Layoffs.

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Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: mpvue

and not all is doom and gloom; my company is booming, skilled labor, and we are hiring all the time. when I started here 6 yrs ago, we had one shift; now we have a full 3 shifts.
as for health care, our premiums didn't go up this year and it hasn't affected hiring.


That's very good, but an example of the exception and unfortunately not the norm.

I'd have to disagree; the hwys are still packed each morning, so there are still plenty of people going to work.
when traffic gets lighter, then I'll know there are substantial people out of work.
you can make statistics say anything or appear to support any contention.
 
Originally Posted By: sciphi
For those of us younger folks, there's no concept of loyalty to a job anymore since none is shown to us. I could care less about my employer aside from the paycheck. They have shown me zero loyalty. I'm simply returning the consideration. It starts from the top, and there is none. I feel it's fair to pack up and leave at the drop of a hat when the company doesn't care about me except as a revenue generator. If that's their mindset and I'm an asset that can be replaced at whim, they get what they have coming to them.

Would I like a job that I can work at for 20-30 years? You bet. I'd like to have loyalty to an organization. Unfortunately that is long-gone.


I sometimes think about leaving my job—higher pay, shorter commute, etc—all the usual reasons for switching. After sitting through at least three recessions though I’m quite convinced my company actually does have loyalty to its employees—at least the ones that are loyal to it. Every time I think of leaving, I think back to the bad times, and remember that there are more bad times to come, and then just stay put.

I think that sort of company loyalty is still out there. It may just be exceedingly rare. Or I may be deluded. Either way, I’m hoping that in a few more years I’ll be in a better place (financially) so as to sit out either a bad recession or an actual job loss. The handwriting is on the wall: nothing should be taken for granted.
 
After not being able to find work in my "trained" field for some time, I expanded my horizons and took a job outside my field of experience. Like many others have found, almost all jobs being offered today are part time with no benefits. The pay is what I call pocket change, compare to what I made for years.And if I didn't spend any of my take home pay, and applied it to cover my mortgage, I'd still be short. But hey that's what's out there. The company I work for has a very stringent hiring/ interview process for warehouse jobs that pay $9 an hour, and people are lined up waiting to get a shot. I was lucky to get a maintenance job that pays a little more. The company is a new company that started last year and shows alot of potential for growth. Something that haven't been seen in years around here. Even tho it doesn't pay much, I'm happy to have some place to go everyday that needs me. I'll be 58 next week and I know alot of company's don't want older workers anymore. I guess they feel they can get younger workers trained to work hard for less money and benefits, so their profits stay in their pockets. That's a different attitude from years ago when company's would offer great pay and benefit packages to attract primo workers. After 3 years of no real work I had to try something. For those who have too much pride to sweep a floor, remember at some point for your own sanity you have to do something or depression will get to you.,,
 
Originally Posted By: kb01
I've been saying it for years -- One of the most frustrating aspects of the American health care system is how insurance is linked to one's employer. It creates all kinds of screwed up situations and perverse incentives.


I agree. It may have been a nice way of doing it initially, in a start of getting people covered (going from none to at least some percent of the population). Back in the day, when one was unlikely to be retired for very long (if at all), it would have worked out reasonably well. We have moved on since then though.

I can’t say I’m for any sort of nationalized health insurance plan, but sometimes I think it can’t be worse than the setup we have now.
 
Originally Posted By: tpitcher
Originally Posted By: rjundi
As awful as it is. The end of year is when these happen.

I wish you the best and start looking for another job now. If a company cannot make payroll they are doing something really wrong. Loyalty does not seem to pay off.


Not wrong, we are a start-up & rely on investors. Potentially HUGE medical technology.

Good luck out there...



So really your situation its normal with job security. I have worked for two startups and it was fun in my twenties and one profitable. The other worked like a dog for little pay.

The other companies you list are not startups and likely doing the natural course of modern business.
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: mpvue

and not all is doom and gloom; my company is booming, skilled labor, and we are hiring all the time. when I started here 6 yrs ago, we had one shift; now we have a full 3 shifts.
as for health care, our premiums didn't go up this year and it hasn't affected hiring.


That's very good, but an example of the exception and unfortunately not the norm.

I'd have to disagree; the hwys are still packed each morning, so there are still plenty of people going to work.
when traffic gets lighter, then I'll know there are substantial people out of work.
you can make statistics say anything or appear to support any contention.


Yes the highways are filled, but do you know the situation of each person on the highway? What they're doing where they're going, if they are working for more or less than they once where? I have four friends that immediately come to mind who are now working for half or less than half of what they were earning a few years back. Their cars are on the highway, only they're earning a lot less.
 
Originally Posted By: supton


I agree. It may have been a nice way of doing it initially, in a start of getting people covered (going from none to at least some percent of the population). Back in the day, when one was unlikely to be retired for very long (if at all), it would have worked out reasonably well. We have moved on since then though.



It also worked fairly well when a 40 hour work week was the norm, and employers didn't intentionally keep hours down to avoid giving benefits.

It's also especially tough now that premiums are so out of control (IRC, the price to cover a family just broke $20,000/year for the first time). Paying those kinds of premiums outside of work, with after tax income is simply cost prohibitive.
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
that exide layoff of 150 people is local here in Reading; it's one of their lead recycling facilities. they say they have enough capacity, and the lead market isn't good right now.
and not all is doom and gloom; my company is booming, skilled labor, and we are hiring all the time. when I started here 6 yrs ago, we had one shift; now we have a full 3 shifts.
as for health care, our premiums didn't go up this year and it hasn't affected hiring.


Why did you hijack this end of the world/the US is doomed thread? What is wrong with you and your good news that while some may lose jobs other fields gain jobs...capitalism 101.

Sarcasm
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
I'd have to disagree; the hwys are still packed each morning, so there are still plenty of people going to work.
when traffic gets lighter, then I'll know there are substantial people out of work.
you can make statistics say anything or appear to support any contention.
You can't use traffic as a economy health stat anymore. Years ago there was one car per family, today its one car per human being. Years ago people car pooled. Look at the traffic, its one person (on the phone), one car. Years ago people used public transportation. Today people fear public transportation. Years ago people lived in the city. Today people live in the woods with cheap housing and 100 mile commutes. Years ago kids took a bus to school. Today parents fear the bus, drop their kids off. Or the bus was cut back to save costs. There are many more reasons why one car, one person clogs the roads every day other than the economy.

I wish it were still true, and the traffic would go away.
 
(not meant to anyone specific but western society as a whole)

You reap what you sow. This has been a long time coming. Denial is the best defense against reality. That and lots of rugs and alcohol.
 
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I dunno , I live in SE Michigan where everyone is supposed to be unemployed but the movies , bars and restaurants are packed. Personally dont know anyone unemployed and the big 3 are hiring like crazy although at much lower wages. Also other hiring going on for skilled people.
 
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: mpvue
I'd have to disagree; the hwys are still packed each morning, so there are still plenty of people going to work.
when traffic gets lighter, then I'll know there are substantial people out of work.
you can make statistics say anything or appear to support any contention.
You can't use traffic as a economy health stat anymore. Years ago there was one car per family, today its one car per human being. Years ago people car pooled. Look at the traffic, its one person (on the phone), one car. Years ago people used public transportation. Today people fear public transportation. Years ago people lived in the city. Today people live in the woods with cheap housing and 100 mile commutes. Years ago kids took a bus to school. Today parents fear the bus, drop their kids off. Or the bus was cut back to save costs. There are many more reasons why one car, one person clogs the roads every day other than the economy.

I wish it were still true, and the traffic would go away.

ok, I'm sorry, you were right, everyone is making less than they were, lots of people are unemployed, and all those people are commuting to their McJobs.
I'm sure all those people that clog up I-80 from PA to NJ everyday are going to $9/hr warehouse jobs.
 
Originally Posted By: bradepb
I dunno , I live in SE Michigan where everyone is supposed to be unemployed but the movies , bars and restaurants are packed. Personally dont know anyone unemployed and the big 3 are hiring like crazy although at much lower wages. Also other hiring going on for skilled people.

exactly. I pass a fitness club everyday, and the parking lot is ALWAYS packed. I guess its all those unemployed people, they have plenty of time to work out now...
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: bradepb
I dunno , I live in SE Michigan where everyone is supposed to be unemployed but the movies , bars and restaurants are packed. Personally dont know anyone unemployed and the big 3 are hiring like crazy although at much lower wages. Also other hiring going on for skilled people.

exactly. I pass a fitness club everyday, and the parking lot is ALWAYS packed. I guess its all those unemployed people, they have plenty of time to work out now...


They might just have more time to workout now, or just because someone is making less doesn't mean they have to stop living. My business took a hit over the last few years. I'm making less, along with a lot of other people in my profession but I still manage, and haven't deprived my wife or myself of anything as of yet. Priorities just changed a bit that's all.

As a side note bradpd said "the big 3 are hiring like crazy although at much lower wages." That means those people are working, filling up the highways, only coming home with less $$.
 
Really, what reason is there to create jobs in this country?

To be told you didn't build your business? To be told how to run it by more and more regulations? To be taxed harder as evil rich if you succeed and do well?

At some point, enough is enough.
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: mpvue
I'd have to disagree; the hwys are still packed each morning, so there are still plenty of people going to work.
when traffic gets lighter, then I'll know there are substantial people out of work.
you can make statistics say anything or appear to support any contention.
You can't use traffic as a economy health stat anymore. Years ago there was one car per family, today its one car per human being. Years ago people car pooled. Look at the traffic, its one person (on the phone), one car. Years ago people used public transportation. Today people fear public transportation. Years ago people lived in the city. Today people live in the woods with cheap housing and 100 mile commutes. Years ago kids took a bus to school. Today parents fear the bus, drop their kids off. Or the bus was cut back to save costs. There are many more reasons why one car, one person clogs the roads every day other than the economy.

I wish it were still true, and the traffic would go away.

ok, I'm sorry, you were right, everyone is making less than they were, lots of people are unemployed, and all those people are commuting to their McJobs.
I'm sure all those people that clog up I-80 from PA to NJ everyday are going to $9/hr warehouse jobs.

Your clinging to the opinion that traffic indicates jobs or wages. I gave reasons why I disagree. I don't disagree with anything else your saying.
 
Originally Posted By: Loobed

(not meant to anyone specific but western society as a whole)

You reap what you sow. This has been a long time coming. Denial is the best defense against reality. That and lots of rugs and alcohol.
Hey, c'mon, I don't even drink any more, and I even have (most) of my hair left! No RUGS here! Seriously, though, when God was taken out of schools-we headed this direction starting that day.
 
Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
Originally Posted By: Loobed

(not meant to anyone specific but western society as a whole)

You reap what you sow. This has been a long time coming. Denial is the best defense against reality. That and lots of rugs and alcohol.
Hey, c'mon, I don't even drink any more, and I even have (most) of my hair left! No RUGS here! Seriously, though, when God was taken out of schools-we headed this direction starting that day.

in before the lock....
 
Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
Originally Posted By: Loobed

(not meant to anyone specific but western society as a whole)

You reap what you sow. This has been a long time coming. Denial is the best defense against reality. That and lots of rugs and alcohol.
Hey, c'mon, I don't even drink any more, and I even have (most) of my hair left! No RUGS here! Seriously, though, when God was taken out of schools-we headed this direction starting that day.


RSP, someone needs to correlate to S as we have R and P covered off.
 
I've been unemployed more in the past 2 years than employed. Anything will do.

Right now I am trying to build a business as a contractor, it isn't going well. It's work just to get work. I get paid by the job, not by the hour. I straighten out wiring closets for small businesses and fix their network issues. There is a mint to be made, but it is difficult to establish a re-pore with individuals you just met and get them to trust you to take down and fix their dieing infrastructure.
To these guys every penny counts. Many of these CEO's drive Porsche, Mercedes, and BMW's, but their companies survive on Shoestring budgets and band-aid fixes.

I worked my first 23 hour day 2 weeks ago and am still burned out. Yet I keep going.
I was diagnosed with Strep Throat Monday, went to a Doc-In-The-Box type of joint, picked up meds that night at a 24 hour pharmacy, and have kept going. Turns out I have a strain of Strep that is resistant to amoxacillin. I need to go in again, but have another 5 days worth of amoxacillin and don't know when I can go in.
Although the lesions in my mouth are starting to spread, I guess I will call them again today.

I don't sleep well, as every time I swallow it hurts so much I wake up. My body hurts from everything I do after finding jobs to get work. Balancing on ladders for 8+ hours. Up and down stairs with a truckload of gear.
If I factor in the time I do for everything I get paid less than minimum wage.

My wife just found work. $10 an hour. Pretty good for a college degree these days, and it is actually full time. This should allow me to some time to attempt to sleep.

My Sister has a Master's degree that is totally worthless. She has been unemployed since Graduating in May 2011. It's too bad she spent $80,000 on that Master's degree. She graduated college Debt free and didn't believe anyone but her teachers about going into debt for that stinking degree.
Makes you wonder about all these angry kids wanting hand outs and what bill of goods they were sold that never delivered?

Supposedly Dallas, and Texas in general, has one of the highest employment rates in the nation.
However, the employment numbers lie.
I know to many folks with good heads on their shoulders and degrees who have 3-4 part time jobs, and so do their spouses, and are focused on just trying to make ends meet.

Underemployed, those who have given up, those who have taken early retirement, and recent college grads, are all not counted in the Employed/Unemployed. It is to easy for someone somewhere to fudge a number and make this "Unemployment" number more rosy.
Look around, speak with people, see what is going on. Don't believe what you are told.

I only need to keep this up for 40 more years. Hopefully my throat won't hurt the whole time.
 
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