Sometimes Life Throws Rotten Veggies At You

[NJSk8Fan]

My husband came home from work with the wonderful(NOT) news that his company is closing the doors as of April 1st.

At 51, with a bad back and problems with depression and you only know warehousing--it isn't going to be easy to find another job. There is only a slim chance the new company taking over the business will hire on the workers. Current owners told the guys that the new owners will accept applications, nothing more.

This is the 2nd time since 2000 that my husband has lost a job due to company shutting down. First time was worse, though, because he'd been there 21 years, was 9 years away from retiring on the "30 years and out" plan. Worse than just losing the job was the fact he lost with it 35 days a year of vacation/personal/sick pay, losing that hurt more than losing the high pay.

Thanks for listening.

 

[heyang]

Sorry to hear about the lost job.

Someone at my company was fired last week. It was quite surprising since it appeared to come out of nowhere. I asked one of her friends if they had spoken. She told me that the woman is feeling somewhat adrift, but might consider teaching instead of I.T..

So, perhaps, it's time for hubby to consider alternative careers.

I'm not sure where you live in NJ, but there are lots of warehouses popping up in Cranbury off of Route 130. I know there are some places in Edison and Bridgewater, too.

 

[Mathman]

Sorry to hear the bad news. I hope something turns up soon.

 

[Spun Silver]

That is rotten. I hope something good will come out of it, and I wish you both courage until that happens.

 

[Tonichelle]

I was just thinking "haven't we been down this road before?"

that is awesome news but *major hugs* I'm here with my shoulder if you need it!

 

[NJSk8Fan]

Thank you everyone.
With the strength of all the on-line friends around the world pulling for us, something good has just got to happen out of this.

For now, until we hear anything new, we'll be hoping the new company hires my DH(Chip is his name). But we'll also be keeping an eye on want ads and an ear out for any leads.

Heyang, we're down in South Jersey, those areas you mentioned would be a pretty hefty drive. Moving is out of the question--we have too much to lose to move, we're in a rural area that is very emotionally valuable to my DH. 80 acres of family owned farm land and woods surround us with only 2 neighbors. Luckily we have a creek on one side as that is keeping the small industries popping up on the land that used to be farms from getting too close to us.

 

[iluvtodd]

Patch, I'm so sorry to read this news. I hope that the new company hires Chip, that you can continue to live in South Jersey, and that life gets back to normal for you both! .

 

[NJSk8Fan]

Thanks Gail.
We'd move heaven and earth before we'd move, believe me!

 

[SeaniBu]

Sorry about the bad news, I hope the prospects will turn up for him.:yes:

 

[Dee4707]

A few years ago, I lost my job after 9 years. Another company bought our company and closed the Omaha one down. It was devastating!!! It took me 9 months to find another job that only lasted 2 1/2 years. I always tell everyone that I spent 2 1/2 years in prison, it was horrible. Now I've been at the same job for 16 years and I love it. There has only been about 5 days in my current job that I wished I wasn't there but thank God that passed.

The reason I told you the above is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!! Take care and my thoughts will be with you and your husband.

Dee

 

[dlkksk8fan]

NJSk8Fan- I'm so sorry to hear of your husband losing his job. The best thing to do is to become pro active. Start looking for another job. Try not to get depressed (I know it can be hard), but start taking control. Now a days companies really don't care about their employees. You can be a loyal employee for many years and then all of a sudden your out of a job for what ever reason.

When my husband felt that his old employer wanted to get rid of him, he started a job search, put out his resume, taked to people, etc. He prepared himself to make the change before his old employer could get rid of him. It's always best to be in control.

Good luck and let us know how things are going.

 

[evenstar]

I hope you and your husband get tossed a nice juicy carrot soon!

 

[NJSk8Fan]

Thanks everyone for your comments and support! It always feels better to "talk" about this kind of thing.

Until we find out for sure that the new company isn't hiring on, we're not going to rush into the job searching mode.

Actually, as hard as my DH has worked all his life (he started on his grandpops farm at age 5, and though it was kinda for fun at first, each year his responsibilities got bigger and his hours longer, and you all know farming is not easy work)....A few months collecting unemployment would be a nice vacation. With having to start fresh in a few different jobs between 2000 & 2003, he hasn't had much vacation time being low on the totem pole at each job.
Too bad I don't have a crystal ball to gaze into to see that after a few months of relaxing on unemployment, the perfect job would be sitting there waiting.

We did find out about a place right up the road from us that helps people of any age looking for jobs of any sort find a job. It's not a temp service, it's some sort of special service. So that'll be a place to check out if nothing comes up immediately once we know the new company isn't taking on the current staff.

I'm pinning a little bit of hope on the fact that a few folks in human resources type positions have told us that when new companies take over, they usually try to keep the current workers because it's much more cost efficient to do that. The current staff knows the merchandise in the warehouse, how to load it, how the shipping schedule runs, how the accounts work, etc. But the only thing the current owner told the workers at the meeting on Friday was that the new owners "will happily accept applications for any of you who wish to apply". That's a far cry from saying "they will keep you on".

 

[merrywidow]

I would have sworn I posted a sympathetic response yesterday, Patch. Anyway, I wish you & your husband good luck in finding employment. Maybe a new job will ease the strain on your husband's back & lift his depression.

 

[Dee4707]

I would have sworn I posted a sympathetic response yesterday, Patch. Anyway, I wish you & your husband good luck in finding employment. Maybe a new job will ease the strain on your husband's back & lift his depression.

I know you did too. Maybe both of us are seeing things???/

Dee

 

[Binky30]

(((((((Patch & Chip)))))))

I really hope things start to look up for you guys!!

I will keep you in my prayers!

 

[show 42]

Sorry NJ about your hubby's job. I know a little something about depression myself. I hope something opens up for him soon..............42

 

[nubka]

Sending positive vibes your way and best of luck to both you and your husband in what must be a VERY stressful situation...