Laid Off After More Than 30 Years

The title says it all. It was because of COVID-related budget cuts.

We're actually doing fine. The likelihood has been hanging over our head for the last six months, and we're relieved that it's resolved. We're good with money and are in a decent place financially, and we've updated our LinkedIn profile.

We'd welcome any messages of support. Thanks.

MDs

I'm sorry. Even if you were prepared, that's still a huge change to get your head around.

I left my part-time job a couple of months ago (also Covid-related), and even though that was by choice, I had been there almost 15 years, and somewhere else for about 15 years before that and wasn't sure how it would be to not be working anymore. It's actually just fine! I can't believe how much I don't miss it. I might look for another similar job at some point, but I don't have to.

Anyway, sending support!!

Thanks, Gang. We appreciate it.

Sometime next week, we're going to have a Zoom meeting where someone in HR will go through our cubicle and sort out personal items to be shipped to us. We're already getting signals from within that seeing our cube again, especially with stuff being taken down as we watch, is going to be triggering for us.

We're not sure who's triggered by this thought. Or if it's one person or more than one. We'll bring it up with our T tomorrow night.

MDs

OMG! They laid you off???? Brainless Jerks!

We're sorry that happened to you. You didn't deserve it. It's a really really stupid thing for them to do. We bet they'll miss you and be sorry you're not there doing your job.

Hope you're ok.

Iain, Evan, Colin, & Cody

Thanks, folks. The colleagues who've responded so far about our layoff have used words like "devastated" and "floored." It's gratifying that they've been so validating, but the circumstances suck.

We're doing okay. Wrapping up loose ends.

MDs

Hi MDs,

I just came back, and heard this news. I'm sorry. I'm glad you know that you're in a decent situation financially, and that your coworkers will miss you. Sending support for that tough zoom call.

Sorry to read you got laid off. Good luck with the job search.

Sending a lot of support from all of us.

-David-


OMG that sucks wtf??? Budget cuts... like the economy is more important than the people... It totally totally sucks I'm so sorry for you! It's so unfair!

--Zami--


~I would say that "humans suck" buuuuut... I'm kinda in a human body ^_^; and you're kinda human too ^_^; so it would not be nice to say that.

~CAPITALISM SUCKS! Yay that's better ^_^ You totally deserve to find a new, better job very super soon!

~xoxoxoxo

~Theia~


I guess that the others said it all but, once again, this is very unfair and wrong on many levels. You deserve better than this. Sending moral support.

#Uriel#

That's a big change! I am very sorry for your loss, and so glad you are in good shape financially.

You were kind of expecting it but not really? The other employees must be scared, because any of them could be next. Does your office have retirement traditions that could be adapted to virtual? Such as they decorate your cubicle before HR cleans it out for you? Or send in cards to go to you with the clean out box, so when you unpack the box you'll receive the cards and well wishes from your work friends?

Massive layoffs are happening all over the world, and I am hearing about all kinds of employer-behaving-badly adverse events while still employed: hours cut, pay cut, benefits cut, new and unreasonable expectations such as 24/7 video surveillance and tracking software on the employee's own devices. Employees on medical leave getting their medical benefits cancelled.

This crisis is causing a massive deep cleaning of the corporate world, worldwide. It is astounding. Marginal businesses are rapidly going out of business, and businesses that are surviving are rapidly improving their game.

Nondescript, Sarandipity, ArbreMonde, Una....Thank you all.

They made it clear that they could not guarantee that there would be no additional layoffs. We understand that they have to say this to manage expectations in the legal sense.

The good news is that colleagues, those who remain and those who've left at various times, have been amazingly supportive and validating. We're surprised at how highly people thought of us. It's a good problem to have, though.

One step at a time.

MDs