Do you think we are going to LAY-OFF?

[Vertifly 0]

I work in a computer room - building and installing computer networks for a private finacial info company. Yeah, it's a nice gig, but something fishy is going on in my company. Many changes continue to take place and it seems like we may be heading down the road of "LAY OFFS".

...So, I thought that I would ask about DZ.COM members' experiences or opinions on the matter.

I'll tell yah, this has been THE best company that I have ever worked for - aside from the Office Space type atmosphere. Free food, training on whatever technology that comes around (and they used to put us up in the best hotels in Manhattan for the training), company parties and picnics in top locations in NYC, straight 8-hour days/40-hour weeks, we've haven't ever been 'overwhelmed with work' until recently, and they even paid for one of my degrees.

Since the owner became a silent partner (just after 9/11) many changes have taken place. Over the past 2 1/2 - 3 years, like many companies, we've changed many things. However, we've NEVER fired anyone - unless they really deserved it. Getting training lately is like pulling teeth, our days are overloaded with work and we tend to put in much more overtime. Company parties are OVER, we've downgraded our health insurance comanies, and raises and bonuses are taking a dip for most people.

Some employees tend to think that we may be going public, but I find that unlikely (having talked to the owner about it once). The corporation has survived the rough economy well in comparison to most...until now at least.

And now there are some strange requests going on. Today, for instance, my boss (the VP basically) has asked R&D to count the amount of time that it takes to walk from their desks to each machine in the computer room - that is for about 800 machines in the datacenter. The difference between the closest location and the far location differes from 7-seconds to about 40-seconds. What the heck kinda request is this? It seems baseless (even useless) to me.

Has anyone else seen some strange activity like this before a lay-off?

Things like this is precisely why I decided to start a business outside. It's too scary now-a-days. But, any insight or shared experiences would be great.

[Lee03 0]

Happening everywher else, so why should it be different where are. Layoffs are common these days. I'm sorry you are in this boat, if you are.

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To put your life in danger from time to time ... breeds a saneness in dealing with day-to-day trivialities.

--Nevil Shute, Slide Rule

[CrazyIvan 0]

If you have that feeling, I'd say, update your Resume, and start making some phone, calls just in case.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[usedtajump 1]

I make a very good salary and I spend the whole day, everday, surfing the net because it's so slow where I work. Having said that, I've spent the whole day surfing the net for the last year and one month and still going. When they tell me to leave, I'll go to the unemployment office with the biggest, happiest grin on my face.

The older I get the less I care who I piss off.

[Rdy2skydive 0]

Before my company started layoffs last May there were a lot of strange things happening that only made sense after people started being let go.

If you think something isn't right, chances are something is going on. I would also recommend that you be careful about believing everything that upper management tells you too.

Get your resume updated and in circulation. If something happens then you've got a head start. It's not a good idea to get too comfortable in today's job market. Good luck.

[cloudseeker2001 0]

It sounds to me like they have acquired an accountant who is trying to figure out exactly how many people are "really" needed to operate. Do not be surprised if they start counting all kinds of things! When I first started at the company I am at now, we got food, training, smiles and the whole bit. But now! Forget it, it is just a job. They hired an accountant to work this program called SPAN(should be SPAM!).......well, after about 24 months of working numbers, it turns out their is not even enough work to keep 1 person, much less 3 people! Altogether we have about 20 employees in 4 different buildings. Yea, it sucks, but it sounds as if you have just a regular job too! Also, 3 years ago, I could have made 1 phone call and had a job the next Monday, today I would have to look a bit! If they were going to go public, they would have fired some people b/c it is cheaper to pay OT and/or contracted some work out. Sounds like they are tight'n up the belt. It is hard to find good people to work for...........

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[skydiver30960 0]

You know your office better than I do. My feeling is that if you feel something is wrong, it's probably a safe bet.

I got laid off on the first of the New Year, and I've been REALLY happy about the whole situation. What made losing my job MUCH easier was that when I started to see the writing on the wall I started to plan ahead.

Stuff like: look at how much $$$ you have in the bank. I'm not a family man, so I didn't need a lot. But it's just a comparison of your needs vs. your bank account. Think about how long it'll take to get a new job (or how much you plan to be off if you're going to take a "break" from the workaday world) and make sure you have the savings to cover it. Try to limit expenses. Don't count on severance or unemployment benefits; then anything you DO get is icing on the cake. I know some of this sounds pretty sophomoric; but I had a buddy who, as we started seeing the direction the company was going, went ahead with his plans to buy himself a new house and truck. Needless to say he was sweatin' .

Long story short: start saving for the "rainy day" today instead of waiting for the pink slip. Then, when/if it does come, you'll be more prepared and will be able to handle a little time without a paycheck maybe even take some well-deserved "walkabout" time!

Elvisio "bummin' it and lovin' it" rodriguez

[JoeyRamone 0]

Have a talk with your boss and ask him straight up

[Vertifly 0]

(Data Center = Remote from company) + (Boss = Non-political Paranoid Sociopath) = No news till too late.

[Vertifly 0]

The request fro upper management to count the seconds between a persons desk and every machine in the datacenter seems weird. Perhaps if I could just make sense of this?????

I'm really just interested if the signs seem similar to people who have gone through it. There should be some consistency in them.

My preparation for lay-offs began two years ago when starting a side business. This job has gone from a primary source of income to the icing on the cake kinda thing. Truth is, a layoff would simply be a kick in the ass - allowing me to spend more time growing the other gig.

[akarunway 1]

I work union cnstruction and when layoff time comes they ask who's on my to go list. Hated but I let the slackers go first. But. The contractors always tell us not to tell anyone layoffs are coming which I promptly do, nice guy that I am. I don't say who but I always warn them. Most bosses ain't gonna tell you shit. Trust me

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.