? Posted by April (Chikin's girl) I know, it makes NO sense, but that is what ISPs and Tech Companies do when it's time to cut costs. They dick their most productive and faithful employees. As brutally as they can. Usually right before Christmas. It's something that every veteran tech worker lives with to add to the pressure their jobs already carry in vague, but unattainable statistical goals, weak, unknowledgeable management and unpredictable and often unreasonable work hours. Punkie, hang in there, man. Don't panic. If you keep your head, you'll find something better than what you had. You have the skills, you have the experience and you have the motivation. As corny and half-baked as this is going to sound... maybe, just maybe, this HAD to happen so that you could advance. AOL was good for a time, when you needed it, but... it hasn't been good to you for a very long time. You've said yourself, more than once, that you needed to get out. Maybe this was the only way you could. Little Miss Grimm I cannot count the number of times in the last few years that I have felt an unreasoning sense of guilt for having helped you get into that sweatshop in the first place. Posted by Little Miss Grimm @ 09/14/2004 05:31 AM EST |
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Missed it by 18 hours. The reasons for the hiring freeze will probably be mentioned in another blog at another time, but the end goal was to save money.
Posted by Punkie @ 09/13/2004 04:13 PM EST |
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If you have to "get other jobs in the company" and you were just practically hired by another part of the company...?
Posted by April (Chikin's girl) @ 09/13/2004 04:06 PM EST |
