I got laid off today.

[Dinner]

It seems my boss has decided to give me a early Christmas present in the form of a pink slip; not just me either since 25% of the work force got the same notice. There were only 16 employees working at the company so that means only 4 people got laid off but still I wish he could have waited another two weeks until after the holidays were over.

I've only been working there for four months and I don't have any bills so it's not so bad for me, but, two of the other guys are middle aged and have families to support plus one of them had just bought a house. I would have thought the ethical thing to do would have been to at least tell the employee what was coming so he wouldn't have gone out and bought a house.

When I asked the boss why he was letting us go he said I'd been hired on the expectation the company would win certain contracts. The contracts didn't come through so now I was being let go. What really pisses me off is right after I got hired two other companies called me for interviews and I told them I had just got a job. If the boss had told me this job wasn't secure I totally would have taken one of the other two instead!

I think employers at least owe an employee enough to be honest with them and tell them if there is a danger of a lay off or not.

[Six Thousand Year Old Man]

Sorry to hear that

[Dinner]

Re: I got laid off today.

double post

[Bereta_Eder]

Sorry about that Oerdin.

Hey at least look at 6000yearman's avatar to lift your spirits

And I agree that employers owe it to thei employees to be more straightforward.

I got laied off from secondary job I had without any notice once. (Me and all others since it went bust after the greek stock exhange plummeted - but still they could warn a bit). luckily that was for my spare money not my basic work.

they must warn. law must make them

[Imran Siddiqui]

You can sue them because you relied on their promise and they didn't tell you that it was based on certain contracts coming through.

That's how to keep 'em honest, but it might not be worth it.

[Dinner]

I do have some money saved up plus I went and filled for unemployment today so money isn't an immediate concern. It's just the pride that's hurt I guess.

BTW 6k man you have a nice avatar.

[Asher]

Oerdin: Sorry to hear about that
paiktis22: If they warned every time they thought layoffs might be needed, don't you think that would cause employees to consider a warning as a "guaranteed impending layoff" and quit to find a new job? The last thing a company that's struggling needs to do is replace workers who quit because they thought they'd be laid off. If anything, it'd push the company further to the edge.

[SlowwHand]

25% is 25%, no matter the numbers; especially when you're one of the 25%.

[Skanky Burns]

Commiserations.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
You can sue them because you relied on their promise and they didn't tell you that it was based on certain contracts coming through.

That's how to keep 'em honest, but it might not be worth it.

California is an "at will" state meaning they can hire or fire anyone without any reason.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Well, I employ people, and I agree with you - there's a lot of chicken**** and dishonesty with marginal companies trying to hire people, and companies who take a downturn and try to conceal that from employees until the axe falls.

What is ironic is that a lot of the same employers ***** about employees looking for jobs, having low motivation and loyalty, etc.

Sorry to hear that, especially before the holidays, and especially on such a crappy day outside.

[TCO]

Oerdin, sorry about that. Good luck finding something else. Don't dwell on it too long but move on. Your employer may be a snake but realize it goes both ways (you too fooker). Employee (unless a slave or under contract) has the right to leave at any time also. I've gotten the pink slip too. Happens.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Oerdin


California is an "at will" state meaning they can hire or fire anyone without any reason.

There is an exception to that, but ONLY if you were induced to move to the area from out of town in reliance on the job - but that one has a tough standard of proof (essentially have to prove fraud)

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Asher
Oerdin: Sorry to hear about that
paiktis22: If they warned every time they thought layoffs might be needed, don't you think that would cause employees to consider a warning as a "guaranteed impending layoff" and quit to find a new job? The last thing a company that's struggling needs to do is replace workers who quit because they thought they'd be laid off. If anything, it'd push the company further to the edge.

yeah you probably have a point Asher. I was just saying it out of annoyance.

although there has to be a way to reach a middle ground somewhere. actually i think it has but is it being implemented? it's another story.

[FNBrown]

I was laid off about 8 months ago... managed to find a new job pretty quick, though.

Still, it's a crappy feeling when it happens to you. Seems like your taking it pretty well - best of luck with your new job search!