OT: Stress in the Jobplace.

[Snoredog]

Lots of stories and arguments on this subject, here's mine. After 24 years doing things the Ma Bell way I took an early retirement buy out. I was grousing around saying no one would want to hire a middle aged administrator. A friend had a stern talk with me and instructed me to buy the book "What Color is Your Parachute" and work every exercise in it.

I did and it really turned me around. Through a long series of progressive exercises, it shows you the transferable skills you have acquired in your old job. Then when writing a resume or in an interview you focus on them. I realized I have the experience critical to many jobs because I am good at the skills required. I would demonstrate that in an interview by breaking out the skills in the experience they require then give examples of how I have experience with the same skills.

My point is you learn skills in life not just how to do your job. Sell the skills!

I have a friend who had worked for PacificTelephone/PacficBell/SBC/ATT for 28 years was inside of 2 years of retiring, he came to work one day and found he had been "insourced" they said you no longer work for ATT, you work for Amdoc an Israeli company, he sits at the same desk doing the same job at the same pay, even his phone number is the same, he just gets paid by Amdoc. His retirement was accelerated as if he retired. They guaranteed him work for 6 months.

He said he actually likes working for Amdoc more than AT&T he said morale is a lot better and they give them perks ATT could never match.

But he could be out of a job tomorrow and screwed early on his retirement.

[Ren]

I hate to sound overly dramatic, but its a great story...

I was laid off from my job as a Social Worker for the State of CT in January 2003; budget cuts don't ya know.

At the time, my wife was pregnant. With twins. She was also in the throes of an autoimmune disorder called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpurra, (ITP for short) that caused her body to kill off nearly all her platelets. Yeah, the little bits that stop bleeding. Good to have all the time, especially for childbirth.

Childbirth! Oh, yes, the twins had Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. They were not getting equal flow from the placenta, so one was getting too much, the other not enough. At 6 weeks early, (and about 6 weeks after I was laid off) the decision was made to perform an emergency C-section, as waiting any longer had had high probability of mortality for one or both of the twins.

Back to the low platelets. It had been hoped that my wife could get a temporary infusion before delivery to make it safer for her. No time now, got to get those kids out. Via C-section. Usually some bleeding involved there. She said goodbye to me before going in, told me to take care of her boys (had a then 5year old son as well), just in case. Hey at least I was home, and didn't have to take any time off from work

Well, the twins were born, or more specifically yanked, in the same minute, about 15 seconds apart, about 3 hours after the decision to do it. Ben - 6lbs 12oz; Will 4lbs 3oz. They spent some time in the NICU, and Will has had a few issues, but mostly came through ok. Miraculously, mom lived!! Yeah!!

Of course, that meant she had to go back on her treatment for the ITP, which consists of high does of Prednisone, and several trips a week to the oncology unit for something called IvIG; a blood product that is administered via slow drip like chemotherapy and suppresses the immune system. About $9000 per bottle (not a typo) and she got from 2-5 bottles a week, for several months. Fortunately, she was not laid off from her State of CT job as a highway engineer (just on medical leave) so we had good insurance. Oh, and me being laid off made getting to all the appointments easier.

So I was home, collecting unemployment for about 4 months after the twins were born. Then I was notified of an opening with the State, equivalent to my old position. I started one week before my 6 months of unemployment benefits ran out. Nice timing. In the long run, I think I actually made more on un-employment during that period than I would have by taking unpaid FMLA time, which I would have had to do with all our other issues.

Today, the ITP is in remission, my wife is doing well. The twins are 5 1/2. Ben is about 37 pounds, Will is about 32 pounds. James will be 11 soon, he weighs about 90 pounds I'm in my new position as a Case Manager for people with developmental disabilities. I frequently see families struggling with such monumental challenges that my story above pales in comparison.

If you actually read this whole thing, thank you.

[Needsdecaf]

This is why I am bailing, before the axe falls.

My industry (housing development) is slumping overall. My group (NY, NJ, CT, MA) has gone from 17 to 6 over the last 2 years or so. Quite a reduction. We have enough work going on that I do not think I have much to worry about, but you never know.

But my boss is another matter. He used to be very good, very much a mentor. He's one smart dude, but all that has changed. He has some big personal problems, very big personal problems, with his wife. He's got two little daughters, so that's not good. On top of that, he has always been one to "disappear" and "work remote" Plus, I think he's doing development work on the side as well.

Too top it all off, he covers all of the above territory. So he is always on the road, in our office maybe 2 days / week. But when he's supposed to be around, he's not. When you call, he says "I'll call you back" and doesn't. Or he calls our admin 200 times a day, having her do a bunch of stuff, half of it his personal stuff, and then gets mad when she doesn't get anything done.

When he is in the office, it's a seagull mission. You know, fly in, crap on everything, make a lot of noise, and fly out. He second guesses everything and wants to know why you didn't call him to confirm your course of action (if he were only available....)

Well, I had enough. My wife was offered a transfer and we're taking it. It's what she wants to do, and I'm for it. It's a good area, and one that has good prospects for me (Civil Engineer). Her company offers a good relocation package so the timing should work out for selling our house.

I've been there 9 years full time, and first did a summer internship there 11 years ago, so I have met a LOT of people and vendors. I am really going to miss the company....it is a good company with good people and will survive this market. But I cannot stand working for this guy anymore. I'll take myself where I am appreciated.

I'm sure those who have been in similar situations can appreciate how much stress this has added to our lives. It is insane.

[birdshell]

I was laid off twice from my professional job. Fortunately, I had recall rights (they have now been limited to one year). The first time was for 4 years; the second, for 1 year. I was essentially wiped out financially of all retirement account funds, benefits, and savings TWICE.

Those 26 weeks of unemployment payments are merely a contribution. I received the highest benefit, and I could not cover my basic expenses with that amount. I had relatively meager expenses, too.

Without the kind help of family and friends, plus a bit of scrambling on my part, I made it through. I also learned from my various jobs and took more college classes, getting my master's along the way.

I have a friend who was recently laid off. She called me and said that she had spent the day at the unemployment office...but she called it the "un-enjoyment office". Isn't THAT the truth!


Karen

[Snoredog]

I hate to sound overly dramatic, but its a great story...

I was laid off from my job as a Social Worker for the State of CT in January 2003; budget cuts don't ya know.

At the time, my wife was pregnant. With twins. She was also in the throes of an autoimmune disorder called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpurra, (ITP for short) that caused her body to kill off nearly all her platelets. Yeah, the little bits that stop bleeding. Good to have all the time, especially for childbirth.

Childbirth! Oh, yes, the twins had Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. They were not getting equal flow from the placenta, so one was getting too much, the other not enough. At 6 weeks early, (and about 6 weeks after I was laid off) the decision was made to perform an emergency C-section, as waiting any longer had had high probability of mortality for one or both of the twins.

Back to the low platelets. It had been hoped that my wife could get a temporary infusion before delivery to make it safer for her. No time now, got to get those kids out. Via C-section. Usually some bleeding involved there. She said goodbye to me before going in, told me to take care of her boys (had a then 5year old son as well), just in case. Hey at least I was home, and didn't have to take any time off from work

Well, the twins were born, or more specifically yanked, in the same minute, about 15 seconds apart, about 3 hours after the decision to do it. Ben - 6lbs 12oz; Will 4lbs 3oz. They spent some time in the NICU, and Will has had a few issues, but mostly came through ok. Miraculously, mom lived!! Yeah!!

Of course, that meant she had to go back on her treatment for the ITP, which consists of high does of Prednisone, and several trips a week to the oncology unit for something called IvIG; a blood product that is administered via slow drip like chemotherapy and suppresses the immune system. About $9000 per bottle (not a typo) and she got from 2-5 bottles a week, for several months. Fortunately, she was not laid off from her State of CT job as a highway engineer (just on medical leave) so we had good insurance. Oh, and me being laid off made getting to all the appointments easier.

So I was home, collecting unemployment for about 4 months after the twins were born. Then I was notified of an opening with the State, equivalent to my old position. I started one week before my 6 months of unemployment benefits ran out. Nice timing. In the long run, I think I actually made more on un-employment during that period than I would have by taking unpaid FMLA time, which I would have had to do with all our other issues.

Today, the ITP is in remission, my wife is doing well. The twins are 5 1/2. Ben is about 37 pounds, Will is about 32 pounds. James will be 11 soon, he weighs about 90 pounds I'm in my new position as a Case Manager for people with developmental disabilities. I frequently see families struggling with such monumental challenges that my story above pales in comparison.

If you actually read this whole thing, thank you.

Congratulations on the twins, glad everything worked out. she didn't have to have a splenectomy did she?

That is the next step if the IvIG doesn't work.

[Ren]

Snoredog, you know of ITP One MD recommended the splenectomy, another wanted to keep trying medication. She went with the medication.

[Guest]

I was more or less bringing up what a lot of people face, my days of rubbing my nose on the grinding wheel are over, I'm out of sparks. Not that I haven't worn out a few grinding wheels in my day. I wish I was in a position to make a few sparks again. My last employment was for 25 years, out of those I worked 17 3/4 years, the rest was being laid off and bouncing left and right where ever I could find a hole. Now that I am in a position to do what I want, my body won't let me do anything useful. Jim

I might argue with 'anything useful' as you've been very useful on this forum! However, I think your meaning is clear. Wow, that's a lot of years to work! You deserve the best.

[birdshell]

I was more or less bringing up what a lot of people face, my days of rubbing my nose on the grinding wheel are over, I'm out of sparks. Not that I haven't worn out a few grinding wheels in my day. I wish I was in a position to make a few sparks again. My last employment was for 25 years, out of those I worked 17 3/4 years, the rest was being laid off and bouncing left and right where ever I could find a hole. Now that I am in a position to do what I want, my body won't let me do anything useful. Jim

I might argue with 'anything useful' as you've been very useful on this forum! However, I think your meaning is clear. Wow, that's a lot of years to work! You deserve the best.

Agreed. Whenever there is a post from Jim, I read it. I may not agree 100% of the time with what he says, and may understand only about 75% of the electrical information (would you believe 50%?)--still:

I find our goofproof to be very knowledgeable, sensible, and concise. (I envy all of those, especially the "concise" part.)

Keep on coming to the forum and please, keep on keeping on. We need you here, Jim.


Sincerely,

Karen
Who knows that butt crack isn't JUST for plumbers anymore

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