Doohickie

If I may.... On the one hand, many people are losing jobs due to the bad economy, so to be so casual about the whole thing does seem a little.... insensitive to people whose jobs are in danger or already lost.

On the other hand, if I was eligible for retirement but didn't mind working a while longer, I might be kind of casual about layoffs.

I can kind of see both points.

cranky old dude

You've gotta admit, those wives can be pretty sharp. I keep telling mine that I've worked my 38 years, now it's her turn. She just laughs and I keep going to work.

Im Fixed

I have the same question. I had a partnership in a scarp yard got sick and couldnt pull my wieght. So that came to an end. Had no coverage to pay for the treatments [ $2400 a month ] So l found a job with benifits driving readymix truck I went off work a little over a year ago and Im done the treatments. Company call back after winter layoff is April 15th. But with the econamy they may not open my plant this year. Things can only get better.

wobblyoldgeezer

Interesting reaction. I haven't felt any part of this reaction, I've been interested and entertained by the perceptions of someone who has chosen a big life change.

Costa Rica Tree Dude, all the best

crtreedude 

Thanks, not meaning to be anything than honest. Sometimes I am a bit giddy from the fact that we followed our dream, and it didn't turn into a nightmare.

What I was meaning to indicate is that as an owner, people think that you are immune to the pain. Not really, you will be the last out the door if something goes wrong and you are left with a lot more than a loss of job.

And Old Goat, no goats are allowed on our tree plantations, sorry.

In all honesty, losing a job can be the best thing that ever happened to you. It won't feel like it at the time, but it might convince you that working for someone else isn't as secure as you might have thought.

And make you think living in a tropical paradise is not as insane as everyone told you.

crtreedude 

I even tried naming the company after her... no going, the buck still stops here.

You know, once when she was criticizing my driving, I asked her "so, if you are so much better, why is it I am the one always driving?" She immediately shot back, "because you need the practice!"

Sigh, it comes from marrying a smart woman.

roccobike

I dodged two layoffs last year. I thought I was in the clear, then there was an announcement we are being purchased by a larger firm. So here we go again. Just when I thought I could breath again.

Tom Bombadil

A good friend of mine, and a fellow 50+'er (but not on this forum), was just informed that he was one of 4000 being laid off by Sun Microsystems.

cranky old dude

Our company has had a major layoff almost every year around Christmas time since 1982. Our local workforce has dwindled from over 65,000 to less than 6,500 employees. Not a single downsizing has gone by where I didn't see a good freind / work mate get cut loose.

It's devestating to see the pain that the families go through, and then later (sometimes much later) joyful to see those same families recover as those laid off find alternate employment. Most recent was a very close freind who after a year and a half of financial struggles from being laid off, stumbled into a production job paying over $20 per hour with benefits, a defined retirement pension and seasonal overtime.

It's never easy facing a down sizing, but it's become a regular fact of life.

I wish your freind the best of luck. Jobs are out there, you just have to find them.