Redundant

[bunsen_h]

Because of the economic downturn, my employer has been cutting back on some things.

One of the things they just cut back on was me.

I wasn't expecting it at all; I was expecting them to do wage rollbacks, work-sharing, reduced work weeks, that kind of thing.  Apparently they're going to be doing that stuff as well, but they're also letting people go, a significant fraction of the employees, and evidently not just the newest ones.  I guess they had to find that difficult balance between "the experience to know how the accumulated kludgery works" and "the higher salaries" or something.

So: I'm looking for work.  Ideally computational chemistry, but I have a varied background in lab chemistry and theoretical chem, plus plenty of years of software work.  I'd appreciate any leads.  Networking is not one of my strengths.

Crap.

Comments

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

Darn! I'm so sorry to hear this.

Obviously, don't take it personally.

Don't sign any papers they give you until you've had time to go over them with (preferably) a lawyer or if not at least someone who's gone through this. Given the number of years you've been there, you are owed a fair amount of severance by law -- and one would hope also counseling for finding a new job etc.

Make sure there's no restrictions on who you could work for too.

While this is not the greatest time, it may give you a few months in nice weather to do other things, and you're likely to find something better, and that could allow you to build new & different skills.

Let me know if you need help -- or just someone to chat to.

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

I know that I shouldn't take it personally -- "it's the bad economy" and there were a number of good people let go at the same time, including at least one who'd been with the company longer than I had. Several, including myself, I would categorize not so much as brilliant innovators as "the people who quietly keep things running, fixing problems, supporting the others".

Still: I don't think the people who were let go were chosen by lot. Out of the people in my group, I was the one who was deemed most expendable.

We haven't been asked to sign any papers. There were about eight people at my "departure meeting", and I know that there was at least one other such meeting. Minus the pleasantries, it was "here's an envelope describing your settlement package; your manager will escort you to your desk to collect your belongings and then out of the building". There were provisions for collecting personal files on computers, for those unable to bring all their personal possessions home with no notice, etc.

I think that the settlement package is about double the legal requirement. They've also provided some contacts for job hunting, though I'd have to go through it again to see if there's more there than a list of agencies. The health/benefits package should cover that kind of counselling. I think my original contract had some restrictions about working for a direct competitor for some period of time, but I'd have to check; it's not likely to be relevant anyway.

I'll be spending at least a couple of days doing some fix-up stuff around the house. It'll help to take my mind off things.

Thanks.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

You might still want an attorney of appropriate training and experience to look over your severance package, in any case. The subject came up a month or so ago on one of Ontario Today (http://www.cbc.ca/ontariotoday/)'s phone-ins