Just got layed off!!!

[Dinghy]

What a surprise I got when I went into work today. Called me in and said I was layed off starting Monday. Could have knocked me over with a feather. I've been there 10 years, and really didn't think it would go back that far. They said it might only be for a month, but I think it will be longer. I would like to be off 2 months, but after that things would get a little hairy. They will keep our hospitalization for two months, after that we're on our own. After being off 60 consecutive days they change our anniversary date, which means if I'm layed off for 4 months I won't get my vacation in March like I should, I'll have to wait until July!
I'm real excited about having some time off so I can get some things done around here though. I'll finally be able to spend some decent time in the garden! Hubby might get the ax with the next round of lay offs, then we can really get a lot done. I just hope it doesn't stretch out to the point of having to worry about our un-employment running out.
I thought the economy was supposed to be getting better! We haven't had a lay off of this magnatude since 2001. We manufacture a lot of lawn and garden parts and some car parts. A couple months ago we were told we'd be working 7 days a week all summer because we got some orders from Brazil, now this. Nobody can figure it out. It will be interesting to see the next un-employment figures. I haven't heard if any of the other plants around here are laying off or not.
Oh well, I took a vacation day tomorrow, so let the fun begin!!!!

 

[ShepInTheValley]

Aww Dinghy, I'm sure sorry to hear that, but glad that you can enjoy some "down time" for a bit.

Same thing happened to DH & I but it had nothing to do with the economy, only very stupid business decisions! I'm hoping to be able to stay home and DH already found another job.

I do hope you can enjoy your time off.

 

[Tennessee gal]

Dinghy,

I'm sure sorry to hear of the lay-off.

I was layed off in Feb/ of 2003 after 15 years with my company. I received a good compensation package & then was able to draw unemployment. I am still not working, but it is due to health issues .

I will be praying for your family.

 

[Dinghy]

Thank you both for the kind thoughts. It sure was nice not to have to rush around today. I work second shift and never have enough time to do much. I got a late start because of the weather today, but I managed to trim three quince apple bushes that were going wild and cleared some weeds and vines from the hill in the back yard. They were starting to choke out my blackberry bushes. Looks a lot better now.
We went to our Hometown Festival for supper tonight. This is the first time I've been able to go on a Friday night. If they let me off long enough, I'll be home to watch our fireworks display too. They always have that on a Thursday night during carnival week. We miss so much on second shift, but I really like working it more than first or third. I'm going to have to really push to get everything done in case I'm only off a month like they said. I've got a list started already!
I think what I'm most excited about is being able to spend time with the family again. We can eat supper together again and have campfires at night like the old days before I started working. I really need to win the lottery so I don't have to go back!!!

 

[Deena in GA]

It's really great that you have such a good attitude toward getting laid off. You're right to focus on the good points of having time at home and with your family now. Those are the important things. We're sweating it out here. My husband also has a manufacturing job - food related - and they just laid off or transferred the second shift of workers in the bakery. He is in shipping and they haven't laid off anyone yet, but the hours have been cut a bit for the past month.

Anyway, I hope something breaks so that you can stay home if that's what you'd like. Hopefully your husband will be able to keep working. I'll pray for that.

 

[ShepInTheValley]

I'm so glad you have some time to enjoy getting things done and spending time with your family. So this is probably a temporary layoff huh? Good time of year for it, if you can afford it for a bit.

I worked for our company 25 years and this was the 2nd time I was laid off, but this time the company shut down. DH worked there 20 years. We'd been seeing this company for several years, so it's not like we didn't expect it - but it's always such a shock, isn't it?

Our prayers are with ya Dinghy.

 

[Dinghy]

This is supposed to be a temporary lay off. They expect it to get busy around August or Sept. The only scary thing now is that the plant was just bought by an investment group. We haven't officially been told, but it leaked out. It had been privately owned by a family in town. So, we don't know if they'll use this as an excuse to pare down some jobs or if it's just a coincidence with the timing. They usually do a little laying off every summer, but it's mostly part-time people.
Money wise I should be ok. Last time this happened I made more on un-employment than I did working, strange as that may sound. We get profit sharing every month, and right now it's down to almost nothing. Since they'll go by my highest quarter, that will be when we had better profit sharing checks, so my income will be higher. Pretty bad when you can make more money staying at home then you do working! Or pretty good, depending on how you look at it!!!!!
I don't think I'll ever be able to quit work completely. Hubby has too many medical problems and I need to have insurance in case he can't work, so I can put him on mine. But as long as I get breaks like this I'll be happy!