The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsOn Jan 27th I received a Termination Letter from my company
30 days notice. Posted about it here if you'd like to follow the conversation:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/103445508
I turn 58 in a couple weeks, and the thought of collecting unemployment on my birthday kind of pissed me off.
The fact that I was getting laid off a week after being told in my quarterly review that gold dust practically wafts from my ass and rainbows bend to greet me also put a bit of salt in my attitude.
So, whatever. I dusted off the old resume and started looking around.
Cutting to the chase, I just accepted an offer today at 93% of my current salary.
Crisis averted.
Everybody gets a virtual beer on me.
soothsayer
(38,601 posts)CurtEastPoint
(18,643 posts)MyOwnPeace
(16,926 posts)MORE about this "gold dust" part, not to mention the "rainbows?"
Oh, by the way - CONGRATS!
MustLoveBeagles
(11,602 posts)Gothmog
(145,195 posts)The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)My wife is pretty happy too
NJCher
(35,667 posts)going into the weekend.
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)But a good reputation is critical in defense contracting - we all move company to company in situations like this - and a "Kiss My Ass" move like that would get the wrong kind of notoriety
iamateacher
(1,089 posts)Congratulations!
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)I'll always heart teachers.
Thanks for the good thoughts
iamateacher
(1,089 posts)I am glad for your good fortune. Good luck in the future.
Desert grandma
(804 posts)I have always believed that things like this happen for a reason. I hope your new company will appreciate you more than the previous one. Congratulations!!
dhill926
(16,337 posts)Wolf Frankula
(3,600 posts)Tell them "I don't want to hurt anybody." You'll keep your job.
If that doesn't work, tell them you'll sue.
Wolf
UpInArms
(51,282 posts)Very comfortable
sinkingfeeling
(51,454 posts)JDC
(10,127 posts)SergeStorms
(19,201 posts)I always said someone of your "caliber" wouldn't have a problem finding employment. I'm sincerely overjoyed for you.
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)Appreciate the good vibes
Karadeniz
(22,513 posts)SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)I hope your new job is even better with advancement oppurtunities!
Tbear
(487 posts)the new digs and thanks for the brewski.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)I was worried it was going to be a sad post!
TNNurse
(6,926 posts)Tanuki
(14,918 posts)🎂🥂🍾⚘
MLAA
(17,288 posts)Congratulations! And whew!
George II
(67,782 posts)I remember more than 20 years ago now (1998!), a bunch of us were laid off. On his way home, one guy stopped to visit a vendor of the company's to say goodbye to someone he was friendly with. They offered him a job on the spot, he was out of work for less than an hour!
No beer, but I'll dedicate my nightly Manhattan to your good fortune.
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)I'll raise a glass with ya, and thanks for the good thoughts
zeusdogmom
(993 posts)I am really happy for you.
niyad
(113,302 posts)The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)niyad
(113,302 posts)Hamlette
(15,412 posts)hope you love the new job!
Fla Dem
(23,661 posts)One door closes another opens. So happy for you.
srose58089
(214 posts)I turned my virtual beer into a Corona.
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)Not gonna risk it.
Thanks for the positive vibes cousin
wendyb-NC
(3,327 posts)and Best Wishes on finding a new job.
Generic Brad
(14,275 posts)It took me six months to find work when that happened to me. What is it about people in their late 50's who are vital and relevant one day to suddenly become expendable without warning the next? For some it's nearly tantamount to a death sentence.
Thanks for the virtual beer. I toast you!
BComplex
(8,050 posts)FuzzyRabbit
(1,967 posts)ailsagirl
(22,896 posts)Theres hope for those of us who are unemployed!!
leighbythesea2
(1,200 posts)Congrats! That is impressive. So agravating however. We are of an era that performance does not matter.
I too received a stellar review @ this time last year. I was let go along with many, knowing it was prob salary related. Never laid off before.
Everything was going fine with leads, until March, then the world shut down. Took me til December. & not near 93%. But it's a non-existant market out there in some fields.
So I drink you you, and drink to me.
Wonderful news.
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)Don't get me wrong, I'm not a "One of One" type of guy, but the community is pretty insular.
We either know each other we have a friend who knows you.
So when a company loses a contract - which is what happened here - the names are floated around, resumes are shared and most of us find something.
The issue for me was salary.
I've been in this role for quite a while, so the drop to entry level would've been to steep for me to accept - and they know it.
So this company ALMOST matches my requested salary with their offer figuring I'll take the bird in hand, rather than hold off. I accept the offer figuring if I execute the contract well, I'll get some pay boosts or bonusses.
Then we all shake hands and move on.
The game sucks but it is what is
leighbythesea2
(1,200 posts)How fields can be different but still the same in many ways. Your work sounds cool. I've always been fascinated with military work and the compliments to it. Maybe bc its 180 of my industry.
The fashion industry I guess lost its contract with consumers as a whole. Lol. But it is one propped up by constructed desire, so that's the game, and we all saw the writing when everything shut down.
What's similar is everyone knows everyone. I know what some peoples portfolios look like never having met them.
I relate to your description of everyones name gets floated around (from a brand closing) and then the offers, (during normal times) are just under where individuals were. It IS a game. They can play with bonus and promise etc....
So glad it worked out for you.
I am beyond happy with my new gig. And relieved.
Colorado Liberal
(145 posts)...in my mid-forties, I got laid off (f***ing "Business Machines" company). Wound up getting a job with one of the partners I did business with, but settled for about 80% of my then salary. Am now making >40% more than that salary I was kicked to the curb from, and am SO MUCH happier in this job (now 12 years in).
I guess you never know how much happier you can wind up being. Congratulations on the new job, and on averting the crists.
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)catbyte
(34,382 posts)It restores my faith when good things happen to good people.
rurallib
(62,413 posts)I'm a teetotaler, but I think I can have a virtual one with you
Damn, that was good
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)58Sunliner
(4,386 posts)PJMcK
(22,035 posts)The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)tiptonic
(765 posts)Way to go MSgt. Everyone knows, NCOs now how to get things done.
PatrickforO
(14,573 posts)Upthevibe
(8,045 posts)Congrats
GeoWilliam750
(2,522 posts)And leave the bottle if you will....
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)But, (looks over both shoulders) Don't tell any one but I have a bottle of Ayala Brut I was saving
Cheers!
GeoWilliam750
(2,522 posts)But I will bring the Dom by a bit later. No need to share with so many.
NewEnglandAutumn
(184 posts)I'm so happy for you
NNadir
(33,516 posts)She was practically running her office and they were treating her badly.
She was out of work for a few months, and then got hired at a much more prestigious university, working with people whose work actually matters, slightly lower pay but much better benefits and the satisfaction of doing good for the world.
Congrats to you!
mountain grammy
(26,620 posts)housecat
(3,121 posts)So do you suspect some kind of discrimination?
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)salary as they can.
keithbvadu2
(36,793 posts)What was the 'reason' for the firing?
Personal, performance, loss of personal contact, company contract, railroaded out?
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)"Over Staffed"
So they convinced the agency that their company can do the job with fewer people for much less.
keithbvadu2
(36,793 posts)OK.
The 'evil part' and 'middle finger' made it look like you were a little bitter about it.
Bmoboy
(267 posts)Nictuku
(3,609 posts)Either I move in the new direction (and basically become a glorified secretary), doing things that I dislike and would never ever have interviewed for, or go find another tech job where I can still use my strongest strength skills (which is what I have been doing for 21 years there).
I haven't decided what to do. I'm in the middle of a pandemic. I don't want to go to committee meetings and take minutes and write up reports...
I want to troubleshoot computer problems and fix them and make people happy.
I wrote up a new resume, and am looking around just to see what is out there. So far it looks like I'll have to take a big drop in salary. I take care of my mom, have a mortgage. I feel like screaming. Crying. I'm angry. I feel like they are setting me up to fail by asking me to do things that I don't have any training (or even interest) in,.
They just want me to quit (have offered early retirement, but I need to make it to 62 so I can also get SS. I'll barely be making it then, but that was my plan.
So .... I don't know what to do. I'm so upset. I have to give a decision by next Friday. I feel stabbed in the back. Everyone in the place I work absolutely loves me, I am a fantastic tech support person.
But now I'll basically be doing my boss's job and someone else will be doing the tech support.
*sigh*
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)Bench work, system testing and trouble shooting. Working wideband and narrow band RF systems like I had for most of my career.
Then I found out that a mediocre staff officer makes twice what a great tech makes.
So, I found a niche position that allows me to stay in the field with the Soldiers and Airmen doing training and evaluation several times a year.
Then I try to correct any shortcomings I found in those exercises and training events the rest of the year.
But that transition was a bitch.
Yes, Senior NCO Academy taught me the basics but that's 12 weeks out of my 23 and a half year career. The remaining time I was in a production work center, either fixing the gear or running the shop -I'd never been assigned to a Headquarters billet.
So I had to bite the bullet and work my ass off to where I became the fat guy from HQ that I always used to hate.
But I had a mortgage and 2 kids in college, so I did it.
I don't know your position your situation or your personality, so my advice is going to be incomplete at best and misguided at worst - So gather a hold of as many grains of salt as you think you'll need.
But Imma give it anyway, because I'm kinda pushy like that.
What I used to dismiss a "Being a glorified secretary" namely staff work, developing exercise plans, resolving budget issues and scheduling training (and the paperwork & processes to make that happen) are all things that I learned to do to keep that higher paycheck.
But I've been doing them so long because as I developed skills I started seeing the value of my work in the bigger scheme of things.
I'm not anything special - I'm just a small cog in a big machine, but I made myself an efficient reliable cog over the course of time.
I don't know, maybe if I had taken a technician job at Raytheon or one of the Cellular companies I'd have been happier in the long run.
I don't know, but I put my family in a good situation.
I know that it sucked back in 05, and I stumble fucked around at first, but thee is a place for technical folks in management, if for no other reason than to be that one dude "upstairs" that remembers what the hell goes on where the rubber meets the road.
Good Luck Nictuku. I wish you success
Nictuku
(3,609 posts)That is the direction I am leaning. I am telling them that I hope to at least have guidance and direction of where I'm going to get all this data I'm supposed to be analyzing and making reports and recommendations on.
The other bummer is that since Covid, I've been able to work at home, so no more 4 hour daily commute from Napa to San Francisco. Eventually I will have to go back and I was hoping I could transition into mostly working from home (since I've been able to do almost everything from home).
They really want me to resign though, and take this 25K early retirement offer. (I qualify for full retirement in July anyway, but wasn't planning on it until I reach 62 so I can also get my SS)
It is definitely outside of my comfort zone. But I think I can do what they are asking, as long as I get some kind of guidance, and if needed, training. If I can record the damn meetings that I'm supposed to now be taking minutes for I can do that as well. I don't take shorthand. And he better not ask me to get him a cup of fucking coffee!
I think this is driven by budget decisions, but it is hard not to take it personally. The tech world is a man's world and it has been a difficult fight for me over the years, and I still don't feel like I get the same kind of respect the guys do.
Tender hopper
(60 posts)Just think, you`ve been inoculated against boredom for a while
c-rational
(2,592 posts)a heart for your new job as well as for all the wonderful music you post that I appreciate so much.
machoneman
(4,007 posts)COL Mustard
(5,897 posts)Well done, and I'm sure you'll get the remaining 7% back.
marble falls
(57,081 posts)BobTheSubgenius
(11,563 posts)93% of your former salary to start is pretty easy to take, yes? Congratulations.
When your medical insurance kicks in, you might want to get that ass thing looked at.
Moostache
(9,895 posts)Hoping good things and better times are in your immediate and long-term future!
Mrs. Glamrock
(59 posts)That is great news! Cheers to the new job!
Jay25
(417 posts)world wide wally
(21,742 posts)From one Polack to another;
The Polack MSgt
(13,188 posts)DFW
(54,372 posts)I don't know what you do or what you made before, but what you have now is probably better than what you were looking at a few days ago.
I hate beer (I know, and I live in Germany), but I'll get out a teacup and put on the hot water in your honor!
barbtries
(28,793 posts)after i got laid off at 63 i looked for 6 months and never got an offer.
i do have a happy ending, in that as soon as I started collecting early SS, an former colleague offered me a contract job, then a year later he found me another one! So I'm working for myself making good money and all i have to worry about is the taxes.
Joinfortmill
(14,417 posts)Paladin
(28,256 posts)I'll pass on the virtual beer and just go directly to an actual scotch & water, in celebration.