It's official... Laid off!!!

[teknoid]

It's been a good run... 5 years and 1 month as net-admin/user support for a small family owned company.
As they say... All good things come to an end.

The downsizing and layoffs actually began March 2001. Between then and now staff has been reduced from around 120 to 6 (me included). Frankly I'm amazed that they kept me around as long as they did. Do you know how little there is to do with only 5 users to take care of.

The good news... Really nice severence package plus up to 39 weeks of unemployment. By my calculations I won't HAVE to work until early in 2005. With any luck at all the economy will pick up a little by then and companies will be hiring IT staff.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Holy $hit dood, 120 to 6? Sorry to hear about your unemployment though

 

[Toasthead]

good luck !

 

[imported_Tomato]

The good news... Really nice severence package plus up to 39 weeks of unemployment. By my calculations I won't HAVE to work until early in 2005. With any luck at all the economy will pick up a little by then and companies will be hiring IT staff.

Phew... that's a pretty sweet severence package. I'm sure the economy will pick up by then, enjoy your vacation...

 

[sadb0i]

Originally posted by: teknoid
It's been a good run... 5 years and 1 month as net-admin/user support for a small family owned company.
As they say... All good things come to an end.

The downsizing and layoffs actually began March 2001. Between then and now staff has been reduced from around 120 to 6 (me included). Frankly I'm amazed that they kept me around as long as they did. Do you know how little there is to do with only 5 users to take care of.

The good news... Really nice severence package plus up to 39 weeks of unemployment. By my calculations I won't HAVE to work until early in 2005. With any luck at all the economy will pick up a little by then and companies will be hiring IT staff.

Sorry to hear about the layoff, but nice severance. I'm ready to get out of IT.

 

[Booster]

Congrats??? --- was I supposed to say that? Anyway, there is something positive in being fired, too. For example, I was fired once, and at first I felt like crap, but when I went out, saw the sun, etc, I felt like a heavy burden fell of my weary shoulders and for the first time (perhaps) since having that job I smiled (no kidding). I felt like I wasn't going, but flying, so carefree and happy. Of course, it isn't easy to find a job nowadays, but the one I was fired from was also a small privately held firm and I didn't see any perspectives there for me anyways, my dream is to be employed by a large company where I'll be able to work until retirement and where there are all the benefits. So what, a crappy feeling, but I found a job much better than my previous one with payment double as high. When I was leaving, I knew I was leaving for better things and higher wages, that's why I wasn't brought down all that much by being given the sack.

 

[Stark]

how are they still in business? 120 to 6?

 

[T3C]

that is some major layoffs, sounds like you are all set though for a while.

 

[m2kewl]

sorry to hear bud.

 

[Apathetic]

Sorry to hear that. Take a month off and enjoy yourself before you start looking.

Dave

 

[Spooner]

What the hell kind of severence did you get?

over a year ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Jeez. View this as victory

 

[AznMaverick]

i guess this is a bittersweet situation for you (more sweet than bitter if you're successful in finding a job before your paid 'vacation' is over). my father lost his job and he's 60! i can't imagine what he felt, luckily he found a job

 

[teknoid]

Spooner,

6 months at full pay + 3 weeks unused vacation + 10 unused sick days + 5 unused personal days + a cash payout equal to 6 months of COBRA payments + acrued bonus = just a bit shy of 10 months at full pay. Add to that 39 weeks of unemployment payments at $275.00 per week and you've got a little more than year off with pay.

No I don't view it as a victory. I'd GLADLY give it all back tomorrow in exchange for my job. Yes the job was THAT good!!!

 

[teknoid]

Stark,

We're (oh I guess I should say "they're") in the citrus business. At the point at which I was hired we had 2 offices about 3 hours apart. The local office had 25 "in-office" staff and 60 or so field workers. The other office had 10 "in-office" and 30 or so in the field. I supported the "in-office" folks at both locations and kept the WAN between offices humming right along.

First they sold off the south-Florida grove ops 6000 acres of groves and 40 staff gone. Next they sold off the central-Florida grove ops 10,000 acres and 80 people gone.

All that's left is the small core group of folks that look after the "family" wealth (which is considerable, can you say 400 million +). As far as the owners are concerned all they need is the handful of people to write the checks and do the taxes.

 

[slycat]

i go through 2 cartons of OJ a week...that should be helping their business.

 

[teknoid]

I can not FVCKING believe this. I'm seriously looking forward to taking at least a month off and just relaxing, then going back to school for a couple of terms to finish up a long overdue degree, but NOOOOO... In the course of 2 hours this afternoon I get not one but two seperate offers.

On one side I'm stunned and GRATEFUL to have work, ANY work, much less DESIREABLE work at a pay rate about 50% higher than I was getting. On the other hand my much hoped for vacation would be totally shot in the a$$.

Please don't read this as ingratitude. I'm amazed that I might have a chance to be re-employed this quickly. Heck yes I'll jump on this in a heartbeat. It's just that after 30 years of continious employment (I'm 45) I was really looking forward to a little "down" time.

I think I'll ask if an August 1st start date would be OK...

Oh well... Like the totally obnoxious Checkers TV advert says... "Ya gotta eat!!"

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: teknoid
Spooner,

6 months at full pay + 3 weeks unused vacation + 10 unused sick days + 5 unused personal days + a cash payout equal to 6 months of COBRA payments + acrued bonus = just a bit shy of 10 months at full pay. Add to that 39 weeks of unemployment payments at $275.00 per week and you've got a little more than year off with pay.

No I don't view it as a victory. I'd GLADLY give it all back tomorrow in exchange for my job. Yes the job was THAT good!!!

My great scott that's a freaking nice package. Nice work on that!

Goodluck with getting a new job hopefully you can soon

--

sadb0iYou and me both, buddy!

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: teknoid
I can not FVCKING believe this. I'm seriously looking forward to taking at least a month off and just relaxing, then going back to school for a couple of terms to finish up a long overdue degree, but NOOOOO... In the course of 2 hours this afternoon I get not one but two seperate offers.

On one side I'm stunned and GRATEFUL to have work, ANY work, much less DESIREABLE work at a pay rate about 50% higher than I was getting. On the other hand my much hoped for vacation would be totally shot in the a$$.

Please don't read this as ingratitude. I'm amazed that I might have a chance to be re-employed this quickly. Heck yes I'll jump on this in a heartbeat. It's just that after 30 years of continious employment (I'm 45) I was really looking forward to a little "down" time.

I think I'll ask if an August 1st start date would be OK...

Oh well... Like the totally obnoxious Checkers TV advert says... "Ya gotta eat!!"

Holy sh*t you've got it made! Ask for the late start date and sleep in and drink more beer than you can shake at stick at if you get that time off. Now we can really say congrats!

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: teknoid
Stark,

We're (oh I guess I should say "they're") in the citrus business. At the point at which I was hired we had 2 offices about 3 hours apart. The local office had 25 "in-office" staff and 60 or so field workers. The other office had 10 "in-office" and 30 or so in the field. I supported the "in-office" folks at both locations and kept the WAN between offices humming right along.

First they sold off the south-Florida grove ops 6000 acres of groves and 40 staff gone. Next they sold off the central-Florida grove ops 10,000 acres and 80 people gone.

All that's left is the small core group of folks that look after the "family" wealth (which is considerable, can you say 400 million +). As far as the owners are concerned all they need is the handful of people to write the checks and do the taxes.

Hopefully they still write you your checks for the next x weeks you are intitled, or do you get it as one lump sum?

 

[teknoid]

Being the eternal skeptic that I am... I'll believe it when I cash the first paycheck and it doesn't bounce.

At this point I've got meetings (read interviews) tomorrow and Friday.

We'll see...

I'm betting that the "bath robe + daytime TV + beer" routine is still in go mode.

Not a bad plan but not what you'd call a "career move"

 

[teknoid]

dman,

The good news... Lump sum!!

The bad news... 27% tax rate on severance packages... OUCH!!!

Already have the $$$ It's in the bank. Broke it into 3 seperate CDs at 60 day rate, 90 day rate and 120 day rate. That keeps me from pissing a bunch of it away on A/V equipment or some manner of googaa for the Miata

 

[Renob]

Sound to me like you must Rock at your job, seeing how 114 out of 120 people went before you.

I dont think you will have that much of a problem finding a job.

Good luck and enjoy a little time off.

 

[kermalou]

this thread reminded me that i hadn't visited fvckedcompany in a while

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: teknoid
Spooner,

6 months at full pay + 3 weeks unused vacation + 10 unused sick days + 5 unused personal days + a cash payout equal to 6 months of COBRA payments + acrued bonus = just a bit shy of 10 months at full pay. Add to that 39 weeks of unemployment payments at $275.00 per week and you've got a little more than year off with pay.

No I don't view it as a victory. I'd GLADLY give it all back tomorrow in exchange for my job. Yes the job was THAT good!!!

I?st ritribel bo et lysdexic

i guess its terrible that i was able to read that,in about 2 seconds time, i knew what it said,
{It looked familiar right away}

Good luck in your job search,i hope you can find a similar job,and not end up at Burger King,etc.