(no subject)

[trinityofone]

Myself and more than twenty others were laid off from my company yesterday with no warning. We were called into meetings in groups of about five at a time, chatted up by the human resources ladies, and then abruptly let go. We were then escorted from the building.

This is a handout that was in our "bye bye!" packets. Don't you just love that exclamation mark? So cheery!

I'm still sort of numb and in shock. I can't believe I didn't get up and go to work today. I hate the idea that I have to start the long, annoying process of looking for work again. I actually liked my job. I was good at my job. But with the economy the way it is, my (former) company was forced to eliminate my job.

Thank you, George W. Bush, for this unique opportunity to be unemployed.

Comments

[jessikast]

Don't they even have to give any notice? At my job, if they do dismiss me (unless, like, I don't know, the whole business suddenly dissapears), it's either after a disciplinary process wherein I get three formal warnings, or if I'm made redundant I get given the same amount of notice as I would have to give if I were resigning.

[saturnalia.livejournal.com]

UGH, that sucks so hard. Stupid employers.

[apple-pi.livejournal.com]

Oh man, suckage. I hope you find something (better!) very soon.

That pamphlet is... something. Something that deserves to be burned, perhaps.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I'm not an attorney, but from the conversation I had with my attorney ... a lot of companies have company policies. That's where notice and so forth comes from. Their policies may say that you have to have three warnings and notice -- but the company required by law to follow their own policies. The policies are more like guidelines than actual rules. But they are developed by employee satisfaction research and are designed to prevent expensive lawsuits.

Often corporations circumvent their own policies. They'll find ways to give an employee bad reviews to justify firing them, even if they're doing a good job. The bad review is really a warning, "We're going to find a way to get rid of you, so start looking."

What you're supposed to do is find another job and save them the trouble of firing you. Then you show up telling people about this excellent opportunity, you can't pass it up, they pat you on the back and throw you a goodbye party. A polite fiction is maintained.

If people don't get the message then things get really ugly. The employment law attorney had encountered some really crazy stuff. People were deliberately overloaded with work so they'd do poorly and get a bad review; being moved to a department where they have no expertise; reducing their job responsibilities to almost nil and then writing them up for doing nothing; involving customers who are also personal friends in elaborate schemes to create a customer service issue, forcing the employee to handle things beyond their pay grade and then using that to fire them; suddenly cracking down on "issues" that hadn't been an issue before they elected to fire that employee.

Sometimes the effort in circumventing company policy creates abusive situations. That's where the attorneys get involved.

The only people in America who have any kind of job security are union employees.

[(Anonymous)]

Love it when I drop really important words:

...but the company is not required by law to follow their own policies.

[k00kaburra.livejournal.com]

Wow.
That handout is something else. That totally sucks that you were laid off. Are your finances going to be OK while you find another job?

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

That blows, hon. *hugs* And that "help" sheet? Blows big chunky bits. God. *hugs again*

[maggie77.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry to hear this. You don't really know me, but I read all your fic. Stay strong.

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

so sorry to hear it, that sucks.

good luck in finding another job! hope you land a good one

[zaseishin.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's fucking cold. There's no union or the like to prevent that kind of thing?

All of the stuff in those packets...

[rattlecatcher.livejournal.com]

When my old office closed, I just remember looking at all that paper and thinking I'd rather have had the two dollars and change it probably cost. It would have been worth a hell of a lot more.

I'm sorry.

And someday? Will someone PLEASE realize that being chatty and friendly doesn't make a layoff any better? Christ, I hate people who smile while they tell you it's over, and tell you to keep your spirits up because everything will be ok, now sign here and remember not to fuck with us or will cut your COBRA and I'll wear a frowny face back to the hotel tonight.

I'll keep you in my good thoughts.

[joannindiw.livejournal.com]

Dang it.

*wave hand helplessly* I'm sorry. And what a sucky way for them to do it.

[ainaria.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's cold. Don't you have some sort of term of notice or something? In general, I mean.

[elizabeth perry (from livejournal.com)]

Jesus, Trin, I'm so sorry.

[amireal.livejournal.com]

That's the most insulting thing I've ever seen. Wow. That even beats the time my boss had my coworker fire me (it wasn't her job to do so).

[faith-girl222.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, that sucks. I got made redundant last year, but less abruptly - that is, we were told that our jobs were going to cease to exist well in advance instead of on the day. It was still a huge shock to be told it though. My company sent us home for the rest of the day they told us - none of us were capable of thinking after the announcement.

Good luck finding something else - with any luck it will be something better.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Hey!! Just wanted to say how sorry I am about all of this. I've been kind of shell-shocked and crazed without a copy editor and just realized that I should have checked in to see how you're doing!! It was a huge shock to everyone. I hope that the job search is progressing!!!

Let me know if you need anything and if I hear of any leads, I'll let you know!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, I figured things would be pretty crazy there. I would definitely appreciate any leads. ;-)

I might be seeing you tomorrow for that Dave McKean thing! *fingers crossed*

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I should be there, barring any unforseen circumstances!

[winter-elf.livejournal.com]

Oh god, that SUCKs! Escorted from the building??? no chance to get the stuff from you desk? And *looks around and makes quick back up of my computer at work* I hear you about stuff at work.

I've been laid off too, years ago, and the suckage just doesn't end. I was however, paid my outstanding vacation time, which I thought was something they had to do. You mentioned only getting paid for the day, so make sure you get paid for all outstanding time owed. File a complaint with the EDD/FTB if not.

And fingers crossed for something hugely better soon.