Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Layoffs humble upscale subdivision

[marmar]

Layoffs humble upscale subdivision
Recession hits workers that have historically been less vulnerable

By MICHAEL E. KANELL

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, March 08, 2009


Recession’s tide is lapping at the lawns in Kings Cove.

With about 260 upscale houses surrounding a community lake, tennis courts, swimming pool and barbecue pit, the east Cobb neighborhood is not a place you ordinarily expect to find economic distress.

But people who were vice presidents and professionals of various stripes now find themselves — in record numbers — like their blue-collar brethren: laid off, pumping out resumes and phoning up old acquaintances.

The shifting current has reshaped life at home. A few months ago, these one-time breadwinners were gone from the neighborhood at dawn. Now they juggle their job search with household duties, making breakfast, shopping, getting the kids off to school.

Perched at his desk in his first-floor home office, Derek Raymer scrutinizes the Internet in search of openings, then painstakingly puts together resumes and letters. “It can pretty quickly rack up eight or nine hours,” he said.

Raymer, 44, an information technology longtimer, was let go Jan. 30, three weeks after his boss had shifted him to another division. “I was told we were busy, and they needed me,” he said. “Then they downsized 20 percent of the company.” ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2009/03/08/King_Cove_cobb_recession.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

[napi21]

1. It's hitting everybody! These guys are actually the middle of the ladder.

The ones hit with a BIG CLAM are the wheeler-dealers of Wall Street, who were used to the millions in bonuses and everything top shelf! Suddenly they are unemployed and their billion $$ portfolios have dropped 50% to 80%. YES they deserve the fruits they've sewn, but you want to talk about a day of roconning! Welcome to the real world folks!!!!