Really bummed out

[lakelover]

I mentioned in other posts that I was fortunate enough to be able to take an early retirement in September, and I've been having a blast in every way, no regrets.

But today, a former co-worker friend called me and told me that the employer is eliminating our unit and everyone got pink slips today, effective Dec. 31. It really stinks because well over half my friends have close to or over 30 years, but don't quite have the age for retirement. Several of them just missed out on the incentive that I got. The rest have around 10 years in. My closest co-worker opted not to take the incentive, but to work for seven more months and take a regular retirement so he could clear up some debts first. He's really getting screwed financially, and the poor guy is already 65.

I've been laid off before, so I know what it's like, and it ain't no fun. So today has really been a downer.

Hope our economy picks up real soon!!

 

[scipper77]

Re: Really bummed out

Same thing happened to my dad in the 90's. He worked for Kodak and was something like 2 years shy of qualifying for early retirement. He did get a good severance at least.

Up here in Rochester "everybody" knows somebody who used to work for Kodak.

 

[12vMan]

Re: Really bummed out

That's a real bummer. You would think they would be entitled to their benefits unless the company went bk.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Really bummed out

Sorry to hear that bad news

 

[lakelover]

Re: Really bummed out

Thanks, I've just been feeling sick all day since I got that call.

Scipper, Kodak is to Rochester as NY State is to Albany.

 

[mike343]

Re: Really bummed out

Up here in Rochester "everybody" knows somebody who used to work for Kodak.

And they probably all use (or used to use) Fuji film

 

[scipper77]

Re: Really bummed out

Up here in Rochester "everybody" knows somebody who used to work for Kodak.

And they probably all use (or used to use) Fuji film

Where are the mods This guy just used the "F" word! lol

No, when Kodak Was the #1 employer locally nobody with ties to Kodak was buying F*ji film. When everything went digital, Kodak was no longer the #1 employer, or #2, or #3....

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Really bummed out

If the company went belly up thats one thing but this sounds like a way to save money by getting rid of people with earned benefits and then hiring more that have to start at the bottom. Lots of companys get away with this. Im sorry to hear your friends have been double crossed...When I had the chance to leave with an early retirement I jumped at the chance and am glad I did. I just learned that my former company now will fire people for any little thing they can...

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Really bummed out

Sometimes it is not the bad economy that puts people out of work its new technology. That is part of the reason for Kodak and Fuji going down hill. Fuji is down here in Greenwood and they have avoided disaster by expanding into new technologies-- I read somewhere. These companies have to quickly change with the times or go the way of the 8 track tapes.
I read yesterday where Cable companies are quickly losing business to Internet movies that can be play on new high tech TVs. Internet companies like Netflix are booming. They also blamed their loses on people becoming poorer during the recession. But really, why pay $80+ per month to watch TV when you can combine your Internet cost with your TV?
Things are changing and many companies are being left behind. I went to a bank and no one was at the drive through. I asked why? The lady said many do internet banking. The post office is laying off many because people pay their bills on the Internet and on and on

 

[lakelover]

Re: Really bummed out

Sometimes it is not the bad economy that puts people out of work its new technology. That is part of the reason for Kodak and Fuji going down hill. Fuji is down here in Greenwood and they have avoided disaster by expanding into new technologies-- I read somewhere. These companies have to quickly change with the times or go the way of the 8 track tapes.
I read yesterday where Cable companies are quickly losing business to Internet movies that can be play on new high tech TVs. Internet companies like Netflix are booming. They also blamed their loses on people becoming poorer during the recession. But really, why pay $80+ per month to watch TV when you can combine your Internet cost with your TV?
Things are changing and many companies are being left behind. I went to a bank and no one was at the drive through. I asked why? The lady said many do internet banking. The post office is laying off many because people pay their bills on the Internet and on and on

You've got a lot of good points. In my situation, its government, and technology change does play into it. When I started in this particular unit 12 years ago, there were 44 employees, but as people left/retired/transferred/died, no one was replaced. So when I left, there were 12 bodies. As people weren't replaced, we weren't able to do as much work, so since we did less work, more people weren't replaced. "Do more with less" was a favorite saying among the management. Kind of like a dog chasing its tail, or should I say water going down the drain. Besides a change in technology, which in one area we kept up with quite well, they have started contracting out the work in that area. Penny wise and pound foolish. Unfortunately, politics plays a very big part too. When I got laid off in the 90's, it was pure politics, I was collateral damage. So much corruption. That event taught me to always have a "Plan B". It's a real relief to be able to be away from all that stress.

I like your TV example. When my old TV got killed by a lightning strike, I bought a digital TV and a new roof antenna and I get TV for free (for now, anyway, hope the networks keep broadcasting over the air!) I say "all" and by that I mean that I get 16 channels. I have no desire for cable, just more channels with nothing to watch a lot of the time.

And even though I like Saturday mail delivery, I could really do without it. Some Saturdays all I get is a handful of catalogs and promotions. And I do a fair amount of sending my own packages via printing my own labels on the USPS website so I can avoid a trip to the P.O.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Really bummed out

I went to a bank and no one was at the drive through. I asked why? The lady said many do internet banking

Yet they keep building all these new branches. I can't figure it out.