My morning:
“Can I see everyone in the conference room?”
“Great, now that everyone is here…Turns out, the government’s not renewing the contract like they said they would. So as of Dec. 23rd, at close of business, you’re all out of a job.”
Ouch.
Wow. That stinks.
I guess this means that you’ll be off for Christmas and New Year’s?
Wow, that sucks.
A few years ago I got fired from a project, but not my job, effective January 1. We heard about it some time in December.
Best. Christmas. Ever.
I have saved up vacation time so I don’t know if I’ll take much of a hit yet, but you’re right. We’ll all get to go home, as almost no one is actually from DC.
I pray every day that my company will just have the sense to close shop.
Hasn’t worked yet.
I got fired on 12/21/???
“Hey I’m sorry but business is slow and I’m going to have to let you go. We’re having a Christmas party this Saturday though, if you want to come!”
It was a fun job too. No hard feelings though, I’m still friends with everyone there.
As much as this sucks, try to enjoy it. Years ago I got laid off in June, and since I had some decent savings, I decided to enjoy my first summer off since the early 80s. It was never without some worry, but I did enjoy it. I didn’t start looking for work until September.
(And I had my first phone interview scheduled for September. The eleventh. 2001.)
Join the club. My big pharma contract’s up on Dec. 17th and is not being renewed. Not entirely unexpected, but disappointing nevertheless.
Over the last 2.25 years our renewals went from every 6 months to every 3 months to this. Such is the life of being a contractor.
Chessic Sense, I am sorry to hear this. I hope you find something soon.
{{Chessic}}
Sorry to hear that. Here’s hoping that you find a new job right away, that starts early in January, so you can have a nice bit of time off without worrying about what’s to come. 
Man, that’s a real bitch. That happened to me a few years ago: $117K/yr to zero in five minutes. You have my sympathies.
A few years ago I was laid off just after the holidays - I’m not sure which is worse. Wasn’t a big blow to me, but many of my coworkers had large holiday debts that they thought they could cover.
Wishing you luck in your job search!
So sorry to hear this terrible news. I was laid off 2.5 years ago and still have not been able to find a full-time job (not to scare you, just to tell you that I feel your pain!)
Sorry Chessic, that sucks.
The economy is slowly improving, hopefully you won’t be out of work too long. I was unemployed for over a year, but I got a job about 6 months ago.
Sorry to hear about the suckage, that bites, to be sure.
Whatever this means for your world, it will still mean that come January. Try to see this as an exercise in detachment. Do your level best to set it aside and deal with the fall out come January. Don’t let it ruin your Christmas, inform your decisions? Absolutely, but don’t let it ruin it for you and those around you.
Things are improving economy wise, and you’re experienced and intelligent, have faith that something better may come your way.
Good luck, we’re all pulling for you!
On one job I had, the owner fired everyone on Christmas Eve . . . right in the middle of our party, with no warning.
I’ve been trying to think how this might be a joke. I can’t come up with anything funny. Please share.
I was laid off two years ago, a week before Christmas. Ho ho, fucking ho. The economy was just starting to tailspin then and no one was hiring. It took me almost 10 months to get back in the saddle again.
Best of luck Chessic.
It’s actually better they did it this way. At least this way you didn’t overspend.
I worked at one place, where they laid someone off the day he came back from vacation. The decision to lay him off was made BEFORE he went.
He was so mad and I don’t blame him. Instead of taking a trip to NYC and spending money, he could’ve used that money and the week of vacation to look for a new job.
But they didn’t want to “ruin” his vacation by telling him before.
Word of advice, make sure at 9am on Dec 24th you’re applying for unemployment. It takes time to get the paperwork through so DO IT. You won’t be sorry.