concerned about your job?

[cpayne5]

Like That Guy, I work for the gov't. I used to work for Booz Allen Hamilton, but the government came to me and offered a job to which I accepted. My job was very safe with BAH, but is now ultra safe with the gov't. I received a large pay increase, with a guaranteed grade promotion after one year, so the decision was a no brainer in the end.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

We just had another round of layoffs today that hit my office pretty hard. Two guys who do the same job as I do were let go, and I am essentially taking over one of their jobs while my old accounts are being spread around to different people. Basically, my job just got eliminated so they had me replace someone else. That's sort of bittersweet I guess.

Well, I better get back to work. Today is not the day to have people see me slacking.

[The Goat]

While my job is totally safe it's not much consolation. As someone else mentioned I think companies have taken advantage of the situation to cut salaries, benefits and bonuses and even some positions and squeeze the rest of the bunch to just work harder for less. Actually, i tend to think lots and lots of companies are doing this.

So I'd like to find a new job w/ a new company but will almost certainly have to wait till '10. On the bigger picture I feel just horrible for all those who've lost good jobs in manufacturing of all kinds and now don't really have the skill set to pick up where they left off. My sincerest hope is the new government makes short-term unemployment more livable in conjunction w/ re-tooling, back to school programs. IMO this country is short on technical labor in a whole variety of fields... every kid coming out of college gets an f'ing business degree of some kind. Anyway I'm just saying the folks who were previously in manufacturing or other blue-collar jobs are probably well suited to re-tool in the technical job sector but we need the programs in place to foster that transition.

... lastly I think we may be on the verge of a pretty significant group-think shift. How many have heard that UBS has been helping something like 47,000 Americans cheat on their taxes? Keep in mind these are probably the very wealthiest among us and their tax burden in all likelihood tops out at 15% because we're talking about cap gains, dividends, etc. I've had a few clients, friends and acquaintances mention this and from what I can tell people are finally getting sick of the super rich getting away w/ every kind of tax evasion while most of the rest of us pay our taxes. Personally, i think the feds should demand UBS cooperate or face massive, say 75% tax on company profits, penalties if they refuse. Pundits always remark if we do this the wealthy will leave the country and go where they can get away w/ anything... so, let them go.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by The Goat

While my job is totally safe it's not much consolation. As someone else mentioned I think companies have taken advantage of the situation to cut salaries, benefits and bonuses and even some positions and squeeze the rest of the bunch to just work harder for less. Actually, i tend to think lots and lots of companies are doing this.

Of course this is what they do. They are in business to make money. They do not exist to ensure your well being. They are not your mummy. Second place is a set of steak knives. Third place is you're fired.

On the plus side, that non-contributing zero that you could never figure out how he keeps his job finally has to hit the bricks.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

We just had another round of layoffs today that hit my office pretty hard. Two guys who do the same job as I do were let go, and I am essentially taking over one of their jobs while my old accounts are being spread around to different people. Basically, my job just got eliminated so they had me replace someone else. That's sort of bittersweet I guess.

Well, I better get back to work. Today is not the day to have people see me slacking.

AMD will never be fired from an office job, because everyone that works in an office loves the funny guy. It's one of the few things that people who work in an office can look forward too - a good laugh provided by the office clown. I've always felt that this was the best job security.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Of course this is what they do. They are in business to make money. They do not exist to ensure your well being. They are not your mummy. Second place is a set of steak knives. Third place is you're fired.

On the plus side, that non-contributing zero that you could never figure out how he keeps his job finally has to hit the bricks.

Don't be pithy... the larger point is that as companies squeeze their people it directly accentuates the macroeconomic contraction, as we have less to spend on the things that keep other people employed, but overall the "savings" has limited benefit toward the long term prosperity of the company because the people who got the shaft are the same ones it will rely on after the storm. At this point over half of those I work w/ directly each day have already set in motion plans to exit the company... and their talent/knowledge/specific skill set is not easily replaced. So in the long run there is no benefit to the company and maybe even some residual damage, but the executive(s) get some benefit in the short run. Bottom line is this is the age old principal-agent dichotomy of managers doing what is best for them in the very short run and rather ignoring what is best in the long run for the whole operation. It's a matter of business strategy not sour grapes.

[dmek25]

in my opinion, this is why unions will eventually make a comeback

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by dmek25

in my opinion, this is why unions will eventually make a comeback

What leverage would they have, it's not like firms have the money. Ever try to get blood from a stone?

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

What leverage would they have, it's not like firms have the money. Ever try to get blood from a stone?

that's why they invented bloodstone .

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Don't be pithy...

I think "glib" would have been a better word. I was being glib. A psychologist gave me a Rorschach test once and wound up calling me a "glib bastard" before storming out of the room. True story.

Or, you're Cindy Brady and you were tring to say, "Don't be pissy..."

[dmek25]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

What leverage would they have, it's not like firms have the money. Ever try to get blood from a stone?

im talking about when things start to turn around. you know companies aren't going to want to give back what they have taken

[Dr Do Itch Big]

Being in the Army, not very concerned. Can't beat 3 hot's and a cot (except prison)

[firstdown]

Well it seems maybe I got my first hit by the economy. I'm in sales and we can win trips if we hit certain goals and only a small % of people hit these goals. Its been about 6 years sense I won any trips for one reason or another. Well last year all the stars lined up and I hit all the numbers and won a 5 day cruise. Well I just got the email that they are going to suspend all trips for year 2009 and those are the trips that people won in 2008. So I guess the cruise is off but I understand why they have done this after all these other corps. are getting hammered in the news about this stuff.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Well it seems maybe I got my first hit by the economy. I'm in sales and we can win trips if we hit certain goals and only a small % of people hit these goals. Its been about 6 years sense I won any trips for one reason or another. Well last year all the stars lined up and I hit all the numbers and won a 5 day cruise. Well I just got the email that they are going to suspend all trips for year 2009 and those are the trips that people won in 2008. So I guess the cruise is off but I understand why they have done this after all these other corps. are getting hammered in the news about this stuff.

Bummer! They should still give it to you espically since you hit your mark in this economy. I would be pissed, sorry for your lost.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by mredskins

Bummer! They should still give it to you espically since you hit your mark in this economy. I would be pissed, sorry for your lost.

Well I understand why they are doing what they are at this time and they don't want to be on the news like AIG. I just don't think the average person understands when people win these trips its a very small % of the sales force and they are also the people which drive the profits for the company. All you see on the news is XYZ company spending $ for people to take these trips in this bad economy. I have not heard how but the company is looking at how to compensate us for the loss of the trip. The good new is my sister has an extra week at her place right on the ocean/beach in Nags Head this summer so we will now take her up on the offer to use that week.