I had just started at one company when just a few months later they laid off several older employees, one just two months before his 20th anniversary with them. Three years later, they laid me off just as unceremoniously; because my salary was higher than what they thought they could hire as replacement.
I was close to retirement on disability and I was drug tested multiple times every month. The nurses used to joke “You again?!?” Others never got tested. I made it to disability on SS but not from my employer, just regular retirement.
My dad was two months shy of retiring late 1987 from the Government when he was informed under Reagan rules (only veterans can hold government offices) that he was to be laid off. His service in the US Marine Merchant Service from 1940 till 1945 did not count. Not the fact that out of his academy only 20 out of 300 survived the war. Had three ships torpedoed out from under him. Survived PQ17 disaster. Dodged Kamakazis in the Pacific. Then later all US Merchant sailors from WW2 were granted Veteran status January 1988 still under Reagan. They did not grandfather the firings.
In generations past, employees were generally more loyal to companies than the reverse. Same for customer loyalty. But, to the 1%, the average worker/customer is just another bullet in the cylinder/magazine. Fire one, another identical round loads in an instant, as if the first had never existed. We were just shadows and shadows leave no footprints.
a friend of mine had that happen too – let go at 59 — too young to collect SS, couldn’t get a job as there IS definitely a gray ceiling out there, especially for women and, at 86 had to worry about her last $5 2 days before her SS check showed up. Scumbags
I knew an Ophthalmologist in FL who was making money hand over fist. If he bought land then he bought acres. If he bought a plane, then he bought a Gulf Stream. He had his own private Scrub Nurse who was very good. One month before she became 100% vested in her retirement he fired her and returned her retirement back into HIS bank account. He then held a farewell party for her.
And that folks is why, if your able, form and join a union. Worked at a nuclear power plant in MI, in the union. The company enticed a few of us operators to jump ship and take salary training or supervisor positions. Well a management company got hired to run the plant, NMC Nuclear Management Company, and a lot of the ex-union workers got canned. These are guys with 15 years of service or more, and if you know anything about pensions it’s the last ten years of 30 that really raise the value. Was so glad I didn’t take that training job.
I was 6 weeks away, and they downsized with a pretty decent package. If they had just let me retire they would saved themselves several thousand dollars.
And, to add more salt to our wounds, we read where, when corporate leader screw up and corporations fail, their ‘security teams’ boot the workers with only cardboard boxes for their stuff, while the top tier gets millions for helping to ease the company into the ground.
As I said earlier, we were just shadows and shadows leave no footprint
sirbadger over 4 years ago
Happened to my grandfather. In that case, he missed out on a 20 year pension.
drycurt over 4 years ago
I had just started at one company when just a few months later they laid off several older employees, one just two months before his 20th anniversary with them. Three years later, they laid me off just as unceremoniously; because my salary was higher than what they thought they could hire as replacement.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 4 years ago
Cost conscious, good man!!!
BillHalcott over 4 years ago
I was close to retirement on disability and I was drug tested multiple times every month. The nurses used to joke “You again?!?” Others never got tested. I made it to disability on SS but not from my employer, just regular retirement.
acmiller Premium Member over 4 years ago
I wish this weren’t actually happening so much right now.
Vet Premium Member over 4 years ago
My dad was two months shy of retiring late 1987 from the Government when he was informed under Reagan rules (only veterans can hold government offices) that he was to be laid off. His service in the US Marine Merchant Service from 1940 till 1945 did not count. Not the fact that out of his academy only 20 out of 300 survived the war. Had three ships torpedoed out from under him. Survived PQ17 disaster. Dodged Kamakazis in the Pacific. Then later all US Merchant sailors from WW2 were granted Veteran status January 1988 still under Reagan. They did not grandfather the firings.
Dani Rice over 4 years ago
Circuit City comes to mind. Lay off the ones who know what’s what and hire 20-somethings who don’t know beans.
sandpiper over 4 years ago
In generations past, employees were generally more loyal to companies than the reverse. Same for customer loyalty. But, to the 1%, the average worker/customer is just another bullet in the cylinder/magazine. Fire one, another identical round loads in an instant, as if the first had never existed. We were just shadows and shadows leave no footprints.
Ralph Newbill over 4 years ago
The gold watch blues! Now that’s a great song… Sign on the dotted line and work for fifty years…
Zebrastripes over 4 years ago
That is the most devious and deliberate low blow anyone could ever endure. So sad the bottom line is so much more important than family
joefearsnothing over 4 years ago
Looks like he has a tiny cowboy hat for an ear! ;o)
jimchronister2016 over 4 years ago
This ass must be in the trump family
heathcliff2 over 4 years ago
Usually done by those preaching the most and hardest and threatening and accusing others the most.
Alberta Oil Premium Member over 4 years ago
Poor planning… could have gotten at least 20 more days of work out of him
VickiP123 over 4 years ago
a friend of mine had that happen too – let go at 59 — too young to collect SS, couldn’t get a job as there IS definitely a gray ceiling out there, especially for women and, at 86 had to worry about her last $5 2 days before her SS check showed up. Scumbags
DCBakerEsq over 4 years ago
When I retire, I’m not planning on wearing a watch. Or pants.
Tenner over 4 years ago
They got me 6 weeks before my 20 years
martynhappyone over 4 years ago
I knew an Ophthalmologist in FL who was making money hand over fist. If he bought land then he bought acres. If he bought a plane, then he bought a Gulf Stream. He had his own private Scrub Nurse who was very good. One month before she became 100% vested in her retirement he fired her and returned her retirement back into HIS bank account. He then held a farewell party for her.
cuzinron47 over 4 years ago
No, wait until the week before, you need him to train his replacement.
BeniHanna6 Premium Member over 4 years ago
And that folks is why, if your able, form and join a union. Worked at a nuclear power plant in MI, in the union. The company enticed a few of us operators to jump ship and take salary training or supervisor positions. Well a management company got hired to run the plant, NMC Nuclear Management Company, and a lot of the ex-union workers got canned. These are guys with 15 years of service or more, and if you know anything about pensions it’s the last ten years of 30 that really raise the value. Was so glad I didn’t take that training job.
Sailor46 USN 65-95 over 4 years ago
I was 6 weeks away, and they downsized with a pretty decent package. If they had just let me retire they would saved themselves several thousand dollars.
sandpiper over 4 years ago
And, to add more salt to our wounds, we read where, when corporate leader screw up and corporations fail, their ‘security teams’ boot the workers with only cardboard boxes for their stuff, while the top tier gets millions for helping to ease the company into the ground.
As I said earlier, we were just shadows and shadows leave no footprint