With our stock at 1/7 of its January 2008 value, there will be layoffs, right before Christmas.
This time there's a buyout offer. We have the option of voluntarily leaving and getting the same package. Most of us don't qualify for Social Security, and with the economy tanking, we aren't likely to find work elsewhere.
Past layoffs were based on seniority: new people were selected, it was temporary, and after several weeks, they could expect to return.
This time, though, it's severance, and the selection process is a different calculation. Whatever job they deem superfluous or too costly gets the ax. "Too costly" could include old-timers who are paid more than newbies. After thirteen years, I am an old timer; real old timers got it last year.
As my daughter, the VeggieGirl, noted: I am always on notice for layoff, so what's the difference? The difference is that I have been caught in several layoffs in my life, and we never quite recover. They lay waste to our lifestyle, ruin our credit, and in general, trash my self-esteem.
On the other hand, frequent layoffs tend to leave survivors glad to be working. Even if they are tough on the nerves.
pb
Little Pond
2 comments:
I know things are really bad for the newspaper business, just looking at the local/Phoenix papers. I sure hope that you survive this round of cuts, Pat. May the Force be with you.
I was staring out the window the other day, watching the bird feeder.
A flock of pigeons flews in, lit and snacked. There must have been a hawk nearby, because they all flew off suddenly. Then they all flew back.
Rinse and repeat. I know that the hawk could still pick off one or two, but the rest would get their sustenance.
Sounded awfully familiar to me. When I mentioned it to my coworkers, they agreed.
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