Unemployment in an uncertain economy

[aidan80 9]

I'm sure this is an issue many of us have already seen in the news and heard about at work.. etc My employer stated just a few months ago that there would be no layoffs, none at all we'll do all we can to avoid it.. all of a sudden 60 people and positions are gone and they've not officially told us a thing about it? In fact some of those that got the chop found out about it as they arrived for work. It was all kept very quite.. so it wouldn't get out? I feel a sense of uneasiness now as rightly so people are thinking.. what if I'm next and they won't even tell me about it before hand? There's no time to prepare to look for something else to really do anything is there?

Can an employer actually tell you when you arrive into work on a Tuesday or a Wednesday.. etc to pack up your stuff and get out, your position is gone? I mean don't they have to give you some notice or something? I'm sure my employer isn't just dumping people out on the street but giving them some kind of compensation when they do that. At the very least a few weeks pay to give them time to look for something? Maybe not maybe they are saying to some thanks for 5 or 10 or 15 years but get out?

I just find it wrong for any employer to act in this way? Some of those they let go had been there many, many years. They seem to have started in the middle.. at those supervisors that don't really supervise anything or those whose duties could be easily given to other people. Luckily I'm not a supervisor or someone whose duties at this point in time could be taken over by anyone else. I should be safe for now I hope..

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

All employment contracts have that "at will" clause - basically means you can be terminated at any time and for any reason (perhaps no surprise there are so many lawsuits).

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

yes they can

[Chica Yeyé 41]

yup, they can and they do

[mawilson 2,133]

All employment contracts have that "at will" clause - basically means you can be terminated at any time and for any reason (perhaps no surprise there are so many lawsuits).

Not all employment contracts.

At-will Employment

[aidan80 9]

I'd seen and heard about the "at will" before.. my contact has it as I'm sure everyone else who works for my employer as well. I don't get it, I think that they are going to shed quite a few jobs in order to keep the place from going bust but they are also going to end up with a lot of good workers not coming back when the economy picks up again. It'll pickup and they'll have lost a lot of good people for good in the process for not being decent about layoffs.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

It indeed svcks brother aidan; but I am sure they will have no shortage of applicants when the economy picks up and they open those positions again. I personally find the whole lay-off thing to be quite perverse, so don't think I don't agree with you.

[Otto 83]

They don't have to let anyone know - nor are you (the employee) required to let them know (At-Will works both ways).

It is just an unfortunate fact in business (and it isn't a recent development either) - if the cat gets out of the bag (so to speak), people tend to react - this 'reaction' (often unpredictable) is what they want to avoid. Sometimes it is an 'investor' thing but it happens in private companies as well.

[aidan80 9]

It indeed svcks brother aidan; but I am sure they will have no shortage of applicants when the economy picks up and they open those positions again. I personally find the whole lay-off thing to be quite perverse, so don't think I don't agree with you.

I'm sure your right when it picks up people will be back, it's just kind of $hitty that they lay people off with no notice at all. I remember they laid one person off (back when the economy was good) and even gave them a few weeks pay that they were not entitled to? I thought that was nice but maybe too much at the time. One extreme to the next I suppose, feels like workers have little rights here unless they can mobilize into a union. I'm sure doing that for my employee is one way to end up terminated!

[chri'stina 190]

The last time I read employment things(been awhile), it states Florida is an at will state. You can leave or be fired at any time without notice.

[aidan80 9]

They don't have to let anyone know - nor are you (the employee) required to let them know (At-Will works both ways).

It is just an unfortunate fact in business (and it isn't a recent development either) - if the cat gets out of the bag (so to speak), people tend to react - this 'reaction' (often unpredictable) is what they want to avoid. Sometimes it is an 'investor' thing but it happens in private companies as well.

Interesting, I wonder what will happen now that the cat is out! If some knew this before it happend I wonder how many might have been able to simply retire early? I know I'm looking to do something on the side just in case and to save a bit of cash, ye never know! I'd hate to have to go out and find something at the minute. It's be at the very least a 50+% cut in wedges that would not be good at all!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

no, loss of wedges is terrible

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Workers have basically few or no rights in the US unless you manage to get a contract that gives you some.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Workers have basically few or no rights in the US unless you manage to get a contract that gives you some.

workers get wedges tho

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Two years ago, I was part of a large layoff. It was in the morning and I went across to the adjacent building. When I returned, my card key wouldn't open the door and when I knocked, nobody answered the door until about a minute later. It was our IT guy and he said I was suppose to be in a meeting. What a crazy day that was....