Just Found Out My Job Is Downsizing (rant)

[Jskell911]

Not a very good day today! I am still feeling rather sick. I found out that starting next week, my job of 11 years is downsizing. We have to bid on shifts according to our seniority. I am second on that list, but the shifts are all but impossible. And to make matters worse, out of 15 full time employees, only 5 full time shifts are being offered.

Now here is what makes the shifts impossible for me:

* I live 1 hr away from my job
* I have an 11 year old child (obviously too young to be left alone)
* DH works 4 12 overnight shifts a week

These are the shifts (full time) being offered:

* One shift 4:30 am to 12:30 PM (DH still in work until 8:00 am)
* One shift 5:30 to 2:00 PM (see above)
* One shift 7:30 to 4:00 (again see above)
* One shift 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM (opposite days DH works)

So, I absolutely cannot work the first 3! And the last option is rough, but maybe doable. The only thing that stinks is I am used to working 8:00 AM to 4:00PM, Monday through Friday, and these shifts are Wednesday through Saturday.

I will find out if my bid was accepted tomorrow. If not then I am essentially either working part time (and losing $$ with the commute) or out of a job completely. And they have already stated no layoffs, so no collection unemployment until I can find something else. Also I know legally, I have no recourse to try to collect. Unless someone knows of some loophole regarding the fact that they only gave us one day to pick and 4 days notice as to when these changes go into effect.

Uggggghhhh! I hate corporate America! OK, maybe I don;t hate it, but geez 11 years of giving a company 120% of myself and I feel like I am getting shafted.

[Gabe]

Good luck!

I hope things work out for you.

Maybe a good opportunity to find work elsewhere closer to home? 1 hour commute seems far!

[Jskell911]

Thanks, Gabe! We are just a bit stunned right now, but do plan to look. It's just that I live pretty rurally and there isn't too much close to home. But we'll keep our fingers crossed!

[FrugalMomof3]

I hope everything turns out ok, for you and good luck! Please let us know how things turn out

[McD]

I'm so so so sorry! No advice really..just hugs.

[Jskell911]

I knew I could count on you guys to help me keep my chin up. Hugs are always appreciated!

[AmyBoz]

I'm hoping it all works out for you!

[claimsgirl66]

I can sooooo relate to your situation after being "downsized" by a greedy ol' corporate giant....of course due to the stress from my situation, I snacked more and my butt has became "up sized"! But that's just me!

I hope it works out for you and you have some options that will work for you & your family. Keep us in the loop, best wishes!

[frugalfoster]

Man that really is terrible. I can't believe they can do this. I agree with gg....take the overnighter and find something else quickly!!! Either way it's not going to be fun!

[Jskell911]

I gather you don't belong to a union. They sure are pitting you guys against one another aren't they? 1 day notice, only 5 jobs, but 15 employess who must BID against one another after working together, then, they are lying about what this really is, a layoff so you can't collect a measly 6 months unemployment because they would have to cough up some money. Man, you have every right to be pissed off. (Where are these dudes around here that keep saying we're NOT slaves to the corporations?) huh!

If it was me, I'd take the all nighter shift for now and after dropping my daughter off at school, go out and look for something else. Then just leave without notice. If you got something closer to home, you could take a bit of less pay because you'll save beaucoup on the gas.

Best of luck.

This is exactly what we plan to do! Thank you all for the support.

[Lady_V]

Overnighter vote here too, as long as you and DH are working opposite days and someone will be home for DS.

I was thinking of ways you could take a day shift, but unless you can work something out with a friend and put DS in Boys/Girls Club day-camp or something, I don't see it working... financial extra aside.

Switching over to overnight will take some time, when I was in HS, I worked 3-11 and the day after I turned 18 (still in HS) they switched me to 11-7. The first few days I was dragging around, but eventually my bio-clocks reset.

Best of luck with the bid, I hope you at least get a spot to make some money while looking for other jobs,

[bclements514]

I'm so sorry.I hope everything works out.

[Frugal Nurse]

Look.. its a LAYOFF! if you can't DO those hours- you take the LAYOFF!

You can file for unemployment benefits.
here is the definition of 'downsizing' synonomous with 'layoff'

Don't let them fool you. They think they have this loophole. Well... guess what... you can jump through it!

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layoff[/ame]

http://humanresources.about.com/od/l...downsizing.htm

http://humanresources.about.com/od/l...Strategies.htm

why do people fall for this stuff?

I would also suggest you contact your local unemployment office and explain this situation. http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/progsup...employment.htm

In CT:

To qualify for benefits, you must:

• Be fully or partially unemployed.

• Be unemployed through no fault of your own; the law imposes disqualifications for certain types of separations from employment.
• Be physically and mentally able to work and available for work as defined by law.

• Be registered with the Career Center.
• Be actively seeking work by making reasonable efforts to find employment each week (or be excused from this requirement because of your participation in approved training).
• Participate in selected reemployment services IF you are identified as a dislocated worker bythe enhanced reemployment services system.
•File your weekly claims as directed.

Types of Employment Not Covered
Among the major categories of employment not covered by the law are:

Newspaper carriers under age 18 who deliver to customers.

Insurance agents (other than industrial life insurance agents).
Real estate persons paid only by commission.
Sole proprietors and partners.
Children under 21 employed by a parent and anyone employed by his or her spouse.
Certain religious or church-related employment.
Work in Connecticut covered under the unemployment compensation law of another state.
Railroad workers (railroads are self-insured).
Outside sales representatives of a for-profit travel agency.

So, unless you fall into the not covered category.. I take everything back. If you do not fall in that category.. I smell a lawsuit!


I learn so much here. I am forced to look things up. LOVE THAT!

[Frugal Nurse]

Approvable Job Separation
What is an approvable job separation?
If you file for Unemployment Compensation Benefits after quitting a job or being discharged (for reasons other than lack of work or job elimination), you must attend a hearing to determine eligibility for benefits.

If you QUIT your job, the purpose of the hearing is to give you an opportunity to establish that you had good cause attributable to the employer for quitting the job. There are very few non-job-related reasons for quitting under which you may be approved for benefits. These include quitting to care for a seriously-ill spouse or child, or a parent domiciled with you, and quitting because of a loss of transportation other than your own personally-owned vehicle, provided you are otherwise eligible. Keep in mind that you do have to be able and available for full-time work in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits.

If you RETIRE from your job, the purpose of the hearing is to give you an opportunity to establish that the retirement was not voluntary, or if it was, that your intent was not to withdraw from the labor market at the time you left the job. If the reason for the retirement is because the job has become unsuitable in light of your physical condition and the degree of risk to health and safety, you may be eligible for benefits provided you requested other work from the employer that was suitable and the employer did not offer you such work. If your separation was not voluntary, you would be eligible for benefits provided you are able and available for full-time work. In certain instances, a retirment will be treated as involuntary if the retirement was induced by the employer in an effort to close a facility or eliminate a worker's position, or if the worker reasonably believed the employment would be severed if he/she rejected the employer's inducement to retire. The portion of your pension benefits that relates to your employer's contribution is deducted from your Weekly Benefit Rate.

If you were DISCHARGED, the hearing will develop information to determine if the discharge was due to conduct in the course of employment which constituted deliberate misconduct, a single knowing violation of a reasonable and uniformly-enforced rule or policy, larceny of property or services whose value exceeded $25 or theft of currency of any value, or felonious conduct. If you were discharged for absenteeism, your employer must show that you were absent without either good cause for the absence or notice to the employer which you could have reasonably provided under the circumstances for three separate instances within a twelve month period.

[LuvMyHubby]

I don't have any real advice, just wanted you to know I am wishing you the best. DD was also in a similar situation not too long ago when everyone had to reaudition for jobs they had been doing very well when a new company took over. Good Luck to you in whatever you decide to do.