Sixty percent is better than nothing. I know that's no consolation, but it is what it is. When I got laid off as a result of downsizing back in the late 90s I was fortunate that a second income wasn't crucial.

Give serious thought to a PT second job ... maybe in a field you'd be happier with. You have nothing to lose.

Oh man, that sucks Sheesharee. Even if it could be worse, it still isn't easy. I've always been of the mindset though that when things like this happen, it's because it's time for a new chapter. Usually the change ends up being for the best and everything does have a way of working out. Stay positive and open minded about your options. You can count me in on the prayers.

The company where DH works laid off a large part of their employees a year ago. Those who were left, including DH, had their hours cut down to 4 days a week. You know, it wasn't easy to get along without the income and DH was busy enough that he often worked 5 days and was paid for 4 anyway....BUT it was fantastic to have him home the extra days off when we could spend the time with our DS. We got a lot of work done around the house, too :). As of a month ago, everyone's up to 36 hours a week.

I hope your 60% time doesn't last too long and that you'll be back to full time soon. Make lemonade out of this giant lemon you've just been handed.....I hope it's a blessing in disguise!

Yeah, I know it is what it is and I already said I'm lucky to have any job at all. I probably shouldn't have typed all that I did.

I don't like change. Nobody seems to. Besides my cut I'm really going to miss the two people that are leaving. :(

I'll definitely be looking for something else. Not sure what place would be willing to hire two days out of the week but we'll see!

I'm sure this is that push I needed to move on.

I'm sorry Shee. Hopefully this will not last. In the meantime, why not look for a part-time job in something that you think you might like? Who knows what it might lead to.

Glad you feel like you can share this here. I'm sorry to hear about your friends leaving - that is hard. I wish you the best and will keep you in my prayers. Keep us posted!

tina

I'm so sorry, Shee. It sort of puts you in limbo; you need a full salary but you like where you work but you can't stay there and you don't know what else is out there and what if it's only short term and you take another job you don't like as well and you wish you had stayed.........Right now, your mind is full of what-ifs. A 40% cut in one salary in a family just means you'll have to cut back on the little extras for a while. You'll also have two whole days a week to look for that "perfect" job, and reflect on what you really want to do, which sounds to me like it's not what you're doing now. Believe me, everyone I know who has experienced similar roadblocks in their life (And I've seen a lot, myself included) has come out on the other side happier and in a better situation. You will, too!
Good luck.
Dee

Take advantage and go back to college. Meanwhile, I am sorry to hear your news but sometimes things happen for a reason. We can get stuck in a rut sometimes.

((hugs))

Oh, I like golddust's idea, if you can swing the tuition at a community college.

Can you get unemployment for the 2 days? I seem to remember my cousin getting benefits before he was totally cut.

I am so sorry. It takes some belt tightening to make up that much lost income. But if you think you would be happy working retail, that opens up lots of possibilities.

I used to work in the high tech industry, started out with IBM. After 4 plant closures I tried to find a "fun" job. I'm currently working a customer service counter at a grocery store. I've met a lot of people that would help me get a job where they work if I wanted to change jobs. :0) Getting a low paying part time job could lead to "better" things! I'd encourage you to get out there and put yourself in the public eye. ;0)

Note: My DH works construction. They're down to 3 guys and the 2 company owners. I'm not worried because we put enough money away,but that took years.

Oh Shee - good luck.

I was laid off 2yrs ago when Bombay Co. closed. I'd already taken a huge cut in pay (about 20%) when I left the medical field to go work there to be home w/ my kids more and then they closed a yr. later.

The moral of my story is luckily I found a job back in the medical field (sort of & not my trained field) but it turns out to be 3 min. from our future house, totally flexible, low stress and I can look forward to working on what I want to do and training for it. I've been using the time to the best of my ability to get back to art and learning (well soon anyway!) so that someday (don't know what yr)I can finally have my own little catch all shop.

Take this time to invest in you and re-find yourself (in case you got lost) and your passion. It's tight (and scary at times) but you can do it!

Shee, are they going to continue your benefits package? That is worth quite a bit, even with the reduction in your pay.

Terriks - As far as I know all the benefits stay. For now anyhow.

Thanks for all for the encouragement. This just has been a rough couple of weeks. DH had some expensive car problems, his Grandfather passed away last Tues. and now this. I don't think it will really hit me until next week. I can hear *Maggie* cleaning her office as I 'speak' and don't even want to look. :(

I could probably claim partial unemployment. Regardless, I'm going to do some serious thinking and hunting.

I think I'd like being a health and PE teacher but I honestly have no desire to go back to school. Lots of factors play into that. Who knows though. DH's older brother up and went back to school suddenly. He'll soon be an electrical engineer.

Weird as it may sound I do think I'd like to do something with retail. I don't dislike my job but don't feel like this is the place for me anymore if that makes sense. It has nothing to do with the job responsibilities or the people here.

I apologize for sounding ungrateful. I know there are people with far worse situations. Sickness, disabilities, the poor people in Haiti, etc. and so forth. I'm here, ok and we'll be fine. I just have a bunch of sorting out to do.

I'd pursue finding a retail job in the evenings or on the days your not working. You may find you really do not like retail once you're doing it and you won't have burned a bridge at work.

This economy has really affected the construction industry. I would suspect as things turn around, your company will give you hours back, so if you hang in there for a few months, work a retail job parttime, at least you'll know if you want to stay with the construction job, go fulltime in a retail setting somewhere, or none of the above!

Just wanted to offer my sympathetic ear, it's a big life change for you.
I think you have the right frame of mind, look into something else that could be exciting and new for you; who knows what can turn up. I can see you in retailing, you have the looks and you love to shop, a great combo!!!

In the meantime, enjoy your extra time off and finish off your deco projects, lol!!

"Honestly, I think I would be happier working at a department store, jewelry store, furniture store, even paint store... just something that I'm moving around."

Hoo boy...trust me, you don't want to work retail as your FT job. I did it for years when I was younger (into my 30's) and it's basically a thankless job with lousy hours, lousier pay, all guts and no glory....and I was in management where I was at the top of the food chain. Run, Forrest, run! 60% in a job you like with the perks you have is not a bad thing. You want to work in retail for little or no health coverage, no bonuses, no weekends and nights off because you want to have a job that lets you move around (walk, jog, aerobicize for goodness sake!) and the commute is less? Take two aspirin, sleep on it and believe me, you'll come to your senses in the morning ;o)

Maybe I'm just a "half full" kind of gal, BUT.....I've had a lot of positive experiences working retail. Maybe I should expound? When I was putting myself through college I worked @ Sears, a tiresalesperson. Any items customers returned I got for pennies on the dollar, used my emp discount for buying clothes. I made min wage plus commission. VERY good money back then!!!! and probably still is. :0) I was able to buy a "new" BMW, pay cash, while still putting myself through college!!! :0) I applied to IBM and got the job because a girl @ Sears was the secretary for the woman who was doing the hiring! SCORE!!! I had medical insurance cheap thru the college & Sears gave me stock I still own & get dividends from. :0)

I currently work part time @ a grocery store, it's union. Medical is available for $5 a week. Any items getting ready to expire they sell for pennies on the dollar. Sandwiches from the deli are often put in the breakroom to feed us all lunch "free". When they had the Wedgwood pots & pans giveaway I had enough stamps(like green stamps, remember?) from shopping there to get the entire set! Love my new Wedgwood! A coworker loves silly vampire books as much as I do. She's bringing in her collection for me to read. :0)

You can find "bad" or focus on the positive in anything.....:0) I encourage you to try new things. :0)

"I currently work part time @ a grocery store, it's union. Medical is available for $5 a week."

There's the difference in your job and most retail jobs. Union jobs protect workers, which is a good thing especially in this tenuous economy. Unless you work in a grocery/supermarket the retail job would not be a union job, so you wouldn't have the option of health insurance coverage for $5.00 a week, that's for certain.

I should have been more specific when I referenced "retail". Most retail, wholesale and food/supermarket jobs are not union jobs.

Well, shoot Shee. Another sympathetic ear here. Sorry your hours got cut. Sometimes it feels like when it rains it pours.

mrsmarv, you crack me up. "Run Forest run" ??? lol! Unexpected change is a PITA but can indeed be an opportunity to discover new things and paths.

Many hugs! My husband just got laid-off 2 weeks ago. His company was small-- only 50 employees, and 25% were let go. This was not due to the economy, but because of a Canadian company suing Microsoft and winning. . .his product was based on the feature Microsoft could no longer use. It is sad around his former workplace, I'm sure, too, as there are no more plans for expansion.

But anyway, that's not my point! I remember coming home with my DDs from piano lessons (this was at 10 a.m.) and seeing DH getting out of his car. I immediately asked him, "Do you still have a job?" Nope! The baby (2 month old) was crying, it was cold out . . .felt like a scene from a made-for-TV movie. But you know what? Even though this was NOT due the economy, we all talk about it enough to know, it could happen at any time. So, I wasted all those months worrying, and, guess what? It did NOTHING! Worrying didn't protect his job! It just depressed me!

So, at this time, I have been able to push all negative thoughts out of my head. Coincidentally, my oldest daughter is learning about the Great Depression with her history group. It's made me realize, as long as a person isn't dead (!) he/she just keeps on going. We survive, we get through things-- we find a way. I am not saying everything in life always works out (I'm thinking of illness, violent crime, etc. are part of any big plan) but "most" things do.

My best advice is to live like there's no tomorrow, because "tomorrow is promised to no one." But, at the same time, get proactive and think out-of-the-box. Remember that whatever decision you make now isn't for forever! What do you like about retail? Could you keep your current job and become an online retailer, either a reseller or something like etsy? Obviously, you don't want to sink too much in to start, but while you still have some hours, this would be a great time to do something different!

Here is an affirmation you might enjoy:

There is One Power,
Which is perfect abundance and fulfillment.
And I (your name), am a perfect manifestation of this Power.
The Power, working for me and through me, provides for me all
The abundance and fulfillment which is rightfully mine.
I draw to me and create in my life all that I need in the World of Form
To fulfill my needs;
This may come specifically in the form of money.
I hereby release all cause, effect, manifestation, form, and essence
And any channel within me,
Which may have been preventing the appropriate flow of
Abundance in my life.
I draw upon the balance of resources in the Universe,
For the good of all,
According to the free will of all,
And I affirm my own wisdom in understanding my needs, and how
To fulfill them.
I call to me just enough resources,
Knowing I deprive none,
And am not deprived myself,
I have just enough.
And so it must be.

I was laid off from my construction job a few weeks ago. The commercial market is really tough right now and probably will be for a while. Fortunately, we saved up for this and will make it through.

This would be a great time to test your toes in another field. I tried retail a few years ago - selling kitchen cabinets. I found I loved the technical side of the business and working with our clients, but truly disliked selling. The sales manager was not so great at the technical side, so we made a great team. Then, the condo market crashed so I went back to construction. But, it was something I always wanted to do and satisfied my craving to change careers. You may try something new and find you really like it - or it may satisfy your desire just to try something different. It is definitely worth looking into.

This may not make it easier, but just remember you are not alone and the cut in the hours is not personal. It is an attempt to keep the company afloat.

Good luck. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Lisa