Re: Layoffs and scrounging

[George Mena <George -dot- Mena -at- ESSTECH -dot- COM>]

My recommendations, such as they are:

* Update the resume if you haven't done so already.  Never assume your
position is safe.

* People who get laid off tend not to be called back.  I wouldn't put an
ounce of faith in anything the company told the recent departees about
being called back to work unless the company in fact *has* a proven
track record of actually living up to its word.  Most companies don't do
this.

* Yes, it's typical to redistribute company assets among the survivors,
especially if folks have put in reqs for them.  What doesn't get
redistributed goes into storage.  This is called corporate recycling.

* As far as other companies in your marketplace and how they're doing:
Hate to tell you this, but you never identified what *type* of capital
equipment your company manufactures for sale or even what market your
company sells to, so I don't think anyone can responsibly comment on
that.

George

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eric J. Ray [SMTP:ejray -at- RAYCOMM -dot- COM]
> Sent: Friday, July 24, 1998 9:04 AM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      FWD: Layoffs and scrounging
>
> Name withheld upon request. Please reply on list.
>
> *************************************************
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I know some of you have been through what I'm going through and I'm
> looking
> for some advice or encouragement.
>
> Our company has been downsizing our division. We build capital
> equipment
> and business has been slowing down. I've been told my position as a
> technical writer is probably safe but of course there are no
> guarantees.
> We've had two rounds of lay-offs and the atmosphere around here is
> rather
> gloomy. When the others were let go, they were told the company would
> try
> to call them back as soon as possible (maybe within a few months).
> However,
> management has approved "requisitions" for monitors, computers, RAM
> and
> other equipment from the vacated cubicles. Everyone here seems to have
> the
> attitude of what can I grab to make it easier for me. There doesn't
> seem to
> be a lot of thought about what will happen if we have to call the
> people
> back. Is the outcome inevitable?
>
> Here are my questions.
>
> Is it typical to redistribute equipment among the survivors? I'd
> really
> like to think we will be calling the others back. I'm not sure I would
> want
> to come back after a lay-off to find my desk marauded.
>
> How are other companies doing that provide capital equipment? Is the
> slowdown unique to the industry I'm in?
>
> Should I be looking for another job right now?
>
> Thanks for the advice.
>