i know my dh feels the same way...he, the owners, and one other sales person (and really a bad one) are the only office staff full-time...

he's been bidding jobs all over the area, but this time of year they're down to a skeleton staff of mechanics...think he said the union had 100? maybe, on the "bench" they call it. he picked up a million $ job but work doesn't start til spring...

my dad's credo and dh has followed it, was to keep the men working...puts a heavy load on your shoulders...

In June we'll be losing 47 people where I work. I don't know them all, but the ones I do know I'll miss terribly. It's so bad.

I don't know if my job will exist or not. Maybe, maybe not.

That is so sad. Hopefully people who have been with the company for thirty years are prepared to retire.

My husband is in sales management at a company that has had to downsize during this recession. There is a lot of pressure when you know people's jobs are at stake and dependent upon your success. People and companies just aren't buying that much stuff right now though.

so very sad

We moved from the area we grew up in awhile back. Its so sad when we go back home. As we start into our town, there are four car dealerships, that have been open for the past 40 years closed. The industrial park is just about empty, we know so many folks that are in their forties and fifties that have lost their jobs. At first the ones that lost their jobs were blue collar, and now lots of white collar jobs are being lost. Its so sad watching families relying on unemployment. We have a judge in this town that only handles the bankruptcy of homes, and said he is busy 10 hours a day, and he is seeing folks lose low cost home and the million dollar homes. We have started helping a family that is unemployed. No one wants hand outs, They are making needed repairs to our home that is still there to give them income. They would not just accept cash, so this helps both of us. Hope folks will start looking out for their "brother in need". As I look around at all the closed business, it runs through my mind, where are the people that were once working. On our last trip, we noticed that three family furniture stores that had been around for many years had closed. Know that many long and hard hours had gone into each of these businesses and it hurts to have to close those doors. I have compassion for each of you that have lost your jobs and the ones that know that it will be a matter of time. Between my husband and myself we worked over 82 years combined, and so thankful there was a job to get up and go to for all those years. Sad thing, where my husband worked is closed now and in China, and the firm I worked for has cut back to a 3 people from 100 a few years ago. Very sad situation for people that want to work.

On Monday DH and I went down to the twin cities, that's about an hour drive. I noticed two major things that are due to our slow economy.

One, there were a LOT less trucks on the road.

Two, For many, many miles we drove past empty flat-bed train cars that were being stored on RR tracks.

It's really sad to see. I'm glad we are retired, but me heart really goes out to those who are sitting on the edge of their seats, just wondering when or if they will be able to continue.

It's a no-win situation. I worked in sales, too and first they closed our Minnesota office and then got our office down to bare bones. I don't know who to feel sorrier for--the ones laid off or the ones left behind to do the work of sometimes 5 or 6 people. We were a distributor, not a manufacturer, so I never felt like I let anybody down. After I left they hired 3 new people to do what I'd been doing. And they griped about being overworked--HA!

I remember how sad I felt when I was laid off in 2005 after 31 years. I feel bad for everyone. My own two daughters can't even find part-time or menial jobs in this economy. My neighbor, who just got her BA, is working as a waitress.

We are down from our high of about 350 to 150 now. Understand they were not all layoffs over the past 3 years..some retired, some left for other opportunities.
But now we are getting down to a core group. Many are being asked to wear multiple hats and the ones with the most multiple skill sets are the ones still here. (A lesson there I think)
I have been here 22 years on Monday.
This is my family. Not my blood, but I have spent my whole life growing up and old with my co-workers.
We watched each others kids play ball, go to college and some off to war.
We worship together. (at work sometimes!)
We played in softball leagues together.
We helped bury each others loved ones.
And rejoice when a new grandchild arrives.
Yes, this is my family and I will miss them dearly.