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[SouthJerseyCy]

Back in 2014 it was the Thursday beginning March Madness and I was trying to figure out how I was going to watch ISU with all my meetings that day. I work remotely, so worst case I could listen to audio or something. Late the night before, my bosses boss scheduled a quick "check in" meeting. Unusual, yes, but there had been no talk of layoffs and things were busy so I was completely blindsided. Upside, I spent the next 4 days on the couch getting ********* and watching March Madness.

They gave 3 months severance which was incredible for someone who hadn't even worked there a year. I also started getting calls from other areas of the company who knew me or been recommended. I actually came back as a contractor before my severance ran out, making more $ than before (but no benefits obviously). Was hired back full-time again after a year of contracting.

This go around with COVID has resulted in several rounds of layoffs, but I've yet to get hit. I'm fairly nervous though as I work in healthcare and the hospitals we sell to have been hit hard. We're a different company than we were back in 2014 too and I don't think those getting laid off are getting as sweet of a deal as I did back then.

 

[mramseyISU]

I've been furloughed before and laid off but thankfully not quite a while.

I had a week furlough in 2009 and was able to collect unemployment for that week. I was planning on taking a week anyway due to my second child being born and I was able to pick my week so that worked out pretty well.

My position was eliminated from the same company in the fall of 2015. I had a pretty good idea it was coming though. Got put on a project that you could tell there was no enthusiasm about from upper management and I'd been with them long enough to see how they operated. If they stock price took a hit for the quarter they would come through and eliminate the positions of 10-15 people who had between 5-10 years with the company. I was just about on year 8 so I know that there was a chance I'd be getting the ax. Sure enough I got let go. I had a severance package, one weeks pay for every year I had been there. It worked out pretty well though in the end. I found my next job and it timed out so my last severance check showed up two weeks before my first check at the new job.

 

[mywayorcyway]

I haven't gotten laid off since about 1984 or 85. I've survived multiple RIFs as well. In retrospect, I'm not sure if that is a blessing or a curse.

This is me. You're older than I, but the "blessing or curse" comment rings true. There have been two times were layoffs were occurring and I actively lobbied to be let go and was unsuccessful. The second time was painful - I was the manager and I had to let go of my entire staff. One team member was really angry with me even though I found out at the same time he did. He later found out I had asked to be let go and to retain some of my staff instead. That was six months later. He felt horrible and apologized profusely. It was years ago and we're still friends today.

I'm in IT and have been surrounded by the layoff cloud my entire career. I'm hardened to it by now. The last time it occurred (three years ago) it was just another day. My VP wasn't sure how to react to my reaction. I told him not to worry about it and instead worry about the people who no longer had jobs.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

Then all the sudden I hear "I'm going to have to let you go." and wow did my world flip upside down in a second. After I got over the initial shock I decided then and there to take the high road because it's not like he was going to change his mind and in the engineering profession you don't burn bridges.

I would have totally gone into engineering if you could burn bridges. That sounds way more fun than all that math you guys do.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

This is me. You're older than I, but the "blessing or curse" comment rings true. There have been two times were layoffs were occurring and I actively lobbied to be let go and was unsuccessful. The second time was painful - I was the manager and I had to let go of my entire staff. One team member was really angry with me even though I found out at the same time he did. He later found out I had asked to be let go and to retain some of my staff instead. That was six months later. He felt horrible and apologized profusely. It was years ago and we're still friends today.

I'm in IT and have been surrounded by the layoff cloud my entire career. I'm hardened to it by now. The last time it occurred (three years ago) it was just another day. My VP wasn't sure how to react to my reaction. I told him not to worry about it and instead worry about the people who no longer had jobs.

We had a rif at the beginning of the year. Once again I was still there once the smoke cleared. There have been a few times when I came into the office wondering if my badge was even going to work as the top guy wanted to get rid of me. He's gone and I'm still here.

 

[FatNTired]

In my over 50 years in the workforce, I've learned one thing: never trust what executives say. From my investment hobby, to actual employment, I've heard the claims of 'no layoffs' so many times, only to see the opposite come true. I've only been laid off once in my life and that was 1 week prior to the shutdown. This, despite hearing "no layoffs due to our recent merger", to "we'll actually be growing our workforce" (in my area and division), to "no lay offs due to working remote", only to be laid off the day after hearing these. I was the highest tenure (15 years). I just turned 60. I'd just completed two major projects which no one else would touch. I was simply blown away. Integrity in the ranks lacks.

What sort of sweat shop did you begin working in under the age of 10?

 

[throwittoblythe]

We had a rif at the beginning of the year. Once again I was still there once the smoke cleared. There have been a few times when I came into the office wondering if my badge was even going to work as the top guy wanted to get rid of me. He's gone and I'm still here.

This reminded me of the worst firing story I've seen in my 10 year career. I worked on a remote site in Canada back in 2011. Like, so remote they built a "man camp" dormitory in the bush for us to live at while we worked. We worked 3 week rotations. You'd fly in, work for 3 weeks, then fly home and have one week off.

Anyway, one engineer screwed something up pretty bad, but he was young and it was an innocent mistake. So he flies home for his week off, then when he gets to the airport to fly back to the site, his ticket won't process. In speaking with the airline, they say "sir, this ticket is no longer valid because its been cancelled by your company." So he calls them to see what's up and they inform him he's been fired. "We'll ship you your personal affects in a few weeks." No warning, just let him figure it out when his ticket wouldn't work.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Three times from Smith-Voorhees-Jensen Architects in DSM in the late 1970's. Does that count?

No hiring back the third time as the firm went under and I moved to Minnesota.

 

[Remo Gaggi]

Laid, but not layed off.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

This reminded me of the worst firing story I've seen in my 10 year career. I worked on a remote site in Canada back in 2011. Like, so remote they built a "man camp" dormitory in the bush for us to live at while we worked. We worked 3 week rotations. You'd fly in, work for 3 weeks, then fly home and have one week off.

Anyway, one engineer screwed something up pretty bad, but he was young and it was an innocent mistake. So he flies home for his week off, then when he gets to the airport to fly back to the site, his ticket won't process. In speaking with the airline, they say "sir, this ticket is no longer valid because its been cancelled by your company." So he calls them to see what's up and they inform him he's been fired. "We'll ship you your personal affects in a few weeks." No warning, just let him figure it out when his ticket wouldn't work.

That is just rude.

 

[ArgentCy]

I got laid off for two months starting in March for COVID. Being in the mid-west, we saw it coming. I had to file unemployment on the phone because I have income in two states and I spent the first couple of days trying to get through. It paid off because the system crashed shortly after I filed. It took a few weeks to start getting paid and over a month to get the extra $600. I was getting $1088 a week for doing nothing. Without much to spend money on like concerts, sporting events, eating out and bars, I thought it was enough to live on. I also had my wife's normal salary though.

It was great. I cleaned stuff that had never been cleaned. My yard had never looked better. We did a decent amount of carryout from local businesses. Rode bikes, shot BB guns, played tennis and washed my car a lot. Did tons of projects around the house, crushed tons of great beer and vaped tons of chronic.

We have been back to work for two weeks and have had 3 confirmed cases out of approximately 2000 employees at the facility. Going in to work is like being processed and we wear masks all day that are hot and scratchy. I felt pretty safe at home and feel like the risk of working isn't worth it, but shareholders need to make money.

Why do I work again?

 

[ArgentCy]

I would have totally gone into engineering if you could burn bridges. That sounds way more fun than all that math you guys do.

You could combine the things and try to do the math. Figure out how long the bridge will burn before it collapses and where it starts. Then go burn it to test your math. Of course, I'm not sure there is a big market for that activity.

 

[StClone]

I wonder how many people actually are doing better? My wife works from home after I wired up her at-home office and has not seen a change. My company's business went up and is now maybe in a decline-but since March I've done o.k..

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

I've never been laid off but my work has been really slow for the past two months. Not much going on and not a lot of risk takers after the pandemic in my line of work.

I have zero indication there will be layoffs but I'm just thinking worst-case scenario here. My field is niche so unless I moved there aren't similar opportunities in my area, plus I'm well compensated for my area, so a career switch will result in a lower salary, no doubt.

Has anyone been through a layoff? What's it like? Did you know if was coming?

It's demoralizing. I killed myself '08 and '09 for them, with the understanding one day I wouldn't be the low man. Even earned the nick name the human horse for my work ethic. Had to lay me off due to the recession.

I was only on unemployment for a couple weeks before I got so sick of feeling sorry for myself, started taking any construction work I could find for any pay they would give. Life was hard for five years. Eventually worked my way to a better position after changing companies countless times for raises and more responsibility.

Now things are good, I'm the boss, I'm independent, and I don't hate my job. I'm one of the lucky ones.

 

[jdcyclone19]

My wife has been laid off since March. Unemployment was not too much but enough to buy groceries and that was it. The extra $600 make up for the rest of her normal salary. It was pretty easy to apply, she applied a week ahead of time because they saw it was going that direction and when the lay off happened, she was able to file right away for that week and not have to wait for the first week when applying and filing. She still helps out at work here and there remotely. She is also 36 weeks pregnant and not planning to go back to work now until she is off of her maternity leave around September. Once baby gets here, unemployment will stop and short term disability for her maternity leave will kick in. Luckily, I have been able to work from home quite a bit and maintain my normal salary and health insurance.

Its been an interesting adventure for sure, never would have guess we'd be in this situation in the middle of a pandemic. Luckily, we are avid planners pretty responsible with our money and had a bunch saved up for if she wanted to take a longer unpaid maternity after her 6 weeks are up. We also started "paying" daycare in January to our savings account to help adjust, that was a blessing in disguise with the current pandemic.

 

[cycloner29]

Once I saw all these corporate seed mergers coming, I knew my now old employer was going to have a rough time so I was fortunate to leave for another job before the "blood letting". A few other people saw what I did and also found jobs else where. Three months after I left, they let over 50 people go. I had asked my old boss if I had been there yet, if I would have been one of them. He told me that I wouldn't have had to worry about it. I don't know if he was blowing smoke or what, but thankfully I didn't have to deal with in the first place. Needless to say the person in my old department had been there over 25 years and was let go, I had only been there 8 years.

Six months later, they cut 25 more people. They always say, "the best time to look for a job is when you have a job." I'm just glad that I left on my terms and had a inkling what was possibly ahead for my old employer. They went from over 400 and are down to around 175 in a matter of a year. Just so thankful where I am at today!!

 

[cyclone4L]

I've never been laid off, but I have been fired a few times. Once in college. Once in the workforce.

Getting fired and told "you're not cut out for this" was the best thing to ever happen me. It help me to find what I wanted to do rather than thinking I had to use my degree.

 

[throwittoblythe]

Six months later, they cut 25 more people. They always say, "the best time to look for a job is when you have a job." I'm just glad that I left on my terms and had a inkling what was possibly ahead for my old employer. They went from over 400 and are down to around 175 in a matter of a year. Just so thankful where I am at today!!

I joined a company in 2015 that was on a huge hiring upswing. They had broken into new markets and were going from a small firm to a large firm. Then, the bottom fell out of the oil market in the Dakotas. We had company meeting where a VP basically read us the riot act saying that we had to start drumming up business or things were gonna get bad. This was a room full of engineers, not business development people.

The VP shortly realized that he had upset the herd quite a bit. So, he went around and did one-on-ones with those at the meeting to try and calm everyone down. When asked what my main concern was, I said "I'm just concerned by job is in jeopardy because I've only been here six months." His answer was "we don't currently have any plans to eliminate your job." Talk about corporate-speak...I quit within 2 months. Shortly after, they let go of about 10% of the group I was in, and I have no doubt it would've been me.

 

[AgronAlum]

Was one of 3 people that stayed on and was transferred when my employer closed my location. The other 50 or so employees were let go. Only two of us got new jobs within range of our current residences, mine getting pushed from around an hour away to an hour and a half at the new location. If I didn’t accept the new job, there was 0 severance. Everyone else that was let go got a minimum of 6 months. More of their years of service qualified.

I spent two years commuting over 3 hours a day before finding a similar position, closer to my house with similar pay. At the time I was wishing I was let go with everyone else but I really can’t say at this point which one would have been better in the long run.

 

[Rabbuk]

If you get 'furloughed' can you still get unemployment and the stimulus pay?

Yessir