I was laid off last Monday

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

I was laid off by my employer after ten years. THey said it wasn't performance-related and that I could use them as references.

I told them it was really unfair; I never called in sick, never was late, and did everything they asked of me. Then, as the HR person is leading me on the perp walk out of the office, she asks me if I needed any more boxes for my things. I told her no, that I was getting a pretty good boxing as it was.

I have been a newspaper librarian for the past fifteen years (the last ten at my former job). I think I'm going to look outside the publishing industry for my next one.

It just goes to show you that loyalty is a one-way street in the business world. I learned this the hard way. At least I got a good severance package out of them.

The kicker to the story is that the Friday before I was laid off, my tenth-year anniversary gift was delivered to my house.

[Katherine Brengle]

1. Sorry to hear that --

you're right, loyalty doesn't count for much these days.

I hope you find something else that you enjoy.

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

2. thanks a lot....

I'm contemplating my next move.

At least I don't have a mortgage or a famliy.

[Katherine Brengle]

10. A blessing in disguise I guess...

I know if my husband lost his job we would be up a creek big time... (Luckily he has a union to protect him, most Americans don't :(.)

[dEMOK]

3. Sounds Like It's Time to...

...start your own business.

[Droopy]

4. Sorry to hear about that, prez

I've been laid off before and I know how much that can hurt.

If you would like a little adventure and are looking for something new I can turn you on to all kinds of information about trucking and how to get started in that industry. Just say the word and I'll give you the low down. I have never been laid off from a trucking job. Knock on wood.

[DainBramaged]

5. That simply sucks, I am so sorry.

The internets killed the library star. What other careers will be demolished by the internets?

[Broken_Hero]

6. I'm sorry to hear that

I hope you find better/good employment in the near future....:hug:

[Oeditpus Rex]

7. Sorry to hear it

I'm a bit surprised, though, that newspapers still employ librarians. But then, I guess not everything in the morgue is digitized yet.

I guess what I'm saying is with foreign bureaus closing left and right and reporters and low-level editors being cut, I'm surprised your job still exists. There's not a lotta job security at newspapers anymore.

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

11. News libraries are shrinking

As the web gets more ubiquitous, the need for news researchers is decreasing....I'm going to look outside of journalism.

[Scarlett17]

8. I'm so sorry to hear that.

Corporate America sucks. I wish you best on your job search. You mentioned a good severance package--that helps.

[Downtown Hound]

9. That sucks, sorry to hear it.

Yeah, business will eat you up and spit you out if it wants to, and if you're one of the lucky ones you get to feed on some of the regurgitated chunks of food when they're done with you. Best of luck to you.

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

12. If you want loyalty in coporate America

don't count on it.

They just don't care.

[Auggie]

13. Sorry to hear that. I've been laid off twice, and in both instances

it led to better jobs and more money.

[salin]

14. I am very sorry to hear this news.

I wish only the best for you in finding a better situation than the one that you were so unceremoniously cut off from. My economist father, who passed 14 years ago, noted back in the early nineties that the whole employer/employee relationship was started to change per the value of treating employees well so that the company gains loyalty (higher performance) and lowers training costs (for replacement employees.) He thought, ircc, that this was dysfunctional for both the employees and the employers. Sadly - he saw the trend in its infancy. :-(

Here's to hoping that the next stage of your life, professionally, outshines your previous job. (best revenge is living well and all of that.) The way you have been treated is shameful.

[stanwyck]

15. We'll be thinking about you

you have a community here who cares. Just think about how many years of your life you work. This is just a brief interruption. I know this sounds ludicrous, but I hope you'll try to relax and do a few things you haven't had the time to do. Because, before you know it, you'll be back at work.
And, you're right. There is absolutely no loyalty. I went to work one morning (this was years ago), got called into the boss' office, he told me several of us were being let go due to severe financial problems. One of the sales reps., who was among the handful of people left -- a woman we all detested, escorted me to my office as I (in shock) put my personal belongings in a box. She then escorted me to my car! Each person who lost their job was treated the same way. We felt like criminals. And we had worked very hard, very long hours, and had been exemplary employees. All these years later, it still stings that we were treated so shabbily. Of course, we've all gone on to better jobs. We've stayed friends. And the woman who treated us so badly has been frozen out. She actually called me for a favor a few months ago. I didn't return her call. And that is not at all my usual behavior.