# Lay Offs - Here we go again, and Merry Christmas **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340 "2008-12-16T02:30:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/1 "2008-12-16T02:30:59Z")
So, there’s now something about this latest economic downturn that makes it personal. About 6 months ago my small high-tech company was bought by a very large and established US company: good news at the time, but not so good today. Ten days before Christmas I have been given the proverbial boot. Apparently a 20% workforce reduction is expected. There was a 5% reduction at my place. I’m one of those 5%. It wasn’t totally unexpected, but still, ouch. I’ve only been at the company for 2 years, so I have an 8 week package. Eight weeks to find viable employment in today’s environment. I’m not rich. I need to find employment really soon. I have a 9 year old and and 11 year old and I’m scared. It looks like there’s some hiring going on, from the links I’ve checked today, but man it sucks to be thrust into this position a week before Christmas. I’ll keep you updated with my job search progress. Either I’ll be lucky, or I’ll lose everything, or there will be a middle ground wherein I sucessfully sell the house and minimize my losses. Ho, ho, fucking ho. ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/2 "2008-12-16T02:33:57Z")
I feel you – I got the axe this past Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/3 "2008-12-16T02:46:15Z")
Horrible news. So sorry this happened to you. I only know you from your pit post way back, when I started taking your name in vain, but this is really bad news. I wish I had something wonderful and positive to say, but ho ho fucking ho is about the most appropiate sentiment I can imagine right now. I was fired once and I cursed and screamed in my car, driving way too fast. It was good to let it out. I’m sending you good vibes from Atlanta, Ga. I’ll be hoping for you. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/4 "2008-12-16T02:54:15Z")
Gah. A good friend of mine was let go by a major company right before Thanksgiving. Just forwarded him some info from another friend whose company is looking to hire an IT manager. Good luck on the job search - polish up the resume and network network network. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/5 "2008-12-16T03:50:58Z")
My thoughts are with you **Leaffan**. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/6 "2008-12-16T04:07:11Z")
And mine. May your stint out of work be very, very brief. Good vibes your way from here. And for Juniper200, too. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/7 "2008-12-16T10:12:29Z")
I’m in much the same boat. Things will pick up in the new year. ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/8 "2008-12-16T12:03:22Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I’m in much the same boat. Things will pick up in the new year. I hope you are right; I fear not though. At the end of this month I will have been unemployed for a full year. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/9 "2008-12-16T12:48:18Z")
> [@Contrary](#): > > I hope you are right; I fear not though. At the end of this month I will have been unemployed for a full year. Holy shit **Contrary**. Now I _am_ scared. Best-o-luck in 2009. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/10 "2008-12-16T14:39:41Z")
12 years, ends on the 19th. NO sevrance package, none. Not a great time to look for work. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/11 "2008-12-16T15:04:42Z")
Good luck guys. I’ve been working as a ‘temp’ for a year and half. ---
**Author:** ![spoike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@spoike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spoike)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/12 "2008-12-16T15:26:32Z")
My brother-in-law was laid off on Friday, after 14 years in the same job. His position was off-shored. The kicker is that, although he should be entitled to a severance package based on those 14 years, his company was purchased about a year ago by the company that laid him off. His severance package, therefore, will only reflect a year’s employment. Even better, he and I were googling for available jobs based on his qualifications (his expertise is with a certain program), and one of the jobs that came up was absolutely perfect for him. The location, however, was in Mumbai. I think we were looking at the new job posting for his former job. He decided not to apply. **Leaffan** , and those others who are out of work, I hope you all find great new jobs in the New Year. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/13 "2008-12-16T15:56:26Z")
_hug_ I don’t know exactly what you do, but IT jobs seem plentiful in the GTA area (well, in comparison to here, anyway), so hopefully you’ll be able to pick up something fast! Don’t forget to apply for unemployment - there’s a reason you pay into it. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/14 "2008-12-16T16:22:29Z")
Oh, man, I hope you find something quickly, **Leaffan**. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/15 "2008-12-16T16:37:57Z")
i’m hoping your enforced vacation ends soon. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/16 "2008-12-16T16:56:04Z")
> [@Contrary](#): > > I hope you are right; I fear not though. At the end of this month I will have been unemployed for a full year. Ouch! But I think it will bottom out next year. The thing is, despite all the losses, there are lots of people out there with money, and they will be looking to make a return on that money. ---
**Author:** ![Theodore\_Striker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Theodore\_Striker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theodore_Striker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/17 "2008-12-16T17:10:40Z")
Sorry to hear about all of the layoffs, I went through it this summer, and it is no fun at all. I work in recruiting, so we are feeling the pinch with companies reducing hiring right now. HOWEVER- there are still places hiring, although many are doing contract to permanent instead of straight permanent. Our sales guys are hearing from many places that they will be hiring after the first of the year, instead of the total shoot down. YMMV of course, but I mainly work engineering, design, and IT positions in the Cincinnati/ Dayton area, to give you a frame of reference. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/18 "2008-12-16T17:33:39Z")
I’m sorry to hear that, **Leaffan**! The fact that they’re letting you go at this time of year tells me that they’re bastards who didn’t appreciate you enough, but that doesn’t make it any easier to get the next gig. Good luck and bon courage. Here’s hoping the next job is one that brings satisfaction and financial rewards to both parties, and that it comes soon. ---
**Author:** ![Canadiangirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Canadiangirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadiangirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/19 "2008-12-16T18:13:48Z")
I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. So far, our company has been unaffected but things are not done yet. Best of luck. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340/20 "2008-12-16T20:14:04Z")
Good luck, **Leaffan**. I hope the problem is at the US parent company’s end and not a general downturn locally - maybe you will be able to find new work with another Canadian company. IIRC you’re in Carp? If you’re \*really \*desperate, there’s a local call centre that’s hiring in Ottawa - I drive past their “Now Hiring” sign regularly. (My daughter used to work there, and they’re not totally horrible. PM for details if you want them.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lay-offs-here-we-go-again-and-merry-christmas/477340.md?page=2)