Welcome to Gaia! ::

That's a tough break, man. I hope you and your family manage to make it through everything okay. Did you get any kind of severence or anything like that?

As for ol' HH....

My hours have been cut at my back drastically in the past few months (I have one freaking day next week!), but I manage to maintain nonetheless. I am going to try and find another job in the next few weeks after school is over because I could stand to use the extra cash just so I can do some of the things I want.

I've never been terminated or laid off from a job, per se (I've only had two in my 23 years) but I was basically forced out of my old job a little over a year ago when this new store manager told me the only way I was going to get hours was to work in a part of the store he knew I didn't like working in, so I up and quit about two days later rather than deal with his BS anymore. It may sound stupid, and it probably is, but my pride won't let me work somewhere where I'm always miserable even if I do need the money.

I've never truly been laid off. But I worked at Steak Out for all of three weeks when the shop I worked at closed down-- the manager offered me to work at the other store but I didn't have reliable transport- especially not for a minimum wage food job (though I did have fun working there!).

I'm pretty sure a few years back the whole lost para professional job was due to a budget cut- but it was covered up by a harsh review that attempted to legitimize the position elimination. In that instance I would have vastly appreciated honesty from the school district that "we're eliminating the position" rather than a review that was so incredibly negative (and unprofessional) that I not only doubted my ability to work with kids, I had decided I would never have any because I'd be a horrible mother.

I felt the pain of the recession when I first moved. As I mentioned on here, I struggled for months to find a job. Now I have two part time jobs- and I'm pretty miserable at the lack of stability. To me unemployment is maddening- you want to WORK to earn your keep. Lay offs only hinder the economy more because without the generation of income for citizens spending drops across the board. Retail should never, ever try to cut down on employee pay (via lay offs, pay decreases, or drastic hour cutting) because retail is deeply embedded in consumer spending.

As for you Mike- If it wasn't for the fact I live way far away and you wouldn't be able to see your daughter or your fiancee- you could sleep on my couch any time you need a place. Unfortunately my apartment is no where near where you need to be- with your family. Though if there is a way I can help, let me know.

And Headhunter, I agree 100%. Thus I will never marry for money, ever. I'd rather be starving to death and free than well fed and captive of misery.

I myself haven't been laid off, but my mom has been twice in the past six months or so...
I've tried my damnedest to move out of the basement, but every time I started setting up appointments to look at apartments, something would happen and I'd have to give up all my savings to my family. But I'd always recover.
This time around, it's much harder to bounce back. Now my mother is completely unemployed and though my boyfriend and I understand, it doesn't seem like there's gonna' be any break for any of us anytime soon...
I get paid pretty decently at my job (Funny enough, Antonia, I work at Off The Grill which used to be a Steak Out xd ), but my full time job has been cut down to part time and now I'm kinda' balancing bills (both mine and my parent's) from paycheck to paycheck.
Though I do feel pretty selfish for even complaining in the slightest... I had a part time retail job that I quite because I wasn't happy there. But thus is the price I pay for happiness.
But still, I do count my blessings. I know that if I had moved out when I had the chances to that there really is no telling what kind of boat I'd be in now...

My heart goes out to you, Super Buick. I'll be keeping a thought for you and your family...

i was never laid off.well i don´t really have a real job rigth now, i´m jumping for a part time job to another. i had much luck until now someone always told me were i can find something and i just went there asked and got the job.
at the moment i´m lucky that my chef is very messy and addle and he and i are the only persons who can really handle the computer. so i have an important position: they need me cause only i know how to do some things when hes not at work.
i guess i would be laid off if he wouldn´t be so addle.

hope you find a job soon Super Buick.

I found out yesterday (talking to my boss) that no one is going to be promoted next year unless there is a "good business case". That, of course, means that only the very very upper management. Considering I'm only one up from the bottom of the ladder, I can't even apply for a pay rise and promotion for at least another 18 months.
While I'm feeling sorry for myself, I'm very happy to have a job that I enjoy.

I just got an email from a friend of mine - both his Dad and his sister were made redundant last week. Normally he's such a happy, up-beat guy, but he's been really knocked by it.
So my thoughts and best wishes are with everyone - and their families, friends and even pets. It's amazing how contagious stress is. At least there is a little comfort in knowing that you're not alone.
heart

that is scary.
i don´t know noone who got laid off, but i have a very hard time to find a full time job.