Author Topic: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off  (Read 1693 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline STUMPJMPR

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1037
OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« on: October 21, 2008, 01:51:33 AM »
I post on this forum a lot so I was going to let you guys know to be prepared for the worst right now.  I had a steady job for an engineering firm.  We are a subcontractor at a chemical plant.  We handle all of their engineering needs.  We have been busy enough since I hired in back in January.  I left a secure job to come here to one that offered more.  Well, yesterday morning I got called into my bosses office and got the bad news.  Due to the dwindling economy they were told the must make cut backs.  Our company still sells the same amount of product as before its just not worth what it once was due to falling stocks. 

In the long run we are the final consumers of the product my company is producing.  I believe they are just hurting themselves.  If we don't work we can't afford to buy the product.  What is the reasoning here? 

I have a job interview lined up this week which I was told I'm a great candidate for, but I don't want to move 120 miles for work.  I can't sit out drawing unemployment which is only $210 a week before taxes.  That won't cover 1/3 of my bills. 

So it looks like my Handi buying days may be coming to an end for a little while.

Offline LaOtto222

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3828
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2008, 02:24:28 AM »
I know your pain. I am working right now, but there have been some lean times in my not so far past. The last time I got the laid off, it was due to shipping jobs out of the country, now it is the economy. :( I was planning on retiring soon, but my net worth has dropped so far, that I do not know if I will ever get to retire. Keep your chin up, there is always demand for good people. Some times, it takes a little while before you can connect with a good job, do not get discouraged.
Great men have vision and resolve to make dreams come true.

Offline MSP Ret

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (173)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8940
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2008, 02:33:40 AM »
Best of luck buddy, I retired and went back to work because I felt I needed too as a result of the economy. I understand my brother in law in western PA will learn very soon if he is to be laid off. The elections are focusing a lot on the economy and the leadership of George Bush and linking that to John McCain. What THEY do not say is for 7 out of the last 8 years the economy was great. As we drew within a year or so of the election there was an implosion of the finances of the country led by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I am not a conspiracy person but I do believe this may have been orchestrated by the liberals. God help us all in the future, especially on Nov 4th....<><....:)
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline jpshaw

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1063
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2008, 03:04:43 AM »
As we drew within a year or so of the election there was an implosion of the finances of the country led by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I am not a conspiracy person but I do believe this may have been orchestrated by the liberals. God help us all in the future, especially on Nov 4th....<><....:)

I actually have a copy of a piece in the New York Times (very liberal) dated 1999 and to quote;  "The President has declared that Fannie May will make loans available to all minorities even if they do not meet the minimum qualifications."  It went on to add that 10 years from now the taxpayers would be required to bail the entire system out from all the bad loans that would explode after that mandate.  Its now 9 years later and quess what?  Oh yeah the President who mandated that requirement, "Bill Clinton".

Offline STUMPJMPR

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1037
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2008, 03:17:10 AM »
Don't forget Obama supported Fannie Mae I saw the video....

Online Graybeard

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (69)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 27035
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2008, 03:36:10 AM »
Historically it has seemed a good idea to pack up and move off whatever needed distance to take a new job with more pay and/or benefits no matter how long you'd held the old one. I'm not so sure in these current times that's still good. Now if you have no job obviously you must do what you must do to get one and if moving is what's required there is little choice.

Still if you own or are buying your home and the move is so far you can't continue to live there and commute that brings on new problems in that the housing market is weak now and selling might not be such an easy task and getting a new loan at the new job site also might not be so easy with another mortgage hanging over your head.

I think folks are going to have to begin rethinking the way they've lived and acted for the next few years and perhaps forever if Obama wins. I guess deep down inside tho I'm not so sure McCain is gonna be a lot better but will be on some issues that are important in the long run even if not on many others equally important.

I retired very early in life really at age 50 and have never taken a job since retirement but did have to learn to make a lot of adjustments in the way I did things as I took a $27,000 pay cut the day I walked off the job. I don't regret going out early and my health and many other factors were at play that made it a wise move to leave when I did. Still it would have been nice had I stayed the extra five years to age 55 which was the normal full retirement age on my job. Had I held out and had my health and other factors allowed me to hold out then I'd have an extra $1000 or so a month to live on now. That extra income sure would have been nice but then all these years of retirement have been also.

Times they are a getting tough and are gonna get tougher.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43304
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2008, 05:17:33 AM »
Sorry to hear that Stump, best of luck to you and your family.  ;)

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline dpe.ahoy

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (7)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3363
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #7 on: October 21, 2008, 09:04:58 AM »
Hang in there Stump.  Unfortunately, alot of people are going to get hit on this one.  This bailout is not good for the country, or the people in it.  I'm sorry for my kids and how they will be carrying the load for this.  I hate it when I have to see who will do the least amount of damage to us when I go vote.  That is most of the time it seems.  DP
RIP Oct 27, 2017

Handi's:22Shot, 22LR, 2-22Mag, 22Hornet, 5-223, 2-357Max, 44 mag, 2-45LC, 7-30 Waters, 7mm-08, 280, 25-06, 30-30, 30-30AI, 444Marlin, 45-70, AND 2-38-55s, 158 Topper 22 Hornet/20ga. combo;  Levers-Marlins:Two 357's, 44 mag, 4-30-30s, RC-Glenfields 36G-30A & XLR, 3-35 Rem, M-375, 2-444P's, 444SS, 308 MX, 338Marlin MXLR, 38-55 CB, 45-70 GS, XS7 22-250 and 7mm08;  BLR's:7mm08, 358Win;  Rossi: 3-357mag, 44mag, 2-454 Casull; Winchesters: 7-30 Waters, 45Colt Trapper; Bolt actions, too many;  22's, way too many.  Who says it's an addiction?

Offline Troyboy

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (41)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1220
  • Gender: Male
  • Work more talk less
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #8 on: October 21, 2008, 10:25:54 AM »
sorry to hear.Good help is hard to find.Another job is just around the corner



                                               Troy
.204 .22lr .22wm .25acp .223 5.56 .243 .25-06 6.5x55  .308  .300wbymag  7.5x54  7.62x25 7.62x39  338-06  9x19 .38spl  9x18 .45acp . 45-70 .500s&w 12rfl 12smb 20smb  .45lc 410smb .22hornet .280AI    Ask not what your country can do for you BUT what can YOU do for your country

Offline PigBoy Crabshaw

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 436
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #9 on: October 21, 2008, 05:09:37 PM »
Stump, Sorry to hear about your situation and hope another job comes along real quick for you and yours. -gary
"In God We Trust - Everyone else keep you hands where I can see them!"

Offline Badnews Bob

  • Trade Count: (34)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2963
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2008, 02:45:34 AM »
I can sure feel for ya, I haven't been laid off, My job will be there when I can go back.(Working for the Goverment has its pluses) But I don't have insurance to cover my time off due to my fall, If I hadn't retired from the Navy I'd be very hungry right now, Hang in there Stumpy lets all pray this is a short term prospect.
Badnews Bob
AE-2 USN retired

Offline STUMPJMPR

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1037
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2008, 05:14:55 AM »
I hope its short too... I have alot of co-workers searching for me... I'm considering a move to the Houston area where I will be able to double my current salary.... I have nothing holding me here except family... I don't have a wife or kids... I just have never been that far away from home....

Offline Swampman

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (44)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16518
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #12 on: October 22, 2008, 06:13:58 AM »
The deer hunting might be good out there....prayers sent!
"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book?" Sogoyewapha, "Red Jacket" - Senaca

1st Special Operations Wing 1975-1983
919th Special Operations Wing  1983-1985 1993-1994

"Manus haec inimica tyrannis / Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" ~Algernon Sidney~

Offline 9x19

  • Trade Count: (3)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 84
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2008, 08:40:26 AM »
Stump,

That sucks!

For the record, I received my own "Release Notification Letter" from my company last September... the plant I was working in was closing and operations were moving to Malaysia and Taiwan. I had seen it coming the previous January, since we were bleeding people (folks leaving and not being replaced, positions merging, etc.) and started back to school. I did 36 semester hours in 12 months to finish my degree, and found another position without missing a single days work, and without losing any salary.

I'm sure you'll be OK, but it sucks to while you're going thru it!

Offline dep869

  • Trade Count: (3)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 46
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #14 on: October 22, 2008, 03:05:48 PM »
--Very sorry to hear about your lay-off.  Don't let the Ba@#$**'s get you down.  In the end it is their loss.  You and yours will be in our prayers.

Manion

Offline Cascade Pete

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 45
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #15 on: October 23, 2008, 09:13:50 AM »
Been off for about the last 3 months. Company cut 50% of the workforce. Finally found a job on a nearby Military Base. Even with 2 degrees, Being A Dis-Abled Vet, didn't make a load of beans to anyone. Jobs are tight out there and they are getting harder to find. Good luck to everyone looking. Don't forget that the only fool who starves, has no means to hunt......Rev. Pete
Life Memeber, NAHC
Ordained Minister
Confirmed Wood Loafer

Offline Dixie Dude

  • Trade Count: (6)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4129
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #16 on: October 23, 2008, 09:31:30 AM »
Quote
I actually have a copy of a piece in the New York Times (very liberal) dated 1999 and to quote;  "The President has declared that Fannie May will make loans available to all minorities even if they do not meet the minimum qualifications."  It went on to add that 10 years from now the taxpayers would be required to bail the entire system out from all the bad loans that would explode after that mandate.  Its now 9 years later and quess what?  Oh yeah the President who mandated that requirement, "Bill Clinton".

jpshaw, can you tell us what date and issue of NY Times that was from.  I would like to use it against my "liberal" family members.


Offline db22

  • Trade Count: (7)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 343
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #17 on: October 23, 2008, 02:05:14 PM »
Stump, I'm very sorry to hear about your situation. Sounds like you have some good marketable skills, though, and maybe you're young and adaptable -- I hope so. We all wish you the best and look forward to hearing how things go for you.
"The said constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms." -- Samuel Adams

Offline omcforever

  • Trade Count: (17)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 265
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #18 on: October 24, 2008, 07:11:40 PM »
Sorry to hear that. I work for a company that makes fiberglass. They filed bankruptcy in early 2000. Had us take pay cuts/concessions/layoffs,ect. Then 9-11 hit and we went to war. We happened to be the only supliers of a certain glass used in the armor that goes over there so guess what happened? Great profits-expansions-hired new salaried people-more VP,s and such. We still make small beans, long hours, nothing back to the way it was prior to bankruptcy. Ever feel bad about working or having a job.........especially if being at war and american boys and girls are dying so I can keep a job. Hmm,,,, I do sometimes. But if I did not do what I do, then someone else would suffer. I am a vet from the first gulf war(Desert shield/Desert storm).... If it wasnt for 9-11, I would be either looking or employed elsewhere. I guess the economy did not affect me in that sense yet. Ironic...****Hang in there buddy****. 
FIELD ARTILLERY----------KING OF BATTLE----------USAFATC
                      FORT SILL OKLAHOMA
                       JAN 1979 - APR 1991
                          ARMY VETERAN

Offline Spanky

  • Moderators
  • Trade Count: (96)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4627
  • Gender: Male
  • USMC Semper Fidelis
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #19 on: October 25, 2008, 09:46:09 AM »
Well I joined the ranks of the unemployed yesterday.
Got the call to the bosses office at 3:15 PM (15 minutes until the end of shift) and told the news.

AIN'T THE ECONOMY GREAT!!

About 1/2 of the workforce in the plant got it yesterday so I was kind of expecting it.

Now I can look forward to crappy unemployment benefits and no local job market to speak of.


At least I'll have hunting season off.




Spanky

Offline Cascade Pete

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 45
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #20 on: October 25, 2008, 10:07:04 AM »
Spanky,
             Feeling Your pain man. Was living like a pauper for about 3 months. Took me that long to find another job. Hang in there. Keep a positive attitude and don't let it get You down. Button up Marine..At least You won't have to lie for time off to hunt ;D Alot of us vets are feeling the pinch. Seems we work the jobs that get cut the quickest. Look at Job Hunting as just another mission or landing. Keep the Faith...Rev. Pete Gallant US Army(Ret.)
Life Memeber, NAHC
Ordained Minister
Confirmed Wood Loafer

Offline Cascade Pete

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 45
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #21 on: October 25, 2008, 10:15:08 AM »
To Everyone Un Employed or Standing on the Banana Peel,
      It Promises to get alot worse. Here in my area of WA State we are experiencing alot of lay-offs and jobs just disappearing. Hard times for good people.  You may want to consider doing what my small community is attempting;  Just like to colonists of old, we are banding together to make sure no one goes hungry or without. We have all undertaken planting winter gardens and sharing what we all have. It is a novel approach to things, but it seems to be working. In the old days, before the "me first" crowds and Yuppies, people looked out for one another, gave of themselves, and were not so selfish and self centered. I think if Our Country is going to turn this economic crisis around, it is coming from below, not from above. Keep the faith, fill Your freezer(Hunting season is on in most states), and dig in and hang on. Its gonna be a wild ride......Good luck to everyone...Rev. Pete
Life Memeber, NAHC
Ordained Minister
Confirmed Wood Loafer

Offline Spanky

  • Moderators
  • Trade Count: (96)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4627
  • Gender: Male
  • USMC Semper Fidelis
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #22 on: October 25, 2008, 11:22:00 AM »
Spanky,
             Feeling Your pain man. Was living like a pauper for about 3 months. Took me that long to find another job. Hang in there. Keep a positive attitude and don't let it get You down. Button up Marine..At least You won't have to lie for time off to hunt ;D Alot of us vets are feeling the pinch. Seems we work the jobs that get cut the quickest. Look at Job Hunting as just another mission or landing. Keep the Faith...Rev. Pete Gallant US Army(Ret.)


Thanks for the kind words Pete...
Yeah times are getting tougher all over, I hope we hit bottom soon so we can start the way back up.
With Faith in God and Country we can make it.



Spanky

Offline STUMPJMPR

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1037
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #23 on: October 25, 2008, 12:38:49 PM »
I may have found another job its 100 miles away like I said before.... Now I'm faced with the dilemma of moving and possibly getting laid off again... Where i currently stay my housing is free, but if I move I will be paying rent and I'm afraid I'll get the ax and be stuck with a 6 month lease or some garbage.... I'm debating on riding it out here and while I'm drawing unemployment I could work small construction jobs for cash.... There is still some house building going on, but if things don't change that will probably dry up to... Sorry to hear about your job spanky..... I have a feeling alot more of us will join those ranks within the next few months...

Offline NFG

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 522
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #24 on: October 26, 2008, 07:59:40 AM »
What is happening with the economy is a world wide problem...I can't be laid at the feet of a few people or one particular group.  This isn't a problem caused by the Dems or the Repubs, "those people over there" or "they did it", it is a problem caused by the pressure of the whole population and the need to satisfy the gnawing needs of the human appetite and to fuel the needs of growing populations around the world. 

Any one want to read about it read Toffler's "Future Shock".  He wrote about it 30 odd years ago.  I've seen it happening even while I was trying to make a living for my family, but no one can stop a steam roller once it starts moving, any more than stopping a war or the mindless actions of men bent on killing and destruction and the immediate needs of a family far outweigh the intellectual thoughts of the future.

It is partly the result of overpopulation, greed and avarice, profit motives in the short term, no thinking about the long term or the future, totally wrong thinking on the part of world leaders and the need to keep the present going to the detriment of the future, no one could have prevented this disaster from happening any more than anyone can stop Mother Nature from having hurricanes, drought's or floods.

Yes...it is just beginning and it will affect everyone.  I'm retired and pretty much worthless as far as working is concerned due to health problems and I don't know if my union retirement will last much longer which means my medications will go away if that happens.  I guarantee if that happens I would start looking to end someone...but who???...everyone I look at has a part in this mess...or myself...because without the meds I will die slowly fairly fast anyway.  I couldn't afford to live without those benefits because I can't pay the high cost of the meds and the rest of my family is in the same boat...wondering if they will have a job tomorrow and if they don't where will they get one.

One world economy was a good idea for those who profit from it, but for the average Joe it is/was disaster just waiting to happen.

The sad fact is greed and avarice in everyone is required to keep the money flowing through the economy and the beginning of the end started when Aerospace was shut down and all the high paying support jobs, then NAFTA, all the giveaway welfare programs and unfunded laws enacted, "human and animal rights" and the mindlessness that followed, and totally mindless "politically correctness" instead of hard nosed business decisions, became foremost.  Unproductive people don't pay their way or keep the economy afloat.  All these things are good when there is plenty to go around...it assages the guilt and the soul of the haves that they are doing something for the havenots.

I wonder what kind of world my grandkids will be living in not too many years down the road.  Those of us that have seen the aftermath of war know what might be just around the corner.

It's a sad thing that we can spent billions on killing but hardly a cent on science and education, providing good jobs and even sadder that the results of killing keeps the belly full while science and education just leads to more hunger...and religious BS keeps the population growing and out stripping the ability of the land to provide food...it's being covered with houses and superhighways.

This is what happens when Mother Nature steps up to clean up a mess.  It doesn't help the individual situation in the least tho'.  This is also what happens when average people forget or don't even think about anything except their own very small world and are too busy running in circles with blinders on instead of looking around.  But that is human nature and nothing can be done about that.

Online Graybeard

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (69)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 27035
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #25 on: October 26, 2008, 06:11:29 PM »
In my opinion the world is seriously over populated with humans. Any time any population of any critter (humans included) reaches a certain level of over population nature steps in and balances the scales again. With nature there is ALWAYS an over compensation and levels drop drastically lower than ideal so the environment the species depends on can properly recover while the population rebuilds slowly.

We humans think that with our brains we can over come this and we have for a long long time. Too long perhaps. But the reckoning is coming and come it will. If man kind doesn't kill off a billion plus humans then nature will do it for us. It's ugly to contemplate when it's us we're talking about but in the grander scheme of things as nature goes we're no different no better and no worse than any other species and if we continue to over populate the environment nature will take care of it for us.

Basically I suspect that's what's going on out there. Someone some super rich and powerful group of someone's most likely has decided it's time to remove a billion or two humans so that those left will have a better world to live in. They are right really they are. The thing is we ALL want to be among those left to reap the benefits. Sadly we all can't be and those of us poor minions at the bottom aren't likely to be among those at the end of the culling that is coming.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline STUMPJMPR

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1037
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off:::::::Update
« Reply #26 on: October 29, 2008, 06:30:21 AM »
Just wanted to let all you know I found a job... I'll be moving to Baton Rouge next week... The pay is a few dollars more than I was making at my last job....  Let's just hope the job last with the economy....

Offline Badnews Bob

  • Trade Count: (34)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2963
  • Gender: Male
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #27 on: October 29, 2008, 06:34:02 AM »
Good for ya Stumpy, Its hard to pack up and move but not eating is even harder. Best of luck in your endeavors
Badnews Bob
AE-2 USN retired

Offline Spanky

  • Moderators
  • Trade Count: (96)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4627
  • Gender: Male
  • USMC Semper Fidelis
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #28 on: October 29, 2008, 08:36:49 AM »
Congrats Stumpy. ;D

Making more money is a bonus too!!!
Good luck brother.



Spanky

Offline paul63

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 76
Re: OFF TOPIC: Laid Off
« Reply #29 on: October 29, 2008, 08:39:40 AM »
Stumpjmpr, I know that they're hiring people for CLECO powerplant that is being built between Alexandria & Boyce. The construction company is Shaw & it will take another 3-4yrs to complete. They're hiring for alot of positions. Also cost of living in central LA is cheaper than in B.R.