How's your company doing?

[Laura's Babies]

The company I work for sent out a email recently saying things are good and they foresee no problems. They said since we can move so much more product than trains, trucks and other transport methods, so much cheaper that things will really have to get bad to effect us... However, that could be them just putting on a good front.

To me it sounds like they have a lot of boats tied up and are having a problem crewing up the ones that are running.. a shortage of people to run the boats seem to be their biggest probelm.

[3Catcondo]

I'm in telecom and I have seen alot of my coworkers laid off the last year and a half. I thank god everyday that I still have my job. I feel so bad for everyone who is losing their job these days. It's a horrible horrible thing and I pray that they will find work soon, and that the economy will turn around sooner rather than later.

[Marigold2]

My husband works in Audio/Vidio and his clients are the disgustly rich, they are still so, business is booming. But no bonues this year.
I work for two eye Dr's. People still need of eyesight so I am ok. Also no bonus, but a steady paycheck.
My daughter works for a retail food store, they are doing well. Has a pet sitting business as well.
My oldest son is an IT, doing well. Also Navy Reserve.
Middle son is a waiter in a 5 star resturant, doing well. Has a second job at the Olive Garden, where business is very brisk.
Another son works for a plant nursery, is being called to work early. Does odd landscaping on the side as well. His wife to be works for a phone company and is being sent to the Phillipians for three weeks for training.
All four kids have second jobs which vary greatly in hours spent working. But at least they are trying to stay ahead of the game.
So far we are ok. But you just never know.
My neighbor lost his job,worked for a bank.
The medical profession is very secure, people still get sick, how sad that is but if you are a nurse you have it made.

[Donnaj4962]

I work for a non-profit, and we are certainly struggling as many people and Foundations are limiting their donations. :::sigh:::

This month, all full time office staff has been asked to take one day off without pay. This will help us with some bills. It is certainly a sacrifice, but no one has outwardly complained. I know that everyone is grateful for their jobs and that we haven't had to permanently cut any positions or services. But it is very scary and who knows what is going to happen in the near future.

A friend of mine was "laid off" from the warehouse of a major women's clothing store. He had been there for 10 years, and this is the second time this has happened to him. This time is permanent though. He is packing up and moving 3 hours north to take care of his aging parents since there are no jobs available.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

My husband works for a small web development firm. A year ago they had about 10 employees and were doing really well, now they've laid off all but three. Luckily my husband is one of the remaining three. He's already been told that the other two will be laid off before he does, if it comes to that. Right now he's working on a major project for a BIG company and they have already signed on for another year. The client has made it clear that Justin is the only one they want on the project and they want him 40 hours a week. So right now he has pretty decent job security. His pay was cut back a few months ago though.

[mruffruff]

I work for a company that distributes neon sign supplies to the people who sell parts to sign installers. There are only a few companies in the U.S. to compete with.

Unfortunately, neon is being replaced by LED lights in a lot of situations, so we are being hit with a double whammy. (The bosses didn't move into the LED sales until recently).

We have had no lay-offs, but some have had their hours cut, some have had their pay rate cut. Purchases are strictly monitored. Cash receipts are down. The bosses have made personal loans of over a quarter of a million dollars to pay invoices and keep us afloat. In the 20 years I've been here, it's never been this bad.

Personally, I'm OK. I work 3 days a week and could live on my Social Security if I had to. But I feel for those who have families to support in these lousy economic times.

[smokey the elder]

*crosses fingers* So far, so good. I work for a private pharma company who is always pretty tight with cash, so they have a sizeable "war chest". A lot of groups are getting outsourced, but not Analytical (my group) so far. I don't know about raises or bonuses; they give those out in March.

[Nomilynn]

I was laid off on October 3rd from a direct mail marketing company. It had slowed down drastically and from what I hear from friends that still work there, they have now laid off so many people they are shorthanded to finish the business they are getting.

I have had I think a total of 4 interviews, including one that I have later today, since being laid off. I have applied for countless jobs.. I can't even remember any more how many I've put my name in for. I'm just keeping a job log as I apply and when I get a phone call at least I can reference the application. The interview I have today is with a medical clinic so I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that I can get it, because it sounds like it would be a pretty stable job.

[Gracefulsarah]

Both my husband and I are still employed, thank God. I work for a school district in California (not as a teacher), and thankfully, our district prioritizes jobs. They only lay off after cutting supplies budgets, and anything else they can. Last year, we laid off lots of computer techs, librarians, and kidergarten teachers. Most have been brought back (not sure why), but I have a feeling they will have to be let go again before next year begins (July 1st). As for my department, there is 1 person who was hired after me, so I believe she would be cut before I would. (There are 5 people in my dept including the director, and I've been here over 5years.)

As for my husband, I would really be surprised if his company survived the next few years. They had a staff of about 40, and laid off 25% right before Christmas. They also made almost everyone cut down on their hours, from 8 to 7 a day. He does software tech support, and the stress levels were already too high. Add to that 1 person from his department being let go and shorter hours in which to do the same amount of work, and the stress skyrockets. Their customers have actuallly been complaining because the tech guys don't get back to them within a "reasonable amount of time" anymore. So, they're going to hire one guy for the tech support department, and they gave my husband back the hour a day.

I'm very thankful that we seem to be secure for the moment. We both are willing to deal wtih the commuting to keep our jobs in this tough economy.

[wolf_Q]

I work at a grooming salon. Last Christmas was by far the slowest Christmas we've ever had, and I've worked there for over 6 years. After Christmas we barely had any business at all. We work on commission so I pretty much working for nothing. Actually since around last September I've been averaging a couple hundred less per paycheck. It's understandable though, when times are tough getting your pet groomed isn't exactly high in the priority list. Things are starting to pick up a bit now though, we've actually had some business. Luckily I haven't been faced with the prospect of losing my job, I know many people have.

[Cincy'sMom]

My company is sending mixed messages. We are down ~20% from last year. That is misleading becuase 2008 was our best year ever. We are still above 2007 profit.

Unfortunately, we have more employees then in 2007, and higher overhead. As a result, we have all been asked to use up vacation time, cut hours down to 32 per week if you are hourly, or take a pay cut is you are salaried and out of vacation time. There are 2 departments in the company that have been exempted from these cuts. I do not work for either of them, but with my background, I have been given permission to charge 32 hours/month of my time to one of those departments, allowing me to save vacation time and keep full pay. We do show signs of picking up and I am hoping my mid-summer, we will be back at full hours. But I think everyone is in agreement we would rather all give a little then see any of our co-workers loose their jobs completely.

Ralph works in automotive, and realistically, should have been laid off in the last round of cuts. But his boss feels that he is essential to the company's operation and fought to keep him on.

We are definately some of the lucky ones at this point.