Companies moving, leaving people unempolyed

[Michaelangelo]

I'm feeling so sick these last few days, few of you have heard me talk about this... well I guess I need to rant somewhere and lately the flame pit is the place I rant the most.  *takes a deep breath*

My dad found out this Saturday that the company he's worked at for 25+ years is moving!  They're only keeping 30 people at the current factory here in Michigan, everyone else is either being laid off or relocated.  My dad has no clue where he lands in this yet, if he's still going to have a job or if he's one of the many who are about to loose the job.  He doesn't just want to keep his job, he NEEDS the job!

My dad is in his late 50's, he's got a bad heart and bad sugar.  His health isn't the best record at all, and would cause major problems in trying to get another job.  Who will hire someone in bad shape at his age, when they can find a 20 year old who in great shape?   This is not a good spot for him, and it has us scared to death of what could happen.

He's a great guy, a stronger worker, and barely ever misses a day of work.  He's done factory jobs since before I was born.  So this is the life he knows, with some art jobs on the side.  But with all these companies leaving Michigan right now, there's not many factories to even look at going to.

Problem is, my dad is the main income of the house.  Our house payments are $1,500+/month, not including gas, electric, water, internet exc... We've barely been making it by with this type of living.  I'm giving my folks money all the time, we see it as rent.  And I even have taken some bills of theirs, and have added it to my monthly bill so that I'm paying them to take it off of my parents.   I know it might seem I travel a lot, but anyone who meets up with me at these trips know I go on very little money, I don't have much to eat, and I try to avoid shopping to much.   Money has been bad on us for the last few years, and this is with my dad working.

IF my dad does loose his job, there's no way we'll be able to keep our house (the house my mom grew up in), we'd have to move and the parents are talking leaving Michigan.  I don't know where I'd end up with this.

This is VERY scary time for us.  I hate it... I hate companies just pulling up their routs and leaving all these employees who's been working for them, out in the dirt.  I know thousands of people are going through this in Michigan all the time recently, we've been loosing many of our big car companies.... to other countries.  Unemployment is through the roof.  It's hard to even get a small job here in Michigan....

Man... really I just hope my dad some how ends up in the list of people keeping their jobs... even if he does I feel sick for all those who are loosing their job....

[Kazari]

Man that sucks, Ivey. Yeah a lot of companies are doing this....moving most of it over sees and only leaving a select few. A bunch of my offices are consolidating into one location.  this sort of scares me too.

[HUN]

Wow! You can't get much lower than this!  
I feel your pain, Ivey! My parents retired, but my dad still had to work 20 years after that to make ends meet. They even live in Oklahoma, a state that's supposed to be a cheap place to live! Oh, the irony!  
The company I work for has basically done the same thing. It's just like Kazari said, all the corporations are doing it. No employee is safe.
But I've found a way out! Check out the link on my signature, or have your dad take a look. I was heavily inspired by this opportunity, not only because this company's been in business for 30 years and is in the billion dollar bracket, but they feature all natural products to improve people's health. That's what we need, especially these days! They even feature herbal enhancements like green tea(one of Leo's faves!)  
Just thought I'd bring a little sunshine into this dreary picture! I know too well that living under the doom of the "layoff monster" is a real thing, so I'm doing what I can to escape his jaws. Bottom line, I pray that you and your family find relief, even if it's not from my link.
May the "GREEN" be with you!  

[Michaelangelo]

Thanks Kaz and Hun!  

I do carry good news for my dad at least, he talked to a boss today and they said he's so far up with his job that he doesn't have to worry.   He'll be one of the employees remaining.

Though I still feel bad for all the people who are loosing their jobs because of this.  It makes one wonder, just how safe are you when you think you have a steady job that you've worked at for years.

[Raphael]

That's great news for your dad, at least, Mike.  You're right, though, there is no such thing as job security any more. You can put in hours and hours of overtime, bend over backwards to help and still get the boot when they decide they need to move.  I can't count the number of times I've seen it happen, to myself and to others.

Sadly, there is no such thing as loyalty to employees any more.

[HUN]

True that, Raph!  
A friend of mine at work and I were talking about this the other day. My company let go a bunch of people without any warning last year, but I was blessed to avoid the axe-this time.
It's a really different world we live in; the days of careers are almost extinct, for a lot of reasons. One such being the evolution of temporary agencies. I mean, why pay someone and provide benefits and a pension, when you can just "rent" an employee to do the same thing at a fraction of the cost. Plus, you don't have to give them benefits!
Not that I condone this practice, but after being a "rental" and becoming a career employee, I see how corporate America is "renting" at an alarming rate. Then there's the outsourcing-don't get me started on that!  
That's why I'm looking into starting a home business. That's the only way to be truly happy; when you are your own boss! Wait a minute! I am the boss! I'm HUN! HAHAHA!

[Leonardo]

and there's overtime without being paid for it....
apparently CA labor law folks are starting to pay more attention to this, because it means corporations are getting away without paying on taxes for work that people are actually doing...something like that.....

but yes, you're supposed to be loyal to the company and give up your work/life balance, but there won't be any to you because you are number to them--that will always bother me, even though there's very little we can do about it, unless we were politicians probably....

[HUN]

Hey, everybody! Leo made it home!!  

Well, one escape from the "rat race"(sorry Splinter!) would be to go into business for yourself; as long as you've done your homework and start a business you know is successful and in high demand.
I just read that only half of the people in the working world are satisfied with their jobs, which is down from 79% 20 years ago. That makes sense because technology has improved since then, so corporations are demanding more work in half the time which results in faster burnout. There's hardly any room for a "life" anymore.

It kind of reminds me of that Michael Keaton movie "Gung Ho", which showed a sample of Japanese corporate life. Rent that one, Leo; I think you'd get a kick out of it!  

[Leonardo]

I saw that movie years ago.
My current fave of things in working world is Office Space.

Truth is there is no perfect job.
There is no perfectly stable job, be it for self or corporation--large or small.
Happiness is an ephemeral concept, too.
One just has to navigate through things the best one can, depending on where one's abilities, luck, and skills are. And what does bring one the most happiness of the options out there.
And hope that one is able to cling to enough good things outside of work....

[HUN]

In other words, BALANCE. That's key.
The article said basically the same thing. There is no perfect job, and usually someone who leaves one job for another comes crawling back embarrased!
It's an individual thing; one person's trash is another person's treasure.
I know some people who love stress, where others, like myself, try to avoid it.
We all have different strengths and weaknesses, which usually makes a corporation great because of the diversity. Everyone has something special to offer. Don't ask me to sing "It's a small world"!  

[Leonardo]

You start singing that song....
You know what Hun's outcome is in every battle with the TMNT, riiiight?

Of course, my luck, Mikey would come in and start singing along, too....

Anyway, best wishes to everyone on their jobs, whatever that be....

[Michaelangelo]

Got some more news on this...

Seems there was a lot of misunderstandings from everyone at the factory with this.  Seems though they are moving parts out of the factory, what was forgotten to mention is that new departments are being moved into the factory.  The Big boss came in and held a meeting to straighten it out.  So it doesn't sound like anyone is loosing their jobs after all.. but man was that ever a big scare!

Today dad is packing up his machines as they're some of the things being moved.  Though at least there is new stuff being moved in for him.  

Wish there was away for people to feel safe with their jobs... cause that kind of fear is just horrible!   And people go through it all the time, I always hear news of factories moving out of Michigan.  It is so real these days that someone can loose their job that fast, and there's no where to go afterwards... the few jobs that are opened don't make enough to keep a house... fastfood is barely enough for an apartment in this day and age.

[HUN]

Most excellent news, Mikey!  
As long as he doesn't move out, it's all good!
It's definitely a gray picture with businesses these days; one day you're up, the next you're down.
Business owners are having a time of it too. The economy is really struggling of late, but maybe next
year our national leadership will improve and things will be better for all of us.
Of course, as Splinter would caution, one must be ready for anything!
Here's hoping your dad will find peace after this move.

[Aignatius]

I'm glad to hear that he's not going to be unemployed. Rather disheartening to hear stories like that. What is it, will everyone end up working for Walmart?  

One simply must adapt to survive... it's the neenja way.