Short story short - There’s a rumour going round that the bigwigs have plans to relocate my side of the operation to the US. This would mean redundancy for me and my colleagues… left with specialist knowledge that cannot be utilized anywhere else locally or even nationally.
It is just a rumour at this point. But it doesn’t stop me worrying.
If I were to confront my bosses there’s nothing to stop them outright lying to stop me from leave prematurely. If it’s true then I feel somewhat mixed about the idea of them stringing us along to get dedicated work out of us until the last day, knowing full well they are going to make us redundant?
Is there anything I can do other than sit and wait, or call their bluff (find another job NOW)?
If they are moving your bit back to the States, perhaps you could move too? You do, after all, have specialised knowledge. As long as you get health insurance, of course.
First update your resume. Make sure you have someone read it to make sure you aren’t bragging about your mangerial skills or anything.
Second you need to take a look at your household budget. Figure out where you can start making cuts to save some money. Eat out less, clip coupons, cut back on your entertainment spending, etc. Make these changes NOW and start setting that extra money aside into a high yield savings account. If you do get laid off you will be glad to have the extra money and you will be used to living on less so it won’t be too horrendous an experience.
Third start talking to friends and family about possible open positions where they work. You might not want to send out resumes just yet but start spreading the word that you might be looking for something in the future.
Other than that there isn’t much you can do except have some kleenex and chocolate in the house so you can go home and sob when they tell you they are disbanding your department.
Be glad that you’re getting some advance warning of the possibility so you can make plans, contemplate moving or start feeling the waters for finding a different job.
A few years ago, a friend was working merrily away, only to find out by surprise one morning that his job was being moved from San Francisco to Minnesota and that he was free to follow it, or meet with Carol from HR to discuss severance.
Could you get education or training to do something else? That would seem to be prudent even if your job remains. If not, you would seem to be in a pretty vulnerable position in a number of ways if you don’t want to move internationally to where the jobs are located.
Oh wait, if you could find another job NOW, why are you worried about this one not being there?
That seems to happen a lot. Be careful of those. They can let you go even after you’ve moved and uprooted your family to keep your job. I’ve heard that happening a lot also.
Lobsang, I went through this ten years ago. And no, I didn’t have any health insurance - I had a return ticket to Europe in case of illness. I was living on the edge, man!
It didn’t work out for me, but at least I tried.
If you’re offered the chance, grow some testes and go.
Lobsang, I’m sorry to hear that and it does sound scary, BUT, (and forgive me if I get this a bit wrong), it seems to me that you are not always enormously happy with your job and so on. IF so, this could end up being not too terrible for you, and maybe even quite good.
Yeah, all right, it IS easy to sit at my computer and dish out advice to others - oops, sorry. I DO hope it can work out well for you, though.
Brush up your resume, start putting out feelers, and think about whether you want to follow the job. Adventure, new experiences, and continuing to work at a job you don’t seem to like–how does that sound?
I DO hope it can work out well for you, though. 