dodgeguy71

So good news today, actually was. Wife celebrated when I got home, I danced my best goofy dance......I was let go from my job. Some sort of corporate restructuring. Around our shop it was blamed on the boob at the main branch being that.....a boob and running the joint into the ground for his benefit...or his stores benefit. Different rules for the main branch compared to the satellite branch and so on. With 6 of us there and 4 looking for jobs and two succesfull I don't think it was just a me problem.

Anyhow, the meat of my blab. So businesses always say "out of respect" they require or would like two weeks notice so they are not left in a bind. Meanwhile back at the corporate restructuring you get to work and start right into fixing things and it's, "hey come into the office, your being let go in the beginnig of the shutdown of this branch." So I laughed and said, "well saw that coming from a month or two ago." However it would have been nice for them to tell me last night, "bring your truck and trailer to work so you can tote your box home". Now it's a special trip to go get my toolbox. So corporate America, you can kiss my behind if you think I'll ever give two weeks notice. Told my kids, remember this day and they said why? I said, because when you graduate, go to college and get a job your gonna hear, "we value you as an employee" and "your an excellent worker" and so on but remember in the back of your head, this day, the day that the valued employee was chopped. So I went on to say, remember that what they are saying is usually bovine scatology, do your job and work hard but take everything they say with a grain of salt......or sugar to sweeten the taste!!

Oh well, my wife said we'll work it out. Truck is paid for up til october or november. Time to get serious about my business and make it happen. Don't really feel like turning wrenches anymore. Want to really concentrate on welding. I love making stuff and my handrail and stairs I did this year really gave me a sense of accomplishment, you could stand back and be proud and say...I did that, first time in my life to!! Don't care to go back to working for corporate America either, I've got something for them but it's better left unsaid. I feel bad for my boss at our shop though. He was an excellent guy and been there for 11 years and then blam, that makes me more mad than them dumping me...actually I could care less, one less heartache in my life but my immediate boss, greatest guy you could meet and here you go. Just burns my butt, may be an email to the corporate main office thanking them. They knew what they were doing, how bout our two weeks? That's what my boss and wife both said.....I laughed and said, "what you actually thought they gave a ______ about you??" I know they don't, easier that way, guess its good being pessimistic....now it's on to optimistic with my business!!

Well thanks for letting me blab yet again!! Any of you welders out there let me know some info about this secret society!! Kinda like the free masons!!!

Hoss

Most of the time people get some sort of severance package when they are laid off. If not, many companies at least give some respectable amount of notice. I'm sorry yours didn't do that, but best of luck to you in your new endeavor.

NUN YAH RAM

Good luck, Gook luck.

dodgeguy71

I got three weeks severence pay but 40+ miles from work for me and my boss is some distance away they could have said, "ahh, bring your toolbox haulers in tomorrow". It's alright, got two months wages lined up so that gives me a little breathing room. Like I said, I've been thinking about looking for work the last couple months, but was happy with my arrangement and figured if I did get canned then it would be the opportunity to work on the biz, maybe carma.....??

Fronty Owner

One of my friends gave a two week notice, his last day they asked him to stay and offered in writing $15K per year raise, no extra duties, and two month severance.


I cant tell if you happy about the closure or mad... good luck in your future endevors.

Rednecktastic

At my place of work when we lay off we give 2 months work or 2 months salary and you're free to go.


Best of luck.


I also understand there are some Govt benefits if you wanna go back to school? My pilot buddy was telling me this the other day, some sort of program.


On the other hand.
The reason you give 2 weeks notice is out of respect when you quit. They gave you a job and you should give them time to get things straight before you leave.

klx650a2

When I put in my notice, I don't think the thought I was serious. In my exit interview, they offered me more cash. I turned it down and have not looked back since. I should have asked them why they had more cash now and not when I asked twice for a raise before. But there, the pres and vice pres were poo poo heads... The Guy upstairs is always looking after you... Good luck with your endeavors...

CamperAndy

In the business I am in, if you turn in your 2 week notice they just escort you to the door and tell you the check is in the mail. They don't want you if you are moving on. Had a guy try and play the system, told the boss he understood how complex his job was so he said he was turning in his 6 month notice he was leaving, to train his replacement. This was so he could get shown the door and try and collect 6 months pay. They ended up giving him 2 months pay but he was happy with that.

Clayten

So ya want to be a welder. Well because you have a past in I am guessing mechanics, you have a good start. That gives you the mind set to go from start to finish.
I have been doing this for 30 years. I have told my two boys do not follow my steps. Now you know what I think of welding.
I know some people have done very well with hand rails and that type of work. It is by far the easiest on the bod.
Don't get into the heavy industrial you will end up like the rest of us that did that broken and burnt.
I know one fella in particular is an absolute artist with metal he should be a millionaire with his talent, but artist have their own ways.
To go in the direction you are saying you want to go you do not have to be the best welder. Just keep it square and plumb, or round and abstract with a good knowledge of the tape measure.
My artistic welder friend has made some of the most beautiful tables I have ever seen, one had four legs made of brass and they where in the shape of cobras with the heads at the top of the table. Also he made a giant palm tree of brass. Put in his front yard everyone wanted to buy it he said no. Like I say artist have their own way.
Good luck to you, art is where the real money is even if it just a fancy gate for a garden or a cute little wind mill for the center of the garden.
I hope I have been useful in your query.

BearKiller

What kind of dream-world do you guys live in ??

In this backwards behind-the-times neck of the woods, people still think that "minimum wage" means "the most the law allows them to pay"; and, "severance" has something to do with getting in too close to the saw and is usually permanent.


The only notice of un-employment people get around here is "things are kinda slow---you can go home."



Just the other day, a guy asked if he could be off one Saturday; the boss said "Sure, just step in the office a minute"; he wrote him a check for the time he had coming and told him "Now, you can be off all of the Saturdays."



This is all so sad, but also so very true.



No wonder the rest of the world calls us hicks and hillbillies.

matego

I guess it all depends on what you do for a living. In our shop they cater to mechanics wants like I have never seen before. We have guys pulling no call-no shows all the time. When I go to the manager with complaints about the techs on my shift I supervise he is afraid to say anything for fear of someone quitting. Just 5 years ago I would have taken guys out to the wood shed but not anymore. Its sad and very frustrating trying to deal with employees that do not care. I am actually going in tomorrow to fix the one guys screw up to try and get the guy home for the weekend. I asked the tech Friday before he went home since he was familiar with the job if he would help out and all I got was a "f-that, its Friday... thats why there is hotels down the road." It would have taken him 1 hr max and it will take me all morning to find out where he left off and pick back up

Sorry for the rant.

Fern

I just found out there is no work for about a month. This after not working all this week. Had to drag it out of him. I wish employers were more upfront about stuff. I guess that why I wasn't upfront about looking for another job all month. Hopefully I get the one I'm interviewing for on monday. Wish me luck.

PistolWhipt

I gave my 2 weeks notice as a courtesy for my manager and it went just like clockwork. I was pulled off of the travel schedule which I wasn't expecting but was fine with it as there was plenty of work to do at the shop.

I guess if you work at a place who is used to people quitting or not showing up then a "quick disconnect" should be expected. Sure would stink ... I wish the best for any of you in that position right now.

Good luck on your interview Fern !! I wasn't up front about looking for work either ... they didn't ask and I didn't tell .

Cheers,
PISTOL

mikmaze

each place is different, my Dad was let go after many years of service to a pharmaceutical company, weirdest thing was that they had sent him to so much training the year that they let him go he left with way more than he went in with, if ever a lack of forsight was around, he benefited. me? I gave two weeks notice once, they did not take me seriously, never bothered to even talk to me about it, so when two weeks was up, they were all just standing around looking for me. Ya just never know what way things are going to go, so always keep your eyes open for the next chance.

Hvytrkmech

Their are state and federal laws that do offer an employee some protection, maybe you and some of your fellow co-workers should get together and do some research and form a strategy?



Tim