Layoffs and your opinion

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PeterUK_IHB

PeterUK_IHB

New member
First of all, let me say that it's always terribly sad to hear that someone has lost their Job, I also understand how it feels, even though I've never been laid off or lost a Job, my Wife did a couple of months ago and is still unemployed.



Having said that, we always hear "X amount of People affected by layoffs" and they obviously mean the Employees who actually lost Jobs. Very few, if any, talk about the other people affected by layoffs, the ones still employed with the Company.



We have had layoffs at my Company over the last few months and have been told there will probably be more, I've lost some good friends, I feel sad and pretty guilty, why them and not me? Am I next? Are my best Friends next?



Then I've found myself thinking Maybe they are the lucky ones in a way, they don't have to work in this depressing ever more stressful atmosphere any longer.



We often hear "Well, we gave them a pretty good severance package" but when you ask "What are you going to do for the People still working here"? it pretty much ends the conversation.



In my opinion, a layoff can suck the creativity out of the remaining workforce, they are very reluctant to take chances, be more creative and innovative in case they fail..instead they pay more attention to the small stuff, they look down rather than forward in an attempt to avoid the minefield of rules and regulations that are more strictly adhered to by Companies in the bad times, most would call it nit-picking.



In my opinion it's very important to keep in touch with Friends that get laid off from your Company, give them a call or send them an email to see how they're doing or even invite them out for Lunch etc. They are still the same People they always were when you were working for the same Company ...I just can't help thinking sometimes that they are now actually better off in a lot of ways...



What's your opinion on this?
 
Good question.

The severance package and savings dwindles rather quickly when you are living off of it though.

And everyone we know that has been laid off in the financial industry can't find a job.

Tough times.
 
The moral for the "survivors" definitely suffers after a layoff. I was one of 3 people left in our department (of 13!) after a merger/layoff back in the late 1990's. The atmosphere was so depressing that I quit without having a job to go to. Unfortunately, until new personnel is hired, i.e., folks who don't remember the layoffs or bad times, things won't get much better for the remaining staff. I don't think I'd go so far to say that they have it worse than the individuals who were layed off, but there is a huge amount of guilt.
 
[quote author="CalGal" date=1233613426]Good question.

The severance package and savings dwindles rather quickly when you are living off of it though.

And everyone we know that has been laid off in the financial industry can't find a job.

Tough times.</blockquote>
This is true, that is why I'm getting back to my roots in accounting/finance.
 
Ask me again on Wednesday. It is rumoured that my company will be making redundancies on tomorrow.



At the moment all I can say is that if I keep my job on Wednesday I will be happier than if I lost it. Then again if I do lose my job then I will be off to Europe for a month. Maybe its a win-win situation
 
[quote author="Stuff It" date=1233624987]Ask me again on Wednesday. It is rumoured that my company will be making redundancies on tomorrow.



At the moment all I can say is that if I keep my job on Wednesday I will be happier than if I lost it. Then again if I do lose my job then I will be off to Europe for a month. Maybe its a win-win situation</blockquote>


Well good luck!! Let us know what happens...It's cold in europe right now, mind you, it will probably be cold at your Company on Wednesday...



But seriously, hope everything works out OK for you.
 
I can't fathom that, in general, the depression and low morale of those still employed could be as bad as what you'll find among those laid off. When SoOCOwner quit voluntarily that was proof things really were bad, but very few people would choose to do that. A majority of the people I know who are gen-x or younger could not afford to lose their jobs for very long. The upshot for them is many don't have mortgage obligations and most have parents that would take them in if it came down to it. The boomers I know are much more financially stable as a whole, but they have fewer alternatives. They have deep roots with kids and mortgages, and if the savings were to run out, they would be in a tough spot. I know at least a few who have very little savings and, perhaps not coincidentally, they are the ones most likely to get laid off IMO.
 
Once the layoffs have started, it is very likely that there will be more than one round. So even if you make it past the first round the possibility of you being layed off is still out there and will add to the depressing work environment.



A company I worked for about 8 years ago started layoffs and people suspected the beginning of the end, so even though I wasn't layed off I knew it was time to quit. Everyone knew it and whenever anyone left early, came in late, etc. there was speculation of job interviews, etc. This started an avalanche and the company started losing its best workers. To prevent this the company started promising bonuses to (e.g. years salary) if some of the better people stayed on.
 
I know of several police departments on the East Coast that have just started laying off officers..... (IE: Springfield, Massachusetts). I don't think it will happen with my department in L.A., but who knows !



My old police department in CT layed off 111 Troopers (10% reduction) in the early 90's.....until we all voluntarily took a pay cut to bring them back. Not sure if you'd ever see something like that happen in the private sector.....



The biggest stressor is the added work load the remaining employees have to handle, on top of their own original work/tasks. "Do more with less" motto.
 
Trooper,

Very rarely will companies let the workforce take a reduction in pay. Mainly because 1. the managers/managment/corporate would have to take a reduction also and 2. they are a for profit sector. They would rather see a quarterly upturn in the short turn rather and keep capacity and quality.



The old cost, quality, speed, well they sacrifice quality and speed for the sake of cost. When they could have all three with a pay reduction.



I laugh at the managment that say," do more with less".... the workforce has always done such, it is the managment that has never done more with less....



Anyways enough of my complaining....



As for keeping in touch, it always pays, that way you can follow the jobs as well as return the favor if need be. It always works itself out.



-bix
 
Another reason is the cost of overhead outweighs a lot of savings from paycuts. I was quite floored when I found out that the computers and software packages I used cost more than I did. Then theres the other stuff, insurance, pensions/401k match, floor space, etc.
 
So I am going to offer a potentially controversial viewpoint on the related topic.



Layoffs can be blessing in disguise. They can be good for the companies, the employees, and ex-employees.



For Companies:

Bad economy forces companies to re-evaluate their business and gives them opportunity to let go some less productive people or divisions. Cost saving measures can make company more profitable and will benefit the shareholders.



For Employees:

They will find ways to work more efficiently, and will learn how to prioritize to get the most important things done. By doing so they will become even more valuable employees.



For Ex-Employees:

They will have time to re-evaluate their skills sets, and to think about what are their true talents. They will work on improving their skills sets, or acquiring new skills. They will find better matched companies to make their strength productive.
 
<blockquote>Layoffs can be blessing in disguise. They can be good for the companies, the employees, and ex-employees</blockquote>.



This is some heavy duty spin. Tell the person or kids in the family of a person laid off that it is a "blessing in disguise".



Damn, if you can sell that concept then you can probably sell ashes to the devil.



Just a little snarky tonight.



enjoy!
 
Mrs. no_ starts her new job on Monday. At a non structural firm.



From the flood of calls we had here I couldn't disagree with 20% comments more.
 
[quote author="no_vaseline" date=1234017533]Mrs. no_ starts her new job on Monday. At a non structural firm.



From the flood of calls we had here I couldn't disagree with 20% comments more.</blockquote>


Er... does she happen to know of anymore jobs?

I just had a good buddy who did lots of work get laid off.... It was a bum deal because he was not favored... it majorly sucks.

-bix
 
[quote author="no_vaseline" date=1234017533]Mrs. no_ starts her new job on Monday. At a non structural firm.



From the flood of calls we had here I couldn't disagree with 20% comments more.</blockquote>
That's awesome!
 
[quote author="PeterUK" date=1233585410]First of all, let me say that it's always terribly sad to hear that someone has lost their Job, I also understand how it feels, even though I've never been laid off or lost a Job, my Wife did a couple of months ago and is still unemployed.



Having said that, we always hear "X amount of People affected by layoffs" and they obviously mean the Employees who actually lost Jobs. Very few, if any, talk about the other people affected by layoffs, the ones still employed with the Company.



We have had layoffs at my Company over the last few months and have been told there will probably be more, I've lost some good friends, I feel sad and pretty guilty, why them and not me? Am I next? Are my best Friends next?



Then I've found myself thinking Maybe they are the lucky ones in a way, they don't have to work in this depressing ever more stressful atmosphere any longer.



We often hear "Well, we gave them a pretty good severance package" but when you ask "What are you going to do for the People still working here"? it pretty much ends the conversation.



In my opinion, a layoff can suck the creativity out of the remaining workforce, they are very reluctant to take chances, be more creative and innovative in case they fail..instead they pay more attention to the small stuff, they look down rather than forward in an attempt to avoid the minefield of rules and regulations that are more strictly adhered to by Companies in the bad times, most would call it nit-picking.



In my opinion it's very important to keep in touch with Friends that get laid off from your Company, give them a call or send them an email to see how they're doing or even invite them out for Lunch etc. They are still the same People they always were when you were working for the same Company ...I just can't help thinking sometimes that they are now actually better off in a lot of ways...



What's your opinion on this?</blockquote>
Every time i have been laid off or quit i have found a better job and have been much happier. This time around i am not so sure as the whole economy is going to hell for the next couple of years. but it is a good idea to keep in touch as it helps everyone involved.
 
[quote author="no_vaseline" date=1234017533]Mrs. no_ starts her new job on Monday. At a non structural firm.



From the flood of calls we had here I couldn't disagree with 20% comments more.</blockquote>
Congrats...hopefully the leg work that I'm doing is going to lead to something for me. In the meanwhile, I'll be working on picking up my CPA.
 
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