Layoffs and your opinion

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[quote author="xsocal land merchant" date=1234016896]<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!</blockquote>


I was laid of once a long time ago. (About to show my age here). I was writing code for an aerospace firm in the hottest new language, Pascal. And hating it. Sitting in an office, staring at a screen 8 hours per day was no a good fit. Good jake, but not a good fit.

I got laid off, and panicked. Got another coding job at the same firm for more bucks, but also got an offer of apprentice as a land surveyor for starting at a 1/4 of what I was making.

I took the apprenticeship.

I never caught up salary wise, but was much happier and fulfilled, so being laid off became a positive experience in my case.

I was single and I dare say I could not have taken the cut in pay had I been married with kids.

For the most part, layoffs have to be awful.



And it is going to get much worse.
 
awgee



Sometimes a change in jobs can be helpful in getting one to the next level. I think it depends on the overall economy and how many opportunities there are available and what ones personal goals are.



In this economy without sufficient cash for a safety net I would think it is very hard on families to sustain the shock of a layoff. And, as Peter said, it puts a cloud over most workplaces even if you are still employed. Also I may be a little sensitive as two more very good friends were recently laid off from the new home industry.



I just thought that the OP sounded a little like the "make lemonade if life gives you lemons" type of thinking with too much spin.



I feel very fortunate to be removed from that world but still have empathy for those who are getting hammered by the situation. (Now if I had only bought GOLD) ;-)



Enjoy the weekend.
 
[quote author="awgee" date=1234049047]I was writing code for an aerospace firm in the hottest new language, Pascal. </blockquote>


I was forced, via curriculum, to take the last Pascal class ever offered at one of the Big 10 schools. It was very hard to get motivated to learn something that you knew had absolutely zero value to your future.



EDIT: Oops, that's not quite right. I'm thinking of Fortran. I did take Pascal and C++ too. The first big .exe I ever wrote was a technical trading program in Pascal.
 
Oddly enough, there is big money for people who know FORTRAN, because there are so few people left who can maintain the systems still running it.
 
[quote author="Oscar" date=1234077908]Oddly enough, there is big money for people who know FORTRAN, because there are so few people left who can maintain the systems still running it.</blockquote>


I cut my teeth on FORTRAN, but doubt if I remember squat. Heck, I learned on punch cards.
 
[quote author="xsocal land merchant" date=1234052342]awgee



Sometimes a change in jobs can be helpful in getting one to the next level. I think it depends on the overall economy and how many opportunities there are available and what ones personal goals are.



In this economy without sufficient cash for a safety net I would think it is very hard on families to sustain the shock of a layoff. And, as Peter said, it puts a cloud over most workplaces even if you are still employed. Also I may be a little sensitive as two more very good friends were recently laid off from the new home industry.



I just thought that the OP sounded a little like the "make lemonade if life gives you lemons" type of thinking with too much spin.



I feel very fortunate to be removed from that world but still have empathy for those who are getting hammered by the situation. (Now if I had only bought GOLD) ;-)



Enjoy the weekend.</blockquote>


Two years from now, you will be saying, "If only I had bought gold in Feb of 2009." ;-P

Do you know when the next Scottsdale BJ auction is?
 
[quote author="awgee" date=1234086155][quote author="xsocal land merchant" date=1234052342]awgee



Sometimes a change in jobs can be helpful in getting one to the next level. I think it depends on the overall economy and how many opportunities there are available and what ones personal goals are.



In this economy without sufficient cash for a safety net I would think it is very hard on families to sustain the shock of a layoff. And, as Peter said, it puts a cloud over most workplaces even if you are still employed. Also I may be a little sensitive as two more very good friends were recently laid off from the new home industry.



I just thought that the OP sounded a little like the "make lemonade if life gives you lemons" type of thinking with too much spin.



I feel very fortunate to be removed from that world but still have empathy for those who are getting hammered by the situation. (Now if I had only bought GOLD) ;-)



Enjoy the weekend.</blockquote>


Two years from now, you will be saying, "If only I had bought gold in Feb of 2009." ;-P

Do you know when the next Scottsdale BJ auction is?</blockquote>


Barrett Jackson? The last was just a couple of weeks ago.
 
Instead of getting back into accounting/finance and getting my CPA maybe I should become a programmer or engineer. haha Nah, I'll stick to what I enjoy and what I'm good at. That being said, I've met with 3 search firms and know that there are job postings out there for educated and experienced folks (especially in accounting/finance). The problem is that companies are being very selective and want to check off all the boxs on the requisition requirements. For example, I may meet all but one of the requirements for a job (I don't have specific industry experience in manufacturing or high tech) so I don't even get an interview. I honestly think my best chance to get into in accounting/finance now is to get a short term consulting/temp position while getting my CPA this year.
 
[quote author="xsocal land merchant" date=1234016896]<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!</blockquote>


It's just some positive thinking. Layoffs happen all the time in recessions. You can choose to deal with it with optimism or with pessimism. People who choose to deal with it with optimistic attitude are usually more successful.
 
[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 on Mrs. starting her new job. Hope things will work out well for her.



About your comments on "From the flood of calls we had here I couldn?t disagree with 20% comments more."



What calls are you talking about? I am not sure what you mean and why you disagree that layoffs "can be" good for some companies and people.
 
The people at my wife's work were legitimately saddened and upset to let her go - especially her supervisors.



When 25-40% of your business dries up overnight, you gotta do what you have to do.



Optimism, sunshine, and puppydogs weren't going to fix the problem there.



You listed optimist and pessimist, but you left one out. <em> Realist.</em>
 
I agree with you that attitude alone will not solve problems. The right actions will. However having an optimistic attitude will help a lot in solving problems especially if you choose to see problems as opportunities.



I would also like to clarify my previous posting as I realized that my point wasn't made as clear as it could be. I am not saying that layoffs are good, and everyone should be happy when layoffs occur. My point is that you can choose to make the best out of a bad situation.



If you are an employee still with the company that just had layoff, would you let worry, sadness, anxiety, or uncertainty clouds your mind, or would you choose to see layoffs as part of normal business cycle? Would you try to find ways to do work more efficiently? Would you take the challenge to become the leader who provides focus and confidence in your group?



If you are unemployed, would you spend the majority of your time watching TV, surfing the internet or would you be actively looking for jobs, working on improving your skills or acquring new skills? Would you spend more time to help your family out in different ways? Would you use your extra time to do volunteering work for the community you live in?



If your family members, relatives or friends just lost a job, would you take this opportunity and make the commitment to provide the love, support, and encouragement when they need it the most?



The choice is yours!
 
Here is someone who is doing something positive, he's organizing a <a href="http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/res/1026581972.html">Pink Slip Party in Newport Beach.</a>
 
[quote author="PeterUK" date=1234188624]Here is someone who is doing something positive, he's organizing a <a href="http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/res/1026581972.html">Pink Slip Party in Newport Beach.</a></blockquote>


OMG! That is just like the tech days in SF. You would go to the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-red-room-cocktail-lounge-san-francisco">Red Room</a> (Sadly now closed), and see how many people would be drinking pink drinks to know who got the pink slip. Back then, you might catch mayor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Brown_(politician)">Willie Brown</a> and his entourage of ladies, to give you a moral boost there. I'm still surprised that during the BART strike, no one on the ferry boat from Oakland to SF threw his made up for the camera a$$ overboard, when he promised to fix the situation, and he didn't do sh*t but you could find him at the Red Room after work.



My... how things have changed. Now you have CL listings for pink slip parties in OC. Whocouldathunk?
 
After 12 years at my work, I came back from vacation to find my position, along with 500 others, eliminated in round #1 of layoffs this year. Oddly, I don't feel sad. I've burned half of my 20's and 30's at this company. @_@! It's time that I did something else for a change.
 
[quote author="momopi" date=1234320031]After 12 years at my work, I came back from vacation to find my position, along with 500 others, eliminated in round #1 of layoffs this year. Oddly, I don't feel sad. I've burned half of my 20's and 30's at this company. @_@! It's time that I did something else for a change.</blockquote>
I want you to open a restaurant.
 
[quote author="momopi" date=1234320031]After 12 years at my work, I came back from vacation to find my position, along with 500 others, eliminated in round #1 of layoffs this year. Oddly, I don't feel sad. I've burned half of my 20's and 30's at this company. @_@! It's time that I did something else for a change.</blockquote>
Sorry to hear this... I remember reading about the last IHB meetup that your job was what everyone wanted to do... what kind of company did you work for if you don't mind me asking?
 
Sorry to hear that Momo. It's always tough to see people lose their jobs having to change their lives drastically. At least in your case, you'll be on your way to attend culinary school in France. Please do let us know when Cafe Momopi will be open. :)



[quote author="momopi" date=1234320031]After 12 years at my work, I came back from vacation to find my position, along with 500 others, eliminated in round #1 of layoffs this year. Oddly, I don't feel sad. I've burned half of my 20's and 30's at this company. @_@! It's time that I did something else for a change.</blockquote>
 
[quote author="momopi" date=1234320031]After 12 years at my work, I came back from vacation to find my position, along with 500 others, eliminated in round #1 of layoffs this year. Oddly, I don't feel sad. I've burned half of my 20's and 30's at this company. @_@! It's time that I did something else for a change.</blockquote>


Bummer... so when are you going to hack their system and hold it ransom...er... help them to understand your uniqueness? ;-P :vampire:



Bummer, hope you find something soon. Good luck

-bix
 
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