Laid Off

[arghblech]

I got laid off today. I didn't even like the job that much but I'm a bit sad to see it go.

Fortunately my wife and I have been saving for a down payment a house so we have a fairly fat stack of cash in the bank to live on should we need to. I got a decent but not great severance package and two months of COBRA paid by the company.

The folks who weren't laid off had to lose some benefits and take a 10% pay cut so I probably wouldn't have stuck around long anyway.

So, yeah, I'm not freaking out or anything yet. I know we'll be ok but losing your jobs sucks no matter what.

Anyone need a UNIX/Linux admin?

[Austin]

Not leaving on your own terms always hurt. Get a good nights sleep and start over tomorrow morning. Good luck.

[rm71]

Sorry to hear. Although I have never been laid off myself, we got news about "budget cuts" about 3 weeks before Christmas...

[Wishoot]

Even though you didn't like the job too much, I'm still sorry. I'm seeing more and more casualties of this economy every day.

Best of luck to you in your job hunt.

[Gruder]

My condolences. Best of luck in the job hunt -- you'll be the best-shaven candidate, for sure!

[Garrett]

You will look back at this and view your layoff as a great thing. Its not easy to see now that it just has happened and the uncertainty and fear fills the brain. I was laid off a number of years ago and understand what you are going through - tough!!

However, it was the impetus that forced me to do what I always wanted and that was have my own business so that is what I did. Nearly 10 years later, it could not have turned out better!

I am sure the same will happen to you - either be on your own or find a situation that is better for you.

Best of luck and we will pray for your landing a great new career.

[redbike]

Sounds like you are in good shape for a while, which says a lot about your planning for the future. Best of luck with the search and I hope you find something more to your liking.

jim

[thirdeye]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. It does sound like your spirit is in the right place so hang tough, things will work out the way they should.

[Limey]

Sorry about that. Although I haven't heard of many layoffs from around Houston. The Oil and Gas business is still going pretty good.

[riooso]

Sorry to hear about that! Hope things work to your liking.

Take Care,
Richard

[rickw]

Sorry about the job. Remember, you're the same person that you were yesterday; so don't play head games with yourself.

I was laid off three years ago at ago 61. I decided to just hang it up and retire.

[arghblech]

Sorry about that. Although I haven't heard of many layoffs from around Houston. The Oil and Gas business is still going pretty good.

Oil and Gas is still ok so far. Petrochem is taking a beating. I worked for a software company that sells enterprise monitoring applications. Many of our larger customers were folks like Merrill Lynch, Lehmann Brothers, Citigroup etc etc. Many of those accounts just vanished so the writing was on the wall.

[mulepackin]

Sorry to hear of this. We are being forced to take "cost improvement hours" or "cost improvement days" (CIH, or CID) unpaid time away from work, and I work in healthcare. This after our CEO told us we were "recessionproof".

[arghblech]

Rule #1

CEOs lie. Whether they do it to be evil or to keep employees happy, I can't say. But they lie.

[Bluestaco]

I'm really sorry. I hope another--better--door opens for you very soon. Best of luck.

[kwk285]

Sorry it happened. I was laid off from my last company.

With the way of mergers and acquititions, if you are laid off, it doesn't hold a stigma like being fired for cause. Companies realize that and won't hold it against you.

If have been with my current employer for a little over four years and view being laid off as a blessing. I am much happier with my current company than I ever was with my old one.