Getting laid off blows

**SumJongGuy** · 03-10-2018, 11:16 AM

Sucks as I also know. Wife and I both got cut without notice late November one year with two kids under age 2 under the roof. I've been bouncing from contract gig to contract gig for the past 12 years. She's been laid off three times and it took her 3 years to find another good job at one point. We both have graduate level college degrees, advanced certifications, and tons of experience in pretty high demand skill sets.

**XXX-er** · 03-10-2018, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Skidog

I know laid off means not fired, but it still feels weird when it happens out of the blue. I been with this company for 6 years and have some select knowledge that no other team member has. I don't see how they will fill the void. My guess is that those involved in the decisions with the new investors didn't really explain clearly what my position entails. It was strictly a money decision. Not at all performance based
]

what does it matter it you got canned or laid off ....either way you are down the road

yeah its pretty wierd, but welcome to the world of consulting , they will need to consult with somebody on the stuff you know that nobody else does so offer to do it for them ...this is where you rape them

Corporations either didn't /don't think about this stuff or they paint with such all encompassing broad brush strokes that they make mistakes

I got canned after 30 yrs as part of a move to eliminate the low performers but really it was an excuse to cut head count, except no hired HW guy would move to where i was working remote HW to replace me so they had to hire another guy and send him off on training for 6 months for a net nothing it cost them $$$$ to can me and service suffered, the other guy had to work his bag off and accululated 600hrs of OT which they don't like so they reprimanded him for that

It was pretty funny these 2 managers flew up and read me the riot act. The old style IBM culture was pervasive so they were crying and i was laughing as they marched me to the door with a box full of shit after 30yrs i was like reallly?

in any case full DB pension bridged to 65/retirement benifts/ 1 year severance/ employment counseling ( I was too cool for this shit) and I had just turned 49 ... havent worked since

**Bobby Stainless** · 03-10-2018, 11:55 AM

Well that sucks. Not a good sign when startups start laying folks off. Maybe for the best.

sb · 03-10-2018, 11:59 AM

Sorry to hear that skidawg.

Often when one door closes another one opens.

**Benny Profane** · 03-10-2018, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

Good point. Make sure you map out the places with free breakfast buffets before you go.

Psssst.......Bucks T4.

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sb · 03-10-2018, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by abraham

I think Benny is angling to sell his research on this important topic.

Waffle sammitch and a big jacket with deep pockets lined with heavy duty zip lock bags.

**skaredshtles** · 03-10-2018, 12:05 PM

I've always liked getting laid off. I tried to get a layoff from my last company. Sadly... I had to quit instead.

Funemployment should be encouraged - its not often you get to f**k around in the middle of your life - make the most of it.

**Benny Profane** · 03-10-2018, 12:08 PM

Btw, also kinda bad financial advice to tell someone to go travel somewhere when they live right next to some of the best ski mountains in the world, at a time they are waking up from a bad winter. And he probably has a few passes to said mountains. But, what do I know. This Is TGR.

**Bobby Stainless** · 03-10-2018, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Psssst.......Bucks T4.

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Good spot.

Guy who had that liquor store on the end used to have a wolf named Trouble. That was 25 years ago though. Trouble got shot I think.

**iceman** · 03-10-2018, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Psssst.......Bucks T4.

Had to look it up but duly noted.

**Benny Profane** · 03-10-2018, 12:12 PM

Awesome bacon.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 03-10-2018, 12:17 PM

Sorry to hear that. Sounds like you can get hired anywhere with that skillset. All hail the sysadmin.

**Benny Profane** · 03-10-2018, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by XXX-er

in any case full DB pension bridged to 65/retirement benifts/ 1 year severance/ employment counseling ( I was too cool for this shit) and I had just turned 49 ... havent worked since

You're a lucky dog with that deal, although I'll bet IBM'S pension is structured so that you'd be getting a much higher pension if you were laid off at 59.
That stuff is all history, though. Corporate America cleared out those obligations a decade ago.

**4matic** · 03-10-2018, 12:29 PM

When private equity bought us they laid off a bunch of legacy employees only to have to hire them back at higher wages plus bonuses and full tenure.

**bagtagley** · 03-10-2018, 01:00 PM

My wife was laid off about 6 weeks ago, by a startup. She just got something else, so we can relax and let the severance carry us until she starts. It’s been pretty awesome having a stay at home mom, and she’s been a lot nicer.

You’ll find something. Enjoy the time off. Make the most of it.

**XXX-er** · 03-10-2018, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

You're a lucky dog with that deal, although I'll bet IBM'S pension is structured so that you'd be getting a much higher pension if you were laid off at 59.
That stuff is all history, though. Corporate America cleared out those obligations a decade ago.

Under the old DB system the plan was non-contributory and there was NO formula you were just golden after 30 yars, so I WAS 18 when i got the job based on my ability to party and fix hot cars belonging to the service manager's kid ... 30 years later I was done

but we had guys who were habituated to working at IBM, I knew a large systems guy who was probably a genuis, started when he was 15 ( very tall ) and he had 42 years in ... the IBM culture was pervasive

They would definatley like to be rid of us but IBM is too sucessful to go under and a deal is a deal so they are stuck topping up that DB pension fund every so often and right now its at 97% or sft

people say you must be pretty smart retiring at 49 to which i reply NO and actualy I did everything wrong but it turned out pretty good

I did take early CPP at age 60 instead of 65 which you can do up here, you take a 30% hit but you get it earlier SO the math is that you are ahead of the game till about age 75

**Benny Profane** · 03-10-2018, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by XXX-er

Under the old DB system the plan was non-contributory and there was NO formula you were just golden after 30 yars, so I WAS 18 when i got the job based on my ability to party and fix hot cars belonging to the service manager's kid ... 30 years later I was done

but we had guys who were habituated to working at IBM, I knew a large systems guy who was probably a genuis, started when he was 15 ( very tall ) and he had 42 years in ... the IBM culture was pervasive

They would definatley like to be rid of us but IBM is too sucessful to go under and a deal is a deal so they are stuck topping up that DB pension fund every so often and right now its at 97% or sft

people say you must be pretty smart retiring at 49 to which i reply NO and actualy I did everything wrong but it turned out pretty good

I did take early CPP at age 60 instead of 65 which you can do up here, you take a 30% hit but you get it earlier SO the math is that you are ahead of the game till about age 75

Yeah, the luckiest thing that happened to me was getting a job at a similar old school corporation and staying there for 22 years. I'm guessing that just doesn't exist at all anymore, anywhere.

**SumJongGuy** · 03-10-2018, 01:41 PM

The total healthcare insurance group plan costs also go WAY up when there are lots of people over age 45 in the coverage group. I suspect that's another reason why a permanent gig is so tough for us geezers to land these days. My wife was a HR benefits specialist for one of the groups at IBM then got moved over to Toshiba when they bought that line of business from IBM. Toshiba laid her off last December right after she finished all the heavy lifting for their 2018 annual enrollment.. Had to cancel my Utah ski trip because of that. First world problem.

I suspect we'll both be hopping from contract job to contract job until social security kicks in. I ended up selling cameras at Circuit City for a few months at the end of my longest good job dry spell after the dot com crash and I'll do retail again if that's what has to be done to pay the bills.

**XXX-er** · 03-10-2018, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Yeah, the luckiest thing that happened to me was getting a job at a similar old school corporation and staying there for 22 years. I'm guessing that just doesn't exist at all anymore, anywhere.

I don't think so

I didn't really make that much but dental/retirement/ everything was paid nothing came off the paycheck and there was a dry spell in the 90s where I didnt get a raise for 7 yrs but I was still working eventualy a manger had to lie to get me a raise.

The big thing as I see it then and now is the monthly income so if i can live past 90 which is very possible for an AZN I will have collected more in pension than I did paychecks

In any case i have recently realized I have too many pairs of skis SO go cat skiing eh? Skeena Cat ski is 45 minutes west of here so its pretty easy to knock off a day trip and burn off 400$

edit: IME over the years anybody who went with the other company when IBM divested themselves didn't do as well as sticking with big blue

**Skidog** · 03-10-2018, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by MTT

I had to think about this for a bit.

My company might be looking for someone, we are all remote but sometimes need to work onsite in large contact centers.

Right now one of the places happens to be in "Sandy Utah"

Would you like me to make an inquiry on your behalf?

Our prime DBA lives in Ogden

I would love that. I am remote now, or was so I'd love to find another. I travelled about 30% so not stranger to it. Actually enjoy it sometimes.

Let me know. Much thanks.

ETA: is the client in contact?

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**Skidog** · 03-10-2018, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by 4matic

When private equity bought us they laid off a bunch of legacy employees only to have to hire them back at higher wages plus bonuses and full tenure.

I'm wondering if this might happen, but won't hold out hope. Nobody is irreplaceable, but this one kinda shocked me just based on current workload and lack of folks to complete it. We were already a tightly stretched staff.

Last year the dev team guys were pissed at STD of living raises, brought to management attention. They're overworked, and much indecision with new investor. Reviews are due April. I have heard if they only get STD of living or none, at least a few will bounce. We're talking a team of 16. This might hurt them too. They have some very strict SLAs with some clients and I just can't see how they'll swing it. Oh well their problem now. I've already gotten 3 calls for.."hey Matt what the deal with this or that"...hmm wasn't important enough so you all must know...have at it.

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**SkiCougar** · 03-10-2018, 02:41 PM

I would one to two weeks off and do something you always wanted, after that much time at that position; you should have a lot of savings; if you do not shame on you.

then, you shouldn't have a problem finding another job with what you do and how good the economy is, I would bet you find something paying more.

**digitaldeath** · 03-10-2018, 02:44 PM

I got laid off once, went to Tahoe and made hsbc pay for my skiing and gambling.

**SkiCougar** · 03-10-2018, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by digitaldeath

I got laid off once, went to Tahoe and made hsbc pay for my skiing and gambling.

hey, I did similar. was consulting and one contract cut me short, went to Tahoe and was called back to a previous contract for I think a 10% raise while there.