I Got Laid Off Today

[Kathy in Cambridge]

I was completely blindsided. There was no indication from management that the small technology company that I work for was hurting. We went to HQ for our bi-annual meeting a few weeks ago and they painted a rosy picture.

I am in sales and my territory is very busy. Why would you lay off a sales rep that blew away their quota this year and was on target to eceed quota for the rest of the year (except if you didn't want to pay them commission?)...

I was laid off last year in June, finally got THIS job in January. I would think that companies just don't like salespeople that always make their quota, but I KNOW it's the F'IN' ECONOMY!!!

Sorry for the rant, I'm a bit freaked out.

RR

[SoCalDem]

1. So sorry.. :-(

Who knows why they do anything these days.. Maybe they are looking to "merge" and wanted to look leaner & meaner..

A friend of mine got 86'ed when her boss decided to sell his company to a Texas company that just wanted their patents, so the company got shut down and my friend lost her job that she had had for 17 years.. Of course, as a small company she had no retirement benefits, and they all got a two week severance and adios.. She was devastated.. To be 53 in this job market is not a pleasant thought..

They had just bought a new car too:(

[chesley]

3. Bummer

'nuff said. Good luck

[Sirius_on]

18. I got laid off 1 week after getting a new vehicle.

nt

[Kathy in Cambridge]

19. Never fails...

I was just recouping my losses from being laid off last year. I'm glad I didn't make any purchases recently...

[blondeatlast]

2. So sorry, RR.

((((RationalRose))))

No need to apologize--if you aren't entitled to rant I don't know who is.

:loveya:

[Pallas180]

4. Sorry to hear this RR. My husband was in sales and was really good, BUT

owners get greedy, when they see some salesperson making a lot of money
and you have set up a territory, they'll get rid of that person and put in someone
new who they can pay less or less commission and still reap bigger profits at
lower cost.

Dont feel bad. consider going into your own business, or pick yourself up and start
over ---- after you collect unemployment!

Did they lay anybody else off?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

9. Yes, Pallas180, they are laying off some people at HQ

but I'm the only salesperson thus far.

Twice in a little over a year is a real shock...I didn't think I'd be in this position again.

[DagmarK]

5. I am sooooo sorry to hear about this......

I should think that these days there are lots of non-profits and books who provide information on how to keep your spirits up so you can go on your next job search quest. Cause I can't imagine the defeat of having been laid off twice in less than a year.

As far as laying you off.....do you think that maybe they did it by the least seniority with the company? Maybe?

Whatever it is......you can't take it personally....you just can't.

Bless your heart!

[Rick Myers]

6. Sorry to hear that...

You could blame Duyba, but, NOTHING is his fault. Apparently God told him to destroy the US economy.

I know how you feel. My business disintegrated at the end of Feb, and we're 7 days from homeless...

[Cheswick2.0]

27. Rick, I am sorry to hear that

Do you have any options left? I hope everything turns out okay.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

28. Rick, I'm so sorry

Do you have any alternatives? Friends/family you can stay with?

[Bushfire]

7. Hang in there

You sound like you have a great resume to present to future employers, and your last company doesn't sound like they appreciated your talents. Great sales people will always be in demand. Be open to relocation, and you will find something even quicker. Speaking from real life experience, and wishing the best for you.

[Rowdyboy]

8. A total bitch...

It happened to me once, after 23 years with a state agency. I can still feel the nausea. I know where you are mentally right now and wish you the best...

[jonnyblitz]

10. holy crap RationalRose!!

I hope everything works out!

[CO Liberal]

11. The Same Thing Happenned to Me in 1997

They had a big meeting to announce that QualMed (the HMO I worked for) was bringing 1,200 new jobs to Pueblo, CO. A few week later, they announced that my department was being moved to Phoenix, AZ - but none of us were being transferred.

I've been driving to Colorado Springs daily ever since.

[DEM FAN]

12. Welcome To The Bush Ecomony.

Good Luck Finding Work In The Future. :-(

[ulysses]

13. sorry to hear it

We went to HQ for our bi-annual meeting a few weeks ago and they painted a rosy picture.

Get used to that. Make close friends in management if you can - they'll often tell you things that official company statements will readily lie about.

[UrbScotty]

14. My dad also got laid off despite his successes.

Oh well.

Here's to a good job search!

[lcordero]

15. Did you sign a non-compete agreement?

If you didn't then look for employment with the company's competitor and work on taking your customer base with you:evilgrin:

[asjr]

16. laid off

I am really sorry to hear this. It is an every day occurence now and no one gets used to it. With so many firms locating overseas there will be no jobs in the US.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

17. Thanks everyone!

I'm kinda freaking out, thanks for your support!

[jonnyblitz]

25. as you should be.

Especially if there was no indication it was coming!!

[wildmanj]

20. Layoff

CONSERVATIVE PARASITES LOVE CHEAP LABOR:kick: em out

[DavidDvorkin]

21. Happened to me today, too.

I came in the lounge to post about it and saw RationalRose's thread. No point in duplicating!

My sympathies to you, RR. I hope you find something soon.

Aren't we lucky that that evil Clinton isn't in the White House any more? Now the adults are in charge and we have honor and dignity. No jobs, but you can't have everything.

I'd been with my company for four years + 1 week. Best place I've ever worked. I was really looking forward to the company picnic next month. Today, we all told each other we'd keep in touch. Right.

I wonder if the White House needs a computer programmer?


http://www.dvorkin.com

[Kathy in Cambridge]

23. I'm Sorry to Hear That DavidD

After 4 Years? What kind of business are you in?

[DavidDvorkin]

26. Small software company

You can check them out at http://www.infonow.com. They provide high-end locators, leads systems, other stuff. All through a Web interface, which is a pretty nifty way to do things.

I'm a Web developer, Java/JSP programmer -- Oops, I was those things, that is.

Right now, I'm worried because my experience isn't very deep, but Denver is filled with unemployed people with much deeper experience in all of the above. Also, I'll be 60 in October, so I'm concerned about age discrimination.

On the bright side, our one child is grown up and self-supporting, and our house is paid off. Things could be much worse.

[Habibi]

32. Keep the faith, DavidD!

I firmly believe we will be all right eventually!

[Rabrrrrrr]

22. All I can say is, Thank God for trickle down economics!

Or just think - you might have laid off a month ago.

:phhhhhbbbbbbbttttttttttttttttttt: to that criminal @*#$*^ Shrub and his evil cabal.

So sorry to hear you were laid off. I was laid off last Fall - though for me, it was a blessing, as I needed a nice long vacation, and had the money for it. Enjoyed the hell out of it, too. But for those who can't handle it - and that's just about everyone - t's a total sucker of a BS problem, and I empathize.

I wonder if you could start your own business, selling whatever it is you were selling before, and sell 'em to those same customers you established...

[DieboldMustDie]

24. That can't be...

*'s tax cuts are putting everyone back to work. You must be imagining this.

[Kat45]

29. I'm so sorry to hear that.

That is a shock! I hope you're at least getting some severance pay.

Since you have such a good record in sales, I would think you'll be able to find another sales job in the near future. Although with the bush economy, none of us can count on anything. At least I've known for a while that my job ends by Sept 1; getting laid off out of the blue must really be blowing you away.

Feel free to get in touch if you need to rant some more. (hugs)

[GOPisEvil]

30. That sucks! I'm sorry to hear that!

I hope you and all of our unemployed get something soon.

I'm a state employee in Texas, and things aren't rosy here, but at least I can prepare some.

[Habibi]

31. Rational Rose:

I'm sorry. I've been there--am still there. I was a contract worker for Kodak who loved my job and was appreciated by my customer base--but I had to go due to corporate policies about contractors.

If you qualify for unemployment, good! Use the time to figure out what you *really* want to do. The employment picture sucks as far as high-paying jobs go these days. Unemployment gets you used to a "livable" income, which might make it easier for you to move into a field that doesn't pay as much but is more emotionally/spiritually fulfilling. I'm looking at getting into education. I need something apart from the damn corporate rat race.

Just my 2 cents. Could be a door opening, you know? Good luck!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

33. High-paying jobs are scarce

I was thinking of using my gift of gab (or 'big mouth') for something more rewarding anyway.

It's funny you mention Kodak-I was just there last week doing a presentation. They have been hard hit by layoffs.

[DavidDvorkin]

34. Politics?

Working on a campaign, maybe? Paid position, I mean.

Is that feasible? It might be too early, though. Campaigns wouldn't be hiring yet, I assume.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

35. Did you have an employment contract?

This is not uncommon with successful sales people. They get a territory going and then get replaced by someone who does not have the earning capacity nor benefits. If they replace your position rather than condense from within you may have recourse. YOu might wish to discuss this with an attorney who specializes in wrongful termination. Depending on how long you worked there you might be able to get further compensation depending on your production requirements and agreements.

Either way, I am very sorry for your bad news. You are, however, an incredibly intelligent woman. I know you will be an assett to whomever hires you next.

[Gingersnap]

36. so sorry, my mom got laid off this month too

She worked for a charter school and just found out she is laid off. She is looking in to working at WalMart (not many other options where she lives in rural Michigan).

I hope you live in an urban area where you can at least temp or something until you find another position.

Good luck!

[Elidor]

37. My sincere condolences to everyone getting laid off

This is a very scary economy, and I shudder to think where I'd be without my job. One thing I have always envied about salespeople, Rose - in fact the ONLY thing I've ever envied about them - is that the good ones have perhaps THE most marketable skill on earth. I don't have the personality for it, but I've known some good ones, and they always seemed immune to the vagaries of the workplace, able to land on their feet somewhere else in short order where I have gone 9 months without work. Good luck and good thoughts for each of you out there.

[stanwyck]

38. I know this sounds absurd

but after the initial shock wears away...because it is so amazingly unfair...I hope you're able to enjoy this time. When you consider that most of us start working in our teens and continue for 40-50 years, this short amount of time will ultimately be inconsequential. So. Take some time. Go to museums during the day. Go to the park. Read all those books that you've been piling up on your shelves. Take photographs or paint. Realize there's more to life than the routine you've had for the past year. I've been where you are. I wish you happiness and peace.

[lanlady]

39. very sorry to hear that, RR

I hope you are able to find another job quickly. Sounds like you have a lot of strong selling points yourself.

[Ein]

40. Sorry

I wish the best to all of you unfortunate persons that posted about job losses. I hope everything works out. I hope some of my taxes helps you out (though I'm not sure of how social programs are doing), rather that than guns for oil. Keep us updated.

Neo-conservatives and corporate lobbyists are dicks.

[inthecorneroverhere]

41. my sympathies

Am afraid it's 'going around.' I've seen several snazz' pickups and SUV's as well as a couple of just ordinary p/u's for sale out on corners round here.

I sympathize with you.

[newyawker99]

42. I am sorry to hear this Rational Rose!

I hope you find another job soon!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~postive vibes for RR~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~