My entire work got laid off.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

So, today two of the three managers hid in their offices while the other went around laying off people who work in the kitchen.

And it wasn't, "Oh you have two weeks". It was, "Today is your last day."

8 people in total were laid off. Only me and one of the dishwashers were spared. 2 chefs, 1 dishwasher, and 5 line cooks/chef assistants.. including my assistant.

Every time I was asked by a manager about something, I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin.. wondering if I was gonna get axed. They acted like nothing was out of the ordinary until the end of the day when they said "We had to make some cuts so you won't be able to have an assistant anymore."

They also fired nearly 3/4ths of the wait staff.

I hate my kitchen managers, they want to cut my wages, and I hate my job in general.

I guess I need to apply at Starbucks because I think I'd be happier there, heh.

[thefarmer]

I've done both.

And both suck.

[nub]

I guess I need to apply at Starbucks because I think I'd be happier there, heh.

Starbucks is closing a lot of stores too.

But that sucks, seem to be happening a lot, have a friend also got a lot more responsibilities with the same pay recently...

As in firing people who do one job, and giving it to someone else, but keeping that pay the same.

So sure they save some salary, but the quality of product will come out slower and worse, oh and don't forget morale of the employees.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Starbucks is closing a lot of stores too.


I'm veiling my sarcasm: i.e. I should apply a shit job because it'd be less stessful.

[thefarmer]

So sure they save some salary, but the quality of product will come out slower and worse, oh and don't forget morale of the employees.

Nobody cares about quality or employee morale.

[Jayvn]

Yeah you should probably print out a stack of resumes and get to applying.. and yes our starbucks in the mall shuts down this Friday.... but there's at least 2 within a few blocks of the mall anyway.
Small box retail is the way to go... even in a financialy slumping economy people still need to go spend their welfare.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Nobody cares about quality or employee morale.

Pretty much.

The few times I've gotten into all out fights with management they've lorded payroll over me.. i.e. "there ARE no better jobs".

I've been doing what I can way before this, but still.. just have to vent about the current situation. I'm confident I'll get picked up but it sucks to see coworkers I like and respect be treated like dog shit.

[thefarmer]

Keep in touch with the good ones, find out where they got jobs (if they can) and go there.

[The Ponzzz]

A lot of companies are actually using this time to cut costs even if they don't need to by laying off employees. Buddy of mine just picked up a job as an economic advisor (pretty sure this was the title) that actually goes around showing companies how they can survive with cutting costs. Most times he really shows what dropping a few employees can do. Sucks.

[Drew]

I'd just be thankful I still had a job...

[Back]

So, today two of the three managers hid in their offices while the other went around laying off people who work in the kitchen.

Wow. Corporate place? Sounds fishy to me.

We keep our labor costs low by letting people go home early on slow days, not by just firing people out right. That way we have a good pool of employees for busy nights. We have always worked this way. If I am on the floor, and its slow, I let the bussers and runners go first, then the hostess, then servers. And most of they time they are more than willing.

Tonight I let my hostess and bartender go home early because I can cover both positions easily on a slow night like we had tonight.

Layoffs sound above management level. They should make their managers cover other positions when its that slow. And three managers? How big is the place? How many covers?

[mrjrd222]

I was wondering the same thing, why do they need three managers? Maybe the managers should manage themselves, and trim the fat down to 1 or 2.

[Skeeter]

I'd just be thankful I still had a job...

I agree. I bet there are at least 8 people who would kill to have the job narc is complaining about.

[The Ponzzz]

Tough times. Unemployment in the city just east of me is 21%.

[Skeeter]

I don't think we've seen anywhere close to the worst of it yet. :(

[The Ponzzz]

My guess is this fall is going to be when we start seeing it hard. People who haven't felt the effects of it will start seeing shit come close to home.

[Skeeter]

If the big 3 fail we could be looking at the next great depression. I call dibs on writing the next grapes of wrath.

[nub]

If the big 3 fail we could be looking at the next great depression. I call dibs on writing the next grapes of wrath.

who are the big 3

[Back]

If the big 3 fail we could be looking at the next great depression. I call dibs on writing the next grapes of wrath.

Who would you consider the big three out of the thirty who make up the DJIA?


Dow 30 Components

3m Co 41.83 -0.68 -1.60% 3/6
Alcoa Inc 5.22 -0.04 -0.76% 3/6
American Express Company 10.26 -0.07 -0.68% 3/6
AT&T Inc. 22.58 +0.02 +0.09% 3/6
Bank of America Corporation 3.14 -0.03 -0.95% 3/6
Boeing Co. 30.10 +0.71 +2.42% 3/6
Caterpillar Inc. 23.23 -0.26 -1.11% 3/6
Chevron Corp 58.27 +1.81 +3.21% 3/6
Citigroup, Inc. 1.03 +0.01 +0.98% 3/6
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 16.87 -0.10 -0.59% 3/6
Exxon Mobil Corp 64.03 +1.81 +2.91% 3/6
General Electric Company 7.06 +0.40 +6.01% 3/6
General Motors Corporation 1.45 -0.41 -22.04% 3/6
Hewlett-Packard Co. 26.98 -0.10 -0.37% 3/6
Intel Corporation 12.41 +0.10 +0.81% 3/6
International Business Machines 85.81 -1.67 -1.91% 3/6
Johnson & Johnson 47.97 +0.30 +0.63% 3/6
JP Morgan & Chase & Co 15.93 -0.67 -4.04% 3/6
Kraft Foods Inc. 21.62 +0.62 +2.95% 3/6
McDonald's Corporation 52.12 +1.26 +2.48% 3/6
Merck & Co., Inc. 22.74 +0.60 +2.71% 3/6
Microsoft Corporation 15.28 +0.01 +0.07% 3/6
Pfizer Inc 12.73 +0.06 +0.47% 3/6
The Coca-Cola Company 39.10 +1.25 +3.30% 3/6
The Home Depot, Inc. 18.00 -0.15 -0.83% 3/6
The Procter & Gamble Company 45.71 +0.31 +0.68% 3/6
United Technologies Corporation 38.54 +0.62 +1.64% 3/6
Verizon Communications 27.28 -0.63 -2.26% 3/6
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 48.91 -0.84 -1.69% 3/6
Walt Disney Company (The) (Holding Company) 15.83 -0.16 -1.00% 3/6

[Skeeter]

I was referring to the big 3 automakers. I guess I should've been more specific. I read a very arbitrary statistic where 1:10 jobs is directly affected by the auto industry. While I don't know how accurate that is, I know that the entire rust-belt would be absolutely crippled. Detroit would probably cease to exist and become a wasteland like Fallout 3.

[The Ponzzz]

I read the same thing. There was some flow chart out there that showed what would happen with the closing down of the automakers one by one and how many people would be out a job from a domino effect. Pretty scary stuff. Was very close to how they showed the flow chart on how oil effects EVERYthing.

[Danical]

I've loaned out 11,800 USD in the last couple of months to family and friends. I don't expect to see it back but I'm trying to keep those close to me afloat because it sure as shit isn't going to get easier for them in the coming months.

[Tisket]

Detroit would probably cease to exist and become a wasteland like Fallout 3.

I might visit it then.

[thefarmer]

Wow. Corporate place? Sounds fishy to me.

We keep our labor costs low by letting people go home early on slow days, not by just firing people out right. That way we have a good pool of employees for busy nights. We have always worked this way. If I am on the floor, and its slow, I let the bussers and runners go first, then the hostess, then servers. And most of they time they are more than willing.

Tonight I let my hostess and bartender go home early because I can cover both positions easily on a slow night like we had tonight.

Layoffs sound above management level. They should make their managers cover other positions when its that slow. And three managers? How big is the place? How many covers?

What seems fishy?

The place needs to cut costs to keep a large enough profit margin to make it worth staying in business. That decision can be made at management level.

As for the rest, the place doesn't need to be big to have three managers -a Starbucks can have 3 managers for a small staff.

[Victor Mancini]

At least you didn't have to move all the computers out to a rental van on a Friday, then find out you're fired.

Aren't you supposed to fire people on a Friday so they don't go postal on the place later in the week?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n95Aynxd7Qs/RoqYfbB5YHI/AAAAAAAAAAs/Rt4oE8WZZkE/s320/a3409517_33232778_3325.jpg

I'm sorry that happened, btw. I'm glad you still have a job!

[Back]

What seems fishy?

The place needs to cut costs to keep a large enough profit margin to make it worth staying in business. That decision can be made at management level.

As for the rest, the place doesn't need to be big to have three managers -a Starbucks can have 3 managers for a small staff.

Well, thats why they are going under. They are paying salary for fuck-ups who don’t know how to manage. Just saying.

[ViridianAsp]

That's really tough. I've been fairly lucky, the company I work for has cut my hours I'm still considered full time which is great...it means I keep my benefits through the tough times.

I am friendly with the girls upstairs who manage the banquets and the club, they said we have enough in our budget to cover losses for a year, so I don't have to stress out just yet.

I called HR and told them about my situation, they said they were going to see if they could find me some temp work at another location till things pick up. I have honestly never worked for a company who ever gave a damn about me, it's really great that this one does.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

That's really tough. I've been fairly lucky, the company I work for has cut my hours I'm still considered full time which is great...it means I keep my benefits through the tough times.

I am friendly with the girls upstairs who manage the banquets and the club, they said we have enough in our budget to cover losses for a year, so I don't have to stress out just yet.

I called HR and told them about my situation, they said they were going to see if they could find me some temp work at another location till things pick up. I have honestly never worked for a company who ever gave a damn about me, it's really great that this one does.

Yeah, this company doesn't really give a crap. I have decent job security because I get panicked calls on my days off asking me how to do stuff, but that's about the extent.

The main manager feels that because of the economy is crap right now, it's free license to abuse everyone. I get verbally harassed (as has everyone else) to try and turn out more work pretty much on a daily basis-- i.e. he tells me I'm lazy and going to be fired, etc. Of course, he has no idea how to do pretty much anything in a kitchen and according to him everything takes "just two minutes". He says a lot of horrible things behind everyone's back and just has an overall asshole-style of management. Then when it's push come to shove between us and I tell him to shut the fuck up or find a new pastry chef, he shuts the fuck up.. go figure.

The three managers at my current place don't really understand kitchens or how to work in them. They walk around messing up people's mise en place and just throwing off everyone's production. Like, the other day one of them decided it'd be a great idea to use compressed air to blow dust off of some of our mechanical stuff.... during the lunch rush. So instead of trying to feed everyone, we were trying to cover all of the open, un-finished food so it didn't get dust in it while the fucktards did spring cleaning. They couldn't even wait 1 hour later when it'd die off.. and then directly after blowing a ton of dust into the air, they proceeded to lecture us for not getting ALL of the food out on time, because we were concerned with the sanitary issues of having open plates of food and dust blowing around.

[thefarmer]

Well, thats why they are going under. They are paying salary for fuck-ups who don’t know how to manage. Just saying.

Not even going to bother.

[ViridianAsp]

It's shitty that the managers you work with don't respect you guys. I have never had that problem in our kitchen. We have the main staff for the clubs lunch and breakfast and my crew is the banquet staff.

It is awesome how we work together, I've never seen it anywhere else. I'll be doing whatever for my crew and a line cook will occasionally come to me and ask if I'll prep something for them. I've got no problem helping them out and they do the same for me. Like this during Christmas rush, I had to make Au Gratin potatoes for 400 people on top of like a few other hundred things we needed done, the day staff totally helped and pitched in. We do the same for them, sometimes if they are short people, we'll pick up and help them with orders if they get busy.

I don't mean to brag, I'm just blown away at how the people in our kitchen totally get along with eachother. Like I said, I've never seen it anywhere else.

Our managers pretty much stay out of our way and let us get shit done.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

It's shitty that the managers you work with don't respect you guys. I have never had that problem in our kitchen. We have the main staff for the clubs lunch and breakfast and my crew is the banquet staff.

It is awesome how we work together, I've never seen it anywhere else. I'll be doing whatever for my crew and a line cook will occasionally come to me and ask if I'll prep something for them. I've got no problem helping them out and they do the same for me. Like this during Christmas rush, I had to make Au Gratin potatoes for 400 people on top of like a few other hundred things we needed done, the day staff totally helped and pitched in. We do the same for them, sometimes if they are short people, we'll pick up and help them with orders if they get busy.

I don't mean to brag, I'm just blown away at how the people in our kitchen totally get along with eachother. Like I said, I've never seen it anywhere else.

Our managers pretty much stay out of our way and let us get shit done.

Most of us work together really well, is the thing. We jump in and help each other, we all got along really well.

The managers actively try to sabotage our working relationships, and instill distrust. Like, I got pneumonia and had to be out for a few days.. instead of the managers being up front to the rest of the crew, they made it seem like I took a last minute vacation and fucked them over. When I got back, it was a shock to everyone that I was actually really ill and not on some vacation to Florida or whatever.

In general the managers are incredibly unprofessional. They get jealous and paranoid very easily. They just seem to think that true respect should be given to them and not earned, like it was earned for everyone else.. yeah, we do what they tell us, but they don't understand that people are less inclined to bend over backwards when the only thanks or gratification they get is being screamed at for pointless shit.

[ViridianAsp]

In general the managers are incredibly unprofessional. They get jealous and paranoid very easily. They just seem to think that true respect should be given to them and not earned, like it was earned for everyone else.. yeah, we do what they tell us, but they don't understand that people are less inclined to bend over backwards when the only thanks or gratification they get is being screamed at for pointless shit.



I think this is what I love most about the company I work for, is if I have a problem, I can go to corporate or report to a manager for someone doing just this. There is one coordinator I work with who is a real dick and stupid to boot (who thinks soybeans are nuts.. and some other fantastic things), when I pointed out that if an event is running earlier he needs to tell me so I can plate up salads for him so things are on time. After he yelled at me for not having them earlier, which I can't do unless I'm told.

After I pointed this out to him, he told me to "Shut up and do your job.", I did it, turned around, went upstairs and left a note with the Manager of the club about how I had been treated.

The next day I got an apology from the manager and said coordinator who was reprimanded for it.

Aside from him, everyone is really respectful and really nice. I've never had any problems with anyone else. They have really strict policies about respect in the workplace.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I think this is what I love most about the company I work for, is if I have a problem, I can go to corporate or report a manager for someone doing just this. There is one coordinator I work with who is a real dick and stupid to boot (who thinks soybeans are nuts.. and some other fantastic things), when I pointed out that if an event is running earlier he needs to tell me so I can plate up salads for him so things are on time. After he yelled at me for not having them earlier, which I can't do unless I'm told.

After I pointed this out to him, he told me to "Shut up and do your job.", I did it, turned around, went upstairs and left a note with the Manager of the club about how I had been treated.

The next day I got an apology from the manager and said coordinator who was reprimanded for it.

Aside from him, everyone is really respectful and really nice. I've never had any problems with anyone else.

I want to work for your company. :(

[ViridianAsp]

I want to work for your company. :(



I work for T.D.S. Foods/Guckenheimer. I don't know if they have accounts out where you are. I work on their higher level catering, they do corporate and cafeteria stuff. You'd probably not like it as much, I know they have accounts in the DC area though.


I currently work for at one of their Stanford University locations, I work at the Faculty Club.

[Wesley]

From a corporate standpoint, what your company did, Narc, seems like a quick fix for being insanely far into the red. Sounds like they needed cash and they needed it right now to stay afloat.

The proper way to do it if they had some amount of liquidity was to cut back the hours of all those uncontracted employees to the point where they would have to quit for any job that would give them more hours. Shitty way to do it of course, but..well...that's Capitalism. Sucks, doesn't it?

The reason you just cut everything back if you can afford to stay afloat while you're waiting for your people to move off is because if they quit they negate the chance to collect unemployment.

It sounds to me like they didn't have the option of waiting. They just fired a ton of people who will almost all certainly be able to collect unemployment, which will raise the company's unemployment tax absurdly high next quarter.

Jump ship before it's too late.

[Wesley]

http://www.canadacool.com/COOLFACTS/ALBERTA/ALBERTAPHOTOS/DinosaurDig.jpg

In before "Where's the Dinosaur?!" comments!!!

[The Ponzzz]

Yeah, seems like a heavy hit for such a low staff count as is. You figure the 8 that got laid off had a salary of about 20k-25k on average (Dishwasher at $7/h, line cooks at $10/h and not too sure what a chef makes, so going to say $16/h). So the company suddenly needs to recoup about $16k a month? Yeah, I'd say they are on the edge of going belly up, unless of course, they are just using it as an excuse. If they can get 2 employees doing the same as 10, why not?

[Wesley]

Yeah, seems like a heavy hit for such a low staff count as is. You figure the 8 that got laid off had a salary of about 20k-25k on average (Dishwasher at $7/h, line cooks at $10/h and not too sure what a chef makes, so going to say $16/h). So the company suddenly needs to recoup about $16k a month? Yeah, I'd say they are on the edge of going belly up, unless of course, they are just using it as an excuse. If they can get 2 employees doing the same as 10, why not?

Agreed. However, I really doubt they'd be using it as an excuse as you said. Laying off 8 employees so suddenly who can all presumably collect unemployment will be a huge hit. Not quite as bad as if they were simply paying them all, but it won't just raise their unemployment tax for the next quarter, but for years to come. It's like getting car insurance, then totalling 8 cars in the first month. That bitch stays up after that for a while. Companies with the money will slowly weed out their unwanted employees by cutting back their hours, and generally making it a miserable environment for them to work.

Edit:

Look at Circuit City, for example. They didn't actually lay people off in force until they went under, but I can guarantee you they weeded out half their employees or more in the year or two preceding it. Give an hourly worker in an at will state 11 hours a week spread out between morning, day, and night shifts, and they're gonna have to leave. You've cut off their ability to get a second job by giving them erratic hours, and they can't afford to live on what you pay them. I used to work for a corporation (I won't name which), in middle management that had me do exactly that a few years back.

[The Ponzzz]

With unemployment, you figure about what, 50% of people actually claim it? And you can't collect unless you've been with a company for a year, normally. On top of the fact that if you've collected it within the past 3 years, you're usually not eligible. Now I guess this can change from state to state, my experience with it is in NY.

So, lets just say for shits and giggles that only 4 of the 8 collect, that's not going to hurt their unemployment insurance too much, and if anything, be almost right on target on their quarterly dues anyways.

But you're right, most companies will just make the job a living hell for their employees until they leave. Like I said, if you can get all the duties done by 20% of the staff, they're going to push for it.

It sucks for people like Nikki because now she has to work 400% harder and longer for the same wages and just get run into the ground and stressed the eff out. God I hate this economy. This thread is making me unable to sleep.

[Wesley]

God I hate this economic system.

Fixed.

Even when the economy gets better, the underlying practices stay the same, unfortunately. We just need to come up with something better at some point, hopefully before fiat currency goes the way of the Wooly Mammoth, and the dino...er...the dodo bird.

Like good old whatsisface said:

Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried.

Except about Capitalism, not Democracy.

It's late..early...That's as sensible as I can make myself right now.

Edit:

Also yeah you're about right on that 4 in 8 number as a general rule of thumb. However, that number comes from when the economy was stable, and there were jobs to be had.

I have no data or research to back this up, but I'd wager that the breakdown used to be something like this:

Of 8 people fired -

4 filed for unemployment
1 didn't know they COULD file for unemployment
3 didn't need to because they picked up jobs within a week or two.
(Assuming all of them of course met the time requirements for it that is)

With jobs becoming more and more scarce, I think more and more people are going to start turning to the government for help.

Edit again:

Oh and number 9 is Sean of the Thread, who served in the military, and paid taxes for his entire life, but refuses to turn to any sort of governmental aid when he's in need of it even though he's been paying into it for just this sort of situation.

/LOWBLOW

Yeah. You like that, don't you bitch? Yeah, that's right. ALL THE TEA. That's my style. I like to kick 'em when they're down! NIXON'S BAAAAAAACK!!! RAAAAAA!!

[Wesley]

No more edits! New post!

You are right though Mario. There are a lot of factors that would've gone into it that are sort of wild cards. The state requirements, length of employment of those 8 employees, and such. I just assumed that they were probably longer-term employees on the basis that it was a smaller company. I think Narc mentioned it was the bulk of their employees. Smaller companies in my experience tend to be more close-knit, and have a lower turnover rate.

In other news, I'm jet lagged, and I respectfully request that I not be held accountable for anything I say today. Sure-fire cure to fix jet lag in 24 hours: Stay awake all night, and force yourself to stay up until regular bedtime the next. Zombie-mode for one day, but then everything's fine and dandy! Right now is zombie mode.

[The Ponzzz]

Haha, now you made me reread all your posts! But yeah, I agree with the breakdown you put out there. I don't have much in term of research on the matter, just family who runs their own shiz in NY. If I were to be laid off, I'd be on that unemployment train to grab some phat lewt, but I doubt it would be enough to make it worth staying home and pwning n00bs all day. That's the toruble with sales work, most my money comes from commission, which I can't gain a percent on that, just my awful base salary.

[RichardCranium]

Step 1: Stripper Pole

Step 2: Web-cam

Step 3: Profit!

[The Ponzzz]

Dude, I tried that. I figured it would be some hot niche porn and I'd be rollin' on dubs. But I guess the demand for overweight, hairy, Italian men is really low.

[Back]

Dude, I tried that. I figured it would be some hot niche porn and I'd be rollin' on dubs. But I guess the demand for overweight, hairy, Italian men is really low.

rofl.

[Parkbandit]

So, today two of the three managers hid in their offices while the other went around laying off people who work in the kitchen.

And it wasn't, "Oh you have two weeks". It was, "Today is your last day."

8 people in total were laid off. Only me and one of the dishwashers were spared. 2 chefs, 1 dishwasher, and 5 line cooks/chef assistants.. including my assistant.

Every time I was asked by a manager about something, I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin.. wondering if I was gonna get axed. They acted like nothing was out of the ordinary until the end of the day when they said "We had to make some cuts so you won't be able to have an assistant anymore."

They also fired nearly 3/4ths of the wait staff.

I hate my kitchen managers, they want to cut my wages, and I hate my job in general.

I guess I need to apply at Starbucks because I think I'd be happier there, heh.

Wait.. I thought you said that you owned a bakery?

[thefarmer]

I think she does baking/catery out of her house too.

Edit:I know a lot of chef/bakers that do that.

[DeV]

Wow. Corporate place? Sounds fishy to me.

We keep our labor costs low by letting people go home early on slow days, not by just firing people out right. The other project manager and myself have been doing this for the better part of a year now. So far, everyone still has a job except for 1 paid intern and a girl who was on staff for 4 years (both quit). Luckily, they did us a favor.

Glad to know you still have a gig, Narc, but it does suck to lose more than half your staff in one day, plus they want to cut your pay, ouch. Hang in there.

[Ignot]

Step 1: Stripper Pole

Step 2: Web-cam

Step 3: Profit!

You are very wise man.

[Kyra231]

Wait.. I thought you said that you owned a bakery?

Go take your Aricept & try again.

[Parkbandit]

Go take your Aricept & try again.


I'm only going by what she posted here:


I make my living running my own company so I know quite a bit about management-- especially in the culinary industry.

Which was posted less than 7 months ago.

Maybe you should get something for that memory loss.

Like a gun.

[DeV]

I was under the impression that Narc's bakery is/was a home-based business.

[Alfster]

Well, "making your living" running your own business kinda gives the impression that it's an actual business.

[Parkbandit]

I run all of my businesses out of my home.

When someone states that is how they "make their living", it leads me believe that that is their main source of income.

[Jorddyn]

Given the rather large economic downturn over the last year, I'd say it's entirely possible that it used to be her main source of income, but no longer is.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Given the rather large economic downturn over the last year, I'd say it's entirely possible that it used to be her main source of income, but no longer is.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

My business is by no means bankrupt or anything, just that right now I can't afford to expand it how much it would take for me to comfortably/responsibly make it my primary income, given the state of the economy.

[Jorddyn]

Where's my cookie?

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I already ate them, but here are some moon pies:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/781/moonpies.jpg

[Keller]

I already ate them, but here are some moon pies:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/781/moonpies.jpg

Those look like the best oreos ever.

[ViridianAsp]

I run all of my businesses out of my home.

When someone states that is how they "make their living", it leads me believe that that is their main source of income.

I don't see how this makes her misleading, my main source of income is my job for the catering company.

But I do side jobs, too. They are also a source of income, so ergo I would be "Making a living." from these jobs too.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I don't see how this makes her misleading, my main source of income is my job for the catering company.

But I do side jobs, too. They are also a source of income, so ergo I would be "Making a living." from these jobs too.

My main income was from my own business for a time, but when the economy took a turn for the worst, I lost a lot of business. I decided it wasn't worth it for me to take big risks to keep it my main income, and went back to work for someone else.

But yeah, I don't see how that's misleading. It's an actual business (i.e. it's registered, I have liability insurance, I pay all my taxes) and at the time that I made that post, it had been and was my main and steadiest form of income. Shit happens, heh! Hopefully by the end of this year/next year, I'll be back to being full-time self employed again.

[DCSL]

Meh, the economy is scary. And not just because I slept through a large majority of economics class in college. I vaguely remember supply and demand, trickle down, and how to hold my head so that it looks like I'm staring at my notes while I nap.

Anyway, where I work is feelin' the burn too. I was considering going to part time while I'm still in school. I have enough personal clients that they would follow my new schedule and keep my pay up (I get commission for both the dog training and dog grooming, except when I work with dogs outside of the company because the company's method is shit for correcting dogs who are aggressive.. ahem) and the stress of working and going to school full time I making me sick. But no.

Anyone who goes from full time to part time will be bumped down to one day a week. If someone else goes on vacation or something, you'll get extra hours, but that's it. One groomer is coming back from maternity leave this month and she was going to come back part time because, hey, she's got a baby to take care of. But now she can only come back for one day a week which is nowhere near what she needs.

They fired a bunch of people from the boarding facility. The cashiers, they just give fewer and fewer hours until they quit, while they're hiring other people at a lower pay rate to take their place.

This sucks.

[Stunseed]

Someone should insert a South Park img with the caption.

"THEY TOOK ERRR JOBS!"

[Xanator]

8 people in total were laid off. Only me and one of the dishwashers were spared. 2 chefs, 1 dishwasher, and 5 line cooks/chef assistants.. including my assistant.

Hey, just for clarification's sake. You have three KMs, or there are three managers total? I'm assuming you don't have three KMs and two people running the kitchen, which is how this reads.

And, I mean, are you guys REALLY losing volume at your place? I would assume you'd have to be, unless there was some extremely decadent personnel spending going on to begin with. It's hard to imagine at any point you guys could've been running with 400% of what management all of a sudden deems the front-of-house coverage you actually need.

But, it sucks and I feel for you. If the place is really bleeding money, then they have to make cuts, and I'm sure you understand that. The restaurant industry is one that will be hit hard if the economy keeps trending downhill as sharply as it has, and I don't think anyone can be surprised by that at this point. I don't think anyone really has a lot of fun taking other peoples' jobs away, but it's currently part of the deal if you manage people.

Heh, I work for a company that has zero outstanding loans right now, has always purchased all property/equipment/etc. paid in full, and is seeing a system-wide sales increase over last year. But we can only control what we can control. We're also figuratively using scotch tape and bubblegum to keep equipment running, cutting labor and cost of goods whenever and wherever we can (short of taking away jobs, but we generally run with pretty small staff anyway), using coupons from OfficeMax... whatever we can do. Still dropping money to the bottom line.

And yet, the kind of people I work for decided put a freeze on some administrative/upper management raises, and nerfed percentage increases for people at the operations level. We were told to take into consideration places like Mohegan Sun (a casino in Connecticut whose employees recently had to take pay cuts to keep their jobs), and that we should be thankful to even have a place to work.

I guess we should, and it's good for you that you do, but it seems like there are definitely cases where the numbers don't really bear that out. And that's frustrating in its own way, that people are using it as a swell excuse to cut corners and pinch as many little pennies as possible.

[Daniel]

Wait.. I thought you said that you owned a bakery?


I'm only going by what she posted here:



Which was posted less than 7 months ago.

Maybe you should get something for that memory loss.

Like a gun.


Way to go Sherlock. Next time you try to call someone a troll, remember this post.

[AnticorRifling]

I've been out of a real job since end of Oct. I haven't been looking super hard though I'm kind of enjoying spending time with my boys. I decided end of Q1 I'll start looking hard so I can land something before the world turns to shit, until then I'm building forts out of couch cushions, going to the park, and playing in the dirt with sticks and rocks!

[TheEschaton]

The end is coming folks, start stockpiling your guns and building your fallout shelters.

Edit: Or ignore it by playing lots of WoW, like me.

[Keller]

I've been out of a real job since end of Oct. I haven't been looking super hard though I'm kind of enjoying spending time with my boys. I decided end of Q1 I'll start looking hard so I can land something before the world turns to shit, until then I'm building forts out of couch cushions, going to the park, and playing in the dirt with sticks and rocks!

Are you collecting unemployment or do you have a sugar momma?

[Keller]

The end is coming folks, start stockpiling your guns and building your fallout shelters.

Edit: Or ignore it by playing lots of WoW, like me.

Wouldn't you love for people to buy more guns? That just means job security for you when they end up shooting people.

I see what you're doing. You're a clever kid, Alok.

[Stanley Burrell]

DON'T WORRY NIKKI! I will be your replacement assistant:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/Minckey/Cheese/Mr_Slave.jpg

Please paddle my ass and feed me cheesecake.

[Sean]

DON'T WORRY NIKKI! I will be your replacement assistant:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g8/Minckey/Cheese/Mr_Slave.jpg

Please paddle my ass and feed me cheesecake.

Stanley you can't bring lemmiwinks into a commercial kitchen thats just plain unsanitary...

[Parkbandit]

Way to go Sherlock. Next time you try to call someone a troll, remember this post.

I've never, ever stated that you weren't the King of all Trolls, Daniel.. I'm not sure why you choose to go all defensive on me like this, but I can assure you the title is firmly in your hands.

There was no need for you to come here like this and illustrate how a troll properly posts.. you are the King and I wasn't even asking for a title shot.

Sheesh.

[AnticorRifling]

Are you collecting unemployment or do you have a sugar momma?

Yes and yes, the company fought and lost it's claim against me since they couldn't prove shit for justification for firing me and the wife has a decent job. That coupled with the fact that I'm saving like 800/mo in child care and we didn't live outside our means to begin with means we aren't doing horrid, not great, just not horrid.

[The Ponzzz]

Holy, $800/m in childcare!? That's a min. wage paying job at 40 hours a week!

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I've never, ever stated that you weren't the King of all Trolls, Daniel.. I'm not sure why you choose to go all defensive on me like this, but I can assure you the title is firmly in your hands.

There was no need for you to come here like this and illustrate how a troll properly posts.. you are the King and I wasn't even asking for a title shot.

Sheesh.

FWIW, I don't find fault in you asking what happened. I don't think it was trollish or anything of the sort.

[BigWorm]

I've never, ever stated that you weren't the King of all Trolls, Daniel.. I'm not sure why you choose to go all defensive on me like this, but I can assure you the title is firmly in your hands.

There was no need for you to come here like this and illustrate how a troll properly posts.. you are the King and I wasn't even asking for a title shot.

Sheesh.

Wait, I thought you said I was the troll king?

[Euler]

brother in law laidoff today. Accountant at doloite and douche. The hits keep on rolling.

[Kembal]

We laid off about 15 people 3 weeks ago, and made another 5 people go part time. (for a 200 person company stateside, it's not that big of a hit. Our Chinese subsidary is about to get whacked though, probably a 10-15% layoff there)

I was scrambling the entire week prior to find other places to cut expenses so I wouldn't have to fire 3 long term employees in my dept. (one's been with the company 24 years, another 15, and the other 14.) Ended up part-timing the 24 year employee, doing early retirement for the 15 year employee when she comes back from vacation this month, and a planned early retirement for the 14 year employee in 3 to 4 months. (she would have been gone the day of the layoff, but then her husband went into emergency surgery three days before. We morally couldn't cut off her health insurance right then. She has no idea how close it was.)

I am hoping I will not have to do another round of this later.

[Stanley Burrell]

Stanley you can't bring lemmiwinks into a commercial kitchen thats just plain unsanitary...

Alas.

[Tsa`ah]

Who would you consider the big three out of the thirty who make up the DJIA?

There's a good deal of fuss being made over how poorly those that make up the DJIA are doing ... and it's pretty misguided.

First you have to ask yourself how many people these companies employ and how big of an impact would failure have on that particular sector of the economy.

First you have to toss out the financial giants. We're not doing ourselves a favor by keeping these entities floating. There are enough smaller creditors to pick up the slack and learn from the mistakes of giants.

Then you have to chuck the telecoms. It's not as if the phones stop working when they go down. In addition, a good chunk of that employment force would be absorbed by newer and growing companies.

Drop the retailers (including Disney). Whatever that loss is, it will be absorbed by the industry on the rebound. The same goes for tech companies. HP or Intel taking it broadside isn't going to be pretty, but it doesn't mean the industry goes down in flames either.

Of everything on the index, these companies going under represent huge ripples into the vendor side of production.

Boeing Co.
Caterpillar Inc.
General Electric Company
General Motors Corporation
Johnson & Johnson
Kraft Foods Inc.
The Coca-Cola Company
The Procter & Gamble Company

When those giants start falling by the wayside, these giants fall with them ...

3m Co
Alcoa Inc
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company

... since they are largely production vendors, but that only scratches the surface.

I see only social benefits to the downfall of Merck or Phizer.

[AnticorRifling]

Holy, $800/m in childcare!? That's a min. wage paying job at 40 hours a week! Find me cheaper childcare for 2x2yr olds :)

[ViridianAsp]

Find me cheaper childcare for 2x2yr olds :)

lol @ cheaper childcare. You are making out like a bandit for just two of em.

[Ashlander]

Find me cheaper childcare for 2x2yr olds :)

Stanley'll do it for cheesecake and ass paddling.



On second thought you'd probably end up paying more for the kids' therapy.

[thefarmer]

Holy, $800/m in childcare!? That's a min. wage paying job at 40 hours a week!

Childcare is stupidly expensive just about everywhere. If you cheap out you end up with a choice between a redneck trailer that has a methlab in the back or a crackwhore ghetto apartment selling stolen car stereos.

It's generally just better to stay home then work 40hrs and end up making $20 bucks after paying everything.

[Celephais]

I want to work for your company. :(
You can come cook me a sandwich any time.

Stanley and I will throw a video game playing party, and you can cater. It'll just be the two of us though... and you... and we have particular requirements about your catering uniform.

[AnticorRifling]

Childcare is stupidly expensive just about everywhere. If you cheap out you end up with a choice between a redneck trailer that has a methlab in the back or a crackwhore ghetto apartment selling stolen car stereos.

It's generally just better to stay home then work 40hrs and end up making $20 bucks after paying everything.
Correct.