Surprise, your job's gone

[versuchstier147]

So, my company was shut down for to weeks for the holidays. When everyone returns management tells all Maintenance personnel to head back out the door. Over break they decided to use a third party maintenance company that was "contractually obligated" to save the company 10% on their maintenance costs. Sorry, this just really bothers me. We've been doing very well all year. The people in Maintenance are people that have been with the company for a long time, and were getting close to retirement.

Better than some other instances.. My boss today told me when he was with another company, everyone showed up one day and found Police lined up long the front of the building. One cop said into a loud speaker, if we call your name, come up and get with an officer. He'll escort you to and from your locker. You're done here.


Crap... I thought we were getting past this..

 

[Manan]

Sorry guy. Maybe time to go into the maintenance business yourself?

 

[x10]

real sorry but to your statement that CNN and other have said that we were over it, from indicators I'm privy to it is just starting, even if the "economy" has leveled off production levels still need to decline because of the usage, I think were looking at layoffs across the country until the beginning third quarter, I hope I'm wrong and this is just the info that I have access to. I hope everyone finds a better job asap

 

[wabash]

call the new contracting company.

 

[spasmo]

Definitely sorry to hear that. It's everyone's worst fear. It use to be mine when returning from vacations and stuff as well.

I agree with Wabash. I think you need to call the new contracting company. I work with the company my prior employer contracted to before I was laid off. We were all let go when they hired an India company to do their IT work.

 

[Turn Key]

call the new contracting company.

This is good advice.

So, many companies get sold on the idea of 'outsourcing', especially when their staff is seasoned and most are close to retirement.

Going back to work for outsourcing firms, will get you in the door faster and lead you to other opportunities within large companies. Just be willing to take the odd shift hours and be willing to work the holidays.

Back in the late 90's my career in the printing equipment sales field went south. Xerox had pretty much taken the lead with digital information technology and I ended up supervising one of their facility management facility's.

It happened to be in a 'Union shop', Allison/Rolls Royce, and the employees there all feared for their jobs. It was a real bear trying to supervise Union employees, some had 10 or more years of lost seniority.

Stay positive bro, another door will open for you.

TK

 

[inxs]

I'm with the crowd that says this is just the beginning, not the end. Be glad that the company isn't with the government because in many cases the new contractor wouldn't be allowed to hire you. Stay positive and explore all options available to you.....

 

[elemonator]

WOW...I thought that the police escourt thing was only in movies....sorry to hear that.

 

[hotfarmboy1]

I'd go for trying to get a job with the contractor. You'd prob have a good chance. Either way good luck, I'm sure you'll find something.

 

[Blue Tile Spook]

Arrow Trucking Co., just before Christmas:

Drivers pulled into fuel stops and tried to use their company fuel cards. When they wouldn't work (no fuel purchase allowed), they were told that the company had just shut down, take the truck to the nearest "yard" owned by the company to turn in the truck, collect a $200.00 voucher and head for their home.

 

[Glock22]

Outsourcing in companies is getting really big.The company I work for is going to do the same thing,and it's scary.Im getting tired of thinking the worst every week,but it's hard to trust the people you work for.

 

[Ricnzak]

You can try calling the new company but it may not be much use. I work for a company that has a division that provides outsourcing of janitorial and maintenance. One of the only ways that they will be able to meet the 10% reductions is through labor cost. They will bring people in at a lower hourly rate to meet this goal. More than likely they will be offered a much lower benefit package that will reduce the burden cost as well. Typically the process of subing this work out takes several months. The new company would have been given at least a 30 day notice to proceed so that they can be staffed up as well. Most of these companies also give the client the option of retaining employees at current labor rates. Knowing this business it sounds as if you employer really put the screws to you guy's. Sorry I couldn't be more optimistic to you plight but I know how this business works to well.

 

[hornadylnl]

I'm a maintenance guy working in a factory as well. We had some maintenance contractors for awhile. I forget who the company was now. They didn't last very long. Most of the guys they sent us sucked. It was weeks before you could send them out on their own. It took them a couple weeks just to learn where everything is and the lingo to describe different areas of the plant. We have a lot of proprietary equipment that took them months to figure out.

I don't know what type of equipment you have but I have a feeling that your company may regret going to contractors. 480 is 480 and controls are generally the same but if you have proprietary equipment, you can't just bring in any maintenance guy to fix it. I don't care how many years of experience they have.

 

[alwalker84]

WOW...I thought that the police escourt thing was only in movies....sorry to hear that.

My company did this in august at our company headquarters in Atlanta. People showed up for work. Cops came and started escorting the people on the "list" out. You cant do anything but leave. You cant grab anything personal or come anywhere near your computer (fear of corprate savatage). They mail you your personal stuff. Anything personal on your pc gets wiped.

Crazy,

 

[hornadylnl]

The first few layoffs my company had, they walked up to each person out on the floor one by one and escorted them to their lockers and then out the gate. It makes for a long day wondering if he's coming for you next. The last few layoffs, they've had large meetings and then handed out sheets stating your status. These were usually within a week or 2 of Christmas and gave everyone the dignity of finishing out the year.

People were upset but I don't think anyone directed their anger at the company. This economy is so bad that you'd have to be a complete idiot to blame your employer for being laid off. Most people understand that if people aren't buying what you are producing, they can't afford to pay people to stand around. Of these last 2 layoffs, it hits the employees much harder as there are no jobs out there to be had. Even still, those laid off had a much more positive attitude about it than the previous layoffs.

 

[confused89]

I work in a union shop and right now the question is if we are getting shutdown time or layoffs. I took 11 days off last year unpaid to "help" the company out. I should be grateful that I still have a job, but when the CEO of the comapny just got a raise it really does make me wonder who is doing the math to figure out how much time I "need" off of work.

On the Arrow trucking comment. Schnieder trucking sent out a message on QualComm to their drivers to offers rides to former Arrow drivers if they were stranded somewhere to help them get home. Apparently the writing was on the wall for a while at Arrow but when Schnieder or Swift isn't hiring that many people you know that the economy isn't right yet.

 

[henktermaat]

So, my company was shut down for to weeks for the holidays. When everyone returns management tells all Maintenance personnel to head back out the door. Over break they decided to use a third party maintenance company that was "contractually obligated" to save the company 10% on their maintenance costs. Sorry, this just really bothers me. We've been doing very well all year. The people in Maintenance are people that have been with the company for a long time, and were getting close to retirement.

Better than some other instances.. My boss today told me when he was with another company, everyone showed up one day and found Police lined up long the front of the building. One cop said into a loud speaker, if we call your name, come up and get with an officer. He'll escort you to and from your locker. You're done here.


Crap... I thought we were getting past this..

Wow that is a harsh way to get the boot... my prayers are with you man. Things will turn around

 

[Lock n Load]

Theres no good way to lay people off, but one would think that companies could do it w/ dignity and respect..... yeah I know, I almost puked typing that out !!!!

I was a machinist in a Union plant, laid off year after year, out on strike one year from Oct- Dec and then laid off again in May..... out 14 months, plant closed and I went back to a job shop running CNC mills and lathes.

This shop let 8 people go after I was hired in.... attendance and work ethic was cited, I figured I was gone too being one of the last 2 hired but Im still there.?

Jobs are still scarce and good jobs are even rarer and more diffecult to find.

Good luck in your job ventures and searches !!!

 

[JetGirl]

My boss today told me when he was with another company, everyone showed up one day and found Police lined up long the front of the building. One cop said into a loud speaker, if we call your name, come up and get with an officer. He'll escort you to and from your locker. You're done here.

When the spousal unit was downsized, the week before it happened everyone showed up at work to find "For Sale" signs in the front property. At first it was thought to be a joke...but not so.

WOW...I thought that the police escourt thing was only in movies....sorry to hear that.

Nope. Totally the M.O. of LOTS of places.

 

[T-rav]

Sorry to hear that. Hope my thread I typed up helps a little bit. Just stay positive.