Lay Offs

[Camella Black]

Wow, some workers at an undisclosed northern plant returned from Christmas vacation to be given pink slips. Talk about a Christmas bonus!

This came on top of having to rush home; fighting hoards of angry travelers' stranded in airports, to arrive at the rental car booth and be told there was no car for them as there had been a mix up. To make matters worse, their return flight was cancelled; they were bused to the next airport and then delayed for 3 more hours, only to arrive during a heavy snow.

Others had actually driven 12 and 15 hours home for the holidays through a horrific snow storm, only to return to work to receive the same pink slip, talk about timing.

Now for the rest of the stories:

[Dave Warren]

Hey Camella,
                Send them down here to Oak Ridge. Forget about layoffs, they wont ever let them leave. Tell Henry to call or write if he needs to talk.
                                                                                    Dave

[RAD-GHOST]

Excuse my French, but that Sucks! 

As always, their business plan, never seems to consider our business plan!  It's situations like this, that remind me of those, " Be Professional " Speeches, they give on opening day.  I'm sure the Lay-off's came as a total surprise on return day, RIGHT!  In those famous words of one tech I know, " Looks like they bent some techs over and loaded them like a shot gun "!

Dave does have a better idea, the Commercial Sector isn't going to give you anymore than you already got, which is next to nothing!  Three to ten weeks work, twice a year, if your lucky!  Three hundred bucks a week on unemployment, for another twenty six weeks!  They wonder why the Experienced Technicians are leaving all that glory behind? 

How much bait did they throw out?  Did they give the old, stick around for a couple of weeks, we'll be hiring again!  Funny how they want the trained experienced techs, to sit at the house on their own dime!  Next thing you know they'll be calling a lay-off a furlow, or something strange like that!  Anything to keep the techs in town, without pay!

Good luck, remember it's a New Year and hopefully a better one,

RG!

[Dave Warren]

Good points RG.

The truly unfortunate part of all of this is this: Those guys gave a sh** about getting back to their job on time, regardless of the weather or any other conditions. Like the Postal Service. (Make your own jokes about that one) The parent company, like usual, could care less about a RCT. The numbers game has no feelings or emotions.

This is a strong argument for the long-term work. We can talk all day about making all this money at outages and all these bonuses from commercial power, etc. When it comes to quality of life, I could ask 100 of the oldest, crustiest, saltiest technicians down here at Oak Ridge, and 95 of them would smile and say, "I love my job at DOE, baby".

We all know that our jobs are at risk every day. When you work for one of the companies at these long-term jobs, you can almost feel safe (fingers crossed). 52 paychecks a year with direct deposit, continuing 401k, medical coverage, 40 hour weeks, feel like a company employee, and most of all, a life.

Just one mans opinion. Peace to all of you. To all you folks at that "northern plant" who need a job: It will be 60 degrees here all week and there is no snow to fight through. Y'all come down now, y'hear.

[Camella Black]

Just wanted to let you know that H is still there, but hanging by a thread. Our son and a few others felt the pain though. He is looking forward to coming home to see his new niece, and although this is his first job and layoff he is already looking forward to the next plant down the road - just like a pro! He is making his mamma proud.

[IPREGEN]

c'mon, which plant is the culprit?

[Dave Warren]

I cant "C.Y." you cant figure that one out, IPREGEN.
Does that help?

[RAD-GHOST]

One has to Wonder, Who the Lucky One's are?

The One's Who Stay, or the One's Who Leave?   

RG

[darkmatter]

Worst layoff experience?  I voted no notice, that has happened a couple of times. Once we had a two day notice after working for a year.

On the other hand, I really can't say "worst", cause I was looking for a job when I found this one and I knew from the gitgo that as a contractor (oops, I mean supplemental employee) that the job was only temporary anyway.   

Now, for the house mice that aren't used to picking up and going while calling around for the next one, I can see that they might be a little unsettled.   

Some of my best jobs I've had, I didn't even know I would be working there a couple weeks ahead. Also, some of the layoffs have really been something of a relief anyway.   

[ramdog_1]

These days if you are a tech you know its coming sonner than later for most. its the ones who suck up the best who stay longer it seems.
oh wil happy new year. I may go to handford for the good buicks

[yuffie_2000us]

Does that position in Hanford require a GED?

[stownsend]

Mid 90's Maine,"we were suppose to lay you off last week" so hurry up and get this long list of work done and go to the body counter.

late 90's fusrap site in NJ for Zargrus (sister co.of Enviro-care)
we were told to extend our leases to Feb as the date for deployment changed from Dec. Only to be told on 12/23 todays the last day for everyone at 10:30am Merry Xmas

[halflifer]

We all know that our jobs are at risk every day. When you work for one of the companies at these long-term jobs, you can almost feel safe (fingers crossed). 52 paychecks a year with direct deposit, continuing 401k, medical coverage, 40 hour weeks, feel like a company employee, and most of all, a life.

Just one mans opinion. Peace to all of you. To all you folks at that "northern plant" who need a job: It will be 60 degrees here all week and there is no snow to fight through. Y'all come down now, y'hear.

or if money means more to you than warmth, c'mon up to Idaho

[SloGlo]

yinze gotta remember that the worse the layoff experience, the bigger the grin at watching the side fade in the rear vue mirror.

[Gonzo]

i can't help but notice how few the entries here...   just goes to show...   layoffs are rarely a bad thing for a contractor...

[retired nuke]

My first decon job (1980) at Surry - my keycard stopped working at midnite on nite shift - they had the lead tech escort us around (tailgating) until the end of shift, then WBC on the way to the car....

[Mike McFarlin]

Happiness is _______ in the rear view mirror! (You fill in the blanks)

[shovelheadred]

...hey Spanky..Layoff is a good thing, specially when its from IP-2..whew what a hole,,and the water leaking from the refueling canal into the basement.......anyway,,with this new revelation on Unemployment from Mass....a RAT can live good off $500+/week...for 30 weeks,,,,,red

[Roll Tide]

this new revelation on Unemployment from Mass

When I got out of the canoe club, I filed for Mass unemployment. I took a pay cut (take-home) for my job the next month! Perhaps I would be more patient next time.

[ageoldtech]

Lay Offs are great. I've been laid off at least 93 times, and I am looking forward to the next one!

[Mike McFarlin]

Layoffs are ok if expected otherwise they can cause hard feelings.
Whats the matter Bone, can't keep a job.

[BeDaBullet]

Yep.....can see the Mound....in my rear view mirror...and it's looking really grand...Off to Mass. to file, and then it's vacation time again.  Only in America, is this a great life, or what?

[basketlady]

How about coming out for lunch and a co-worker ask you if you're  staying or going.. All but 4 were being laid off at the end of the shift.

[Mike McFarlin]

Uncle Bob, watch out for the tree limbs when you leave. I know you haven't had much practice moving "General Delivery"!

[BeDaBullet]

 OK  Spanky  I've been like a little 14 yr old kid, sitting behind the wheel....dry humpin the "General" for the past 10 months.  But the time has come to make up for the Ohio winter and all that goes with it. We plan on taking about 5500 miles to get him back to Colorado.  Should be leaving here on the 1st of July....We are READY!