Fired next year =\

[fooman]

Hiya,
My day job is in the slumping automotive industry in Windsor Ontario, across from Detroit motor city. I'm a simulation programmer for a company that makes engine blocks. I truly am bored with the job, but man it pays so well... I'm never in money trouble and I spend a lot of my personal money on gear.

So the company has been fighting to stay alive, but they have to close one of two plants next year. So 50% of salary employees are being terminated... and I happen to be one of them. So depressing.

I'm under 30, and have quite a bit of experience on my resume relative to my peers... but I HATE the fact I have to work at this place for another year knowing that it's going to go under entirely eventually and that I have no future here. I have zero motivation to do any work.

It's very very quiet here. The rumour mill is overflowing, and people are pretending to act like it's no big deal. F&ck that... get out of denial.

Worst part... since I have no extra cash now that I have a year and only a year's worth of salary left before I'm out I have no need or motivation to look at the GS classifieds! DAMMIT!!! I know if I go on there I'll want some gear, maybe I nice SM7.... that I now can't afford. boo!

Rant over. Sorry to waste ur time.

[Kawriver]

Keep your chin up man. It's a tough situation but sometimes one step back leads to 2 steps forward into something more fulfilling. Some of the best opportunities in my life came from what I thought at the time were tragedies. I know this will sound stupid, but whats life without a little adventure. I know we'd all like to choose our adventures but sometimes they choose us. Don't let the man get you down. Sorry. I hope this helps a little.

[d1rtynyc]

I don't know.... You said you were bored at the job and you have a experience and a great resume. You also said you have a year before you hit the bricks.

That sounds like a HUGE opportunity to go and get something better for your wallet and your mind. You have a year to find a cool job.
You already know you are out of there, so spend some of that boring time getting your next step planned. A lot of people are given 2 weeks pay and told to go home. You have 52 to find another job while you still are comfortable.
I think if you have a positive mind and look hard, the best is yet to come for you!

GOOD LUCK!thumbsup

[fooman]

Kawriver, thanks for replying man. I really appreciate it. I realize that this might be my chance to get out of a job I hate and onto something I enjoy.

And as far as going postal... the way they are handling this makes me ponder it. I'm sure this isn't easy on the people who have to do the terminating, but the way they are doing it is upsetting.

[vixapphire]

like the gentleman above your second post said, you've got a year's paid notice before termination; sounds like you've got very little to be upset about other than the loss of a golden-goose low-stress paycheck. admittedly, that's no small loss, but it could be much worse.

i left windsor (born and raised, centennial high school educated) in the mid-80's and ended up in california. california, like many states, allows for termination on no notice without any severance, and if you're fired and not "laid off", good luck collecting unemployment benefits.

i reiterate: you have little to be upset about, and should over the next several months comfortably be planning your next move to a step-up gig.

if nothing else, you've got one nice semi-stressfree summer just around the corner to enjoy! as i recall, summer in windsor was always quite pleasant.

best,
v

[Henchman]

So, explain again why you're pissed off?
Because I truly don't know why.
As other have said. You have a YEAR to find another job.
So, start looking. And NEVER expect any job these days to be a job for life.

[Chaellus]

the way i see it you dont like the job and you got enough time to find a new job plus you get paid for the year...while your looking for a new job you can save up and get some gear later....not to mention you didnt like your job..you proabably would have gotten out sooner or later

[Brian!]

i would be extremely grateful that i had a year to search for a job to replace one that i disliked. even more than a year depending on what type of severance/unemployment you end up with.

[iluvatar]

Be thankful that you know you have a year to find something. Most people who get laid off aren't so lucky. It's also easier to find a job and negotiate for a higher salary while you already have a job than it is once you've been laid off.

-Dan.

[fooman]

I worked damn hard at my job, hence the disappointment of being told I'm not longer needed after they bleed me for my skills for the next year. Maybe I've got a lot to learn in life, but that pisses me off a bit.

However you are all right, I do have a year with pay to find a job. It's just a bummer that I was able to find a salary position so young and have the industry go to crap around me as I was just starting out.

[zboy2854]

Well, with all due respect it's not as if the handwriting wasn't on the wall with respect to your industry. Manufacturing has been increasingly outsourced from North America to Asia and elsewhere, so I wouldn't take it so personally.

That said, you're actually in a much better position than a lot of folks. Very few people are given the luxury of a year's notice that they're going to lose their job. Many people are lucky if they get a month or a week's notice. In fact, a friend of mine who was a waiter at a major upscale restaurant for many years was told the restaurant was closing the day after he was told. That was it, no other advance warning.

To be given a heads up a year in advance that you'll need to find a new job is a gift in and of itself, for two reasons. First, it allows you plenty of time to seek out a new job without having to scramble. And second, and most importantly, it gives you a whole year to sock away as much money as you can from this job and build up some savings, so if the next job isn't as high paying, or there are bumps in the road, you'll have some financial cushion to fall back on. It may mean living below your means for the next year so you can save more of your salary, cutting back on the gear purchases, etc., but you'll be the better for it (and feel more secure) once the year is up.

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by fooman

I worked damn hard at my job

We all do.

[fooman]

obviously never worked in the auto industry

Originally Posted by Henchman

We all do.

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by fooman

obviously never worked in the auto industry

Nope. But I worked in a plant i Holland building airplanes.
And I don't think your work is any more demanding than what alot of people do for a living, who make far less.

I'm sorry, but the reason you're not seeing alot of sympathy here is because you are in an excellent position. And have zero reason to complain.
In fact, this should be in the good news forum, not the moan zone.

Wait till you get a job at a non-union place. You'll realize how good you had it.

[fooman]

haha
man I'm not in the union... our company is structured a bit odd. I'm just salary, not hourly and not working a machine or anything. I have worked a horrible job as a bus-boy for years, as well as in a super-market, as a starving musician... etc etc.

I never said I had a super-demanding job. I just said I worked hard in school and made the most of my opportunities to get where I am at 25 years old, and yes I'm a bit cheesed because I'm being forced to leave before I can move up. Hence, moan zone.

If anyone has had a tougher life than I, I'm sorry and I'm sure you deserve more time in the moan zone. I just felt like pouting a bit like everyone else here. Geez.

I do agree though, this could go either way. My first instinct was "moan zone"

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by fooman

haha
man I'm not in the union... our company is structured a bit odd. I'm just salary, not hourly and not working a machine or anything.

I never said I had a super-demanding job. I just said I worked hard in school and made the most of my opportunities to get where I am at 25 years old, and yes I'm a bit cheesed because I'm being forced to leave before I can move up. Hence, moan zone.

If anyone has had a tougher life than I, I'm sorry and I'm sure you deserve more time in the moan zone. I just felt like pouting a bit like everyone else here. Geez.

I do agree though, this could go either way. My first instinct was "moan zone"

Holy crap. You're only 25?
BTW, it's easier to move up, by finding a different place to work.
Take the experinece you've got, and start looking for another job, for better money.
And don't limit yourself to your area, or even your country.

[fooman]

Yea... I told you I was under 30. I realize I'm young and have ample opportunity to even change fields at this time... as I said my first instinct was to moan, like anyone else would since the sure-shot paycheck will be cut off in a year.

If only I could make the studio thing work in this city =\

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by fooman

Yea... I told you I was under 30. I realize I'm young and have ample opportunity to even change fields at this time... as I said my first instinct was to moan, like anyone else would since the sure-shot paycheck will be cut off in a year.

If only I could make the studio thing work in this city =\

Forget about the studio thing in any city.
It's a dead end street. Seriously.
Focus on the job that pays the bucks, and do music on the side.

[Hane]

A years notice! I have to agree with Henchman and zboy on this. I got 10 weeks notice on my previous job because I worked for ten years with the company. For me to get a years notice, I’d probably have to work 52 years with them . I don’t know how long you’ve worked for the company you’re at, but you have to appreciate; very few people have the opportunity you’re given.

[zboy2854]

Originally Posted by fooman

as I said my first instinct was to moan, like anyone else would since the sure-shot paycheck will be cut off in a year.

Not really. Maybe it's a generational thing, but most people in my generation and older probably wouldn't moan too much about being in a situation such as yours. I know certainly my parents' generation were a hell of a lot tougher and more resilient than even we were when it came to rolling with the changes without complaining. I guess it's part of the culture of entitlement that has become prevalent today, where a lot of young people think they're entitled to this or that job, or that somehow by being given a year's notice they're being shafted...

[joelpatterson]

What else on earth has such a long, drawn out time frame? Even having a child, you only get nine month's notice!

[GILFOIL]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

What else on earth has such a long, drawn out time frame? Even having a child, you only get nine month's notice!

word.

[soundrick]

Originally Posted by fooman

So the company has been fighting to stay alive, but they have to close one of two plants next year. So 50% of salary employees are being terminated... and I happen to be one of them. So depressing.

I'm under 30, and have quite a bit of experience on my resume relative to my peers... but I HATE the fact I have to work at this place for another year knowing that it's going to go under entirely eventually and that I have no future here. I have zero motivation to do any work.

Rant over. Sorry to waste ur time.

That sucks man, I hate to hear about people losing their jobs. At least you have some time to plan things out though.
I work at a little show under the umbrella of a HUGE corporation that just "laid off" (read- Positions eliminated) a whole bunch of salaried employees. One of them was my immediate corporate supervisor. She had been with the company for 10 years, and when she came in to work Monday morning, security came to her office, took keys, phone, and computer and said "OK, good luck, take care"

Not to trivialize your situation, just to say it could be worse!
Good luck man....

[slaves666]

Do yourself a favour and use the year to find a new job....You'll kick yourself in 12 months if you don't. It's not like you can't leave in 3 months if you find something better. Toronto has more opportunities in music, maybe move there.....

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by slaves666

Do yourself a favour and use the year to find a new job....You'll kick yourself in 12 months if you don't. It's not like you can't leave in 3 months if you find something better. Toronto has more opportunities in music, maybe move there.....

Anywhere is going to have more opportunities than windsor.
But my guess is, that fooman's aming the kind of money at his job, he'll not make for at least 10 years in music.
Question is, is he willing to move AND make way less money.
Personnally, I woldn't stake my future o music engienering these days. Not the way the industry has been going down the tubes.
I can't see the point in spending dough, building a studio, and have all the overhead, so you can make $40,- an hour.

[fooman]

Originally Posted by Henchman

Anywhere is going to have more opportunities than windsor.
But my guess is, that fooman's aming the kind of money at his job, he'll not make for at least 10 years in music.
Question is, is he willing to move AND make way less money.
Personnally, I woldn't stake my future o music engienering these days. Not the way the industry has been going down the tubes.
I can't see the point in spending dough, building a studio, and have all the overhead, so you can make $40,- an hour.

Indeed. Kinda hit the nail on the head.

Here's the nutshell story of my city. We have one hi-end studio run by two ego-driven individuals (so I'm told by clients who didn't go there... I've never met the fellows). They do great work but charge the 'normal' rate of $60 hr like any studio in a bigger city worth it's salt. We have a few mid-level places, I put my own studio in this category... run by people who have day jobs, have decent gear and make their clients happy. And of course, we have the other 100 places in town that own one or two pieces of gear and make horrible recordings that put their clients in debt and frustrated because they spent an arm and a leg to get stuff that will not sell.

No band in Windsor can afford the hi-end place without help from parents, bank loans, etc. With the workforce getting thinned out, I don't see how anyone can justify spending 10k on a project that will probably get no airplay other than local radio on Sunday night (if they are a good band!). That's the state we are in here. Band's expect to pay for studio time for the most part, but can't afford to pay what it would cost in a larger city with a better music scene.

I charge very little. I do this for a hobby basically simply because I love it. I'm not trying to really do this for a living. I charge some cash to account for the gear and the time I take off work to finish the projects that need to be done quick. I'm not under-cutting anyone, I'm very much upfront about what I'm about. If a band doesn't want to record with a part-time studio then I'm not the guy!

I obviously am aiming for the same pay I make now, but I'm so very fortunate to make the salary I do now at 25 years old with no other experience since I'm right out of school. That's kind why I'm in the moan zone!! If I could see doing this for a living and paying my bills, I'd take the paycut... but it's not possible here without a day job.

I would like to thank everyone for putting to me straight tho. I have realized, mostly because of this board, that I have a friggin year to get a job while working. I have it good. Thanks man.