Preparing for Job Loss thread

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

If you're concerned about public sector spending, I suggest not looking at the talking heads who show up on TV. Your real issue is with the salaried employees and the unions, assuming there is an issue.

Recessions are a big reason why unions exist.

Yeah and on the macro level they create sticky wages and stall the market's own self-correction. But once again I'll beat the horse that recessions are not times to waste money building monuments to Richard Florida. It's more of a time to make sure we have a day-to-day operation that balances pure base-level functionality with taking the least amount of money out of the pockets of citizens possible to maintain that functionality at a time when they need it most. I know it's not sexy, or fun, to play SimCity on the 'hard' level, but it must be done.

[RW99]

I work in the tourism industry in Banff and layoffs are a real possibility. I just switched departments at work, so I'm really the new guy. That in combination with a new CEO that is rumored is coming into to cut costs.

I'm starting to keep more money aside and I'm preparing to come to Calgary if it happens.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Unions dont prevent layoffs when times are tough. Just look at all the union jobs lost at the big three since 05.

Unions exist to protect workers rights. That means employers can't just start stripping down a workers benefits or lay them off for ambiguous reasons.

I'm not saying workers can't be laid off, but unions help keep an employees workplace rights in tact.

[Poison]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Yeah and on the macro level they create sticky wages and stall the market's own self-correction. But once again I'll beat the horse that recessions are not times to waste money building monuments to Richard Florida. It's more of a time to make sure we have a day-to-day operation that balances pure base-level functionality with taking the least amount of money out of the pockets of citizens possible to maintain that functionality at a time when they need it most. I know it's not sexy, or fun, to play SimCity on the 'hard' level, but it must be done.

Thats a pretty general way of looking at unions.
Especially when these "unions with their sticky wages"
have to strike when they have no contract and havent received a wage increase in years.......

When times were good and people were out on the line looking for a bump in pay to at least stay competetive were these said wages still "sticky" and hampering the markets self-correction????

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I heard the California government just laidoff a bunch of people and are making those who remain take 2 unpaid days off per month

Ah, California has been having a wacky economy even before this recession. If I'm not mistaken there are municipal governments claiming bankruptcy in that state, not to mention some town even putting themselves up on eBay.

At least from what I remember!

[Buff]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Unions dont prevent layoffs when times are tough. Just look at all the union jobs lost at the big three since 05.

Unions prevent firings when workers are absolutely useless.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by RW99

I work in the tourism industry in Banff and layoffs are a real possibility. I just switched departments at work, so I'm really the new guy. That in combination with a new CEO that is rumored is coming into to cut costs.

I'm starting to keep more money aside and I'm preparing to come to Calgary if it happens.

I always though switching departments was a good thing. It mean you're flexible. If I were hiring/firing, I'd keep people that could fit into may areas. Sort of like being able to play both right back and left back

[Sylvanfan]

Well I sold off my house in Alberta back in August and have kept the money in a savings account. Should I get laid off my 13 year history of full time employment should allow me to collect the maximum EI benefit for what like a year? I'd also be allowed to earn $100 extra dollars a week on top of my EI, so every two weeks I would have $915. So I'll try to call shotgun on serving coffee at Tim Hortons and hope that lasts for a year.

So in order to survive...I'd move into my mom's house since she has tonnes of storage space and pay her like $600 a month in rent. She won't object, I know that much. After that my only expense is a lease on a vehichle which will last for another year and a half. I could turn the vehichle back and buyout the lease for about $4900. So assuming that I minimized expenses and the government will pay EI for a year before they go broke at which point I go on welfare...my current savings would last me about 15 years. Which I hope is enough to get me through the next great depression.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Buff

Unions prevent firings when workers are absolutely useless.

They also protect workers who deserve the wages and benefits they earn.

[Poison]

Originally Posted by Buff

Unions prevent firings when workers are absolutely useless.

Yup thats what unions are all about.....
Im not going to sit there and say there are some that have jobs in unions that shouldnt, but i could say the same about people in non-union jobs as well.

Ive also seen people try to get railroaded by the company and lose their job and the union got their job back, so theres two sides to every coin pal.

[RW99]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I always though switching departments was a good thing. It mean you're flexible. If I were hiring/firing, I'd keep people that could fit into may areas. Sort of like being able to play both right back and left back

Usually yes, but it was a move that was mutual by my former manager and I due to unresolved conficts

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Poison

Thats a pretty general way of looking at unions.
Especially when these "unions with their sticky wages"
have to strike when they have no contract and havent received a wage increase in years.......

When times were good and people were out on the line looking for a bump in pay to at least stay competetive were these said wages still "sticky" and hampering the markets self-correction????

Or conversely decades of having a monopoly on the supply of labor has led to years of employees making more than the market value for their services and thus the employers stalled on pay increases to keep their costs competitive. No one will work for a company if they are paying less than market wages. That's why a year or two ago Tim Horton's was paying $15/hr in some locations for employees.

[Poison]

Originally Posted by RW99

Usually yes, but it was a move that was mutual by my former manager and I due to unresolved conficts

Should have kept your hands to yourself.....

[Poison]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Or conversely decades of having a monopoly on the supply of labor has led to years of employees making more than the market value for their services and thus the employers stalled on pay increases to keep their costs competitive. No one will work for a company if they are paying less than market wages. That's why a year or two ago Tim Horton's was paying $15/hr in some locations for employees.

And again like i mentioned without having a contract and getting less than market value it all balances out.
Not sure what idea or union youre using as a basis but unions do not mean getting paid more than market value necessarily, for some years yes, and when your out on the line on strike because theres been no contract for years then no.

Lets try this, police are unionized are they not, you figure they get paid more than market wages for what they do?
Firefighters?

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Poison

And again like i mentioned without having a contract and getting less than market value it all balances out.
Not sure what idea or union youre using as a basis but unions do not mean getting paid more than market value necessarily, for some years yes, and when your out on the line on strike because theres been no contract for years then no.

Lets try this, police are unionized are they not, you figure they get paid more than market wages for what they do?
Firefighters?

Good work, use examples where one has to move locals. Wouldnt fair maket value be in the same market??

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Or conversely decades of having a monopoly on the supply of labor has led to years of employees making more than the market value for their services and thus the employers stalled on pay increases to keep their costs competitive. No one will work for a company if they are paying less than market wages. That's why a year or two ago Tim Horton's was paying $15/hr in some locations for employees.

So...You think unions drove up market demand and minimum wage expectations, and not the booming oil industry and private sector?

Sure thing.

[RW99]

Originally Posted by Poison

Should have kept your hands to yourself.....

Ha! Well don't even get me started. Actually I should ask the question because I don't think I'm crazy....

If you are offered job X by a new company and you quit your current job. And then your very first day, they say 'no, you get job Z' which is a demotion and a job you hate. Would you...

A. Walk out the door and never look back.
B. Understand that there are a lot of happy employees there and it not a normal situation. Try to make the best of it while pushing for your original job.
C. Let them tell you 'jobs change, get used to it' and never say a word.

I chose B because A wasn't an option due to lack of a place to live and money situation while waiting for a new job.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by RW99

I chose B because A wasn't an option due to lack of a place to live and money situation while waiting for a new job.

You forgot option D: go to the labor board. Hiring for one position and then sticking you in another that you didn't sign up for (and not being offered a similar job) is serious employment misconduct.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I'm in the same position as the OP, and plan on using my holiday time off to do some heavy thinking and weigh my options. Definately gonna have the resume ready, and on top of that I'm considering the following:
-Sell off expenses like my car, and go traveling for a while
-Look for a new job in the same industry, and not just wait to get let go
-Quit my job and try something big, like starting my own company. If job security is gone anyway, why not take a risk that could pay off big?
-Stay where I'm at and hope the market turns before I lose my job

[Poison]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Good work, use examples where one has to move locals. Wouldnt fair maket value be in the same market??

Why? If you dont want to move to get $x amount more thats by choice.