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May 4, 2001 | 11:13 PM

#16

FTE Ken

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Joined: Jan 1997

Posts: 23,165

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From: Enjoying the real world.

downsizing

The reality of America is we're becoming a high-tech and service oriented economy. Those still employed in the "old economy" are going to see more and more of this. For those in the tech fields, its been great the last 20 years, except for a few people in the dot-com industry. Think about it.... one robot replaces ten workers but people have to design, test, built and sell those robots.....

Either way, it still sucks to get laid off (I don't like using "downsizing" as its just a nice way of saying you've been screwed). I had it happen once to me 5 weeks before my son was born.... the SOBs told me how sorry they were for it but apparently they had a lot of leeway in who got laid off (hint, the guys who drank with the boss on the weekends kept their jobs).

Ken Payne
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Admin

May 5, 2001 | 12:41 AM

#17

whomrig

Elder User

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 898

Likes: 0

From: SF Bay area

downsizing

Yeh, it really sucks to get laid off...I have been out since last september, so i got myself back to school to learn more skills and get a really good job. I live in silicon valley the worst place for this to happen though. so i have a lotta time to work on the ol' truck.

Wayne

http://home.pacbell.net/whomrig

May 5, 2001 | 10:33 AM

#18

cowlady

Elder User

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 574

Likes: 0

From: Buffalo - proof Hell has

downsizing

I'm so sorry to hear about your job. I was downsized from mine - I'd been there 4 1/2 yrs. & my sister has just had the same after 20 years! I think it's safe to say we can forget about EMPLOYER loyalty today, save for a few rare situations.
Have you tried any online job searches? Check out www.appleone.com - they are nationwide & they list in just about every field. Monster.com is good too!
Keep us posted - hope it works out for you & that this turns out to be a blessing in disguise!

"If you can't beat 'em, you're NOT driving a Ford"

'97 F150 XLT ORP 4X4
4.6L/auto, power everything!

Just got the truck - stay tuned for more info!

May 5, 2001 | 12:21 PM

#19

Kenny

Cargo Master

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 2,484

Likes: 7

From: New Egypt, New Jersey

downsizing

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. It sure does seem that the company loyalty toward employees is a thing of the past. The days of working for one company until retirement have somehow disappeared. I was let go this past February after ten faithful years of service! (2/18/91 - 2/18/01) Happy anniversary right? Our company was bought out by a big corporation who owned two of our competitors. Our competitors then became our "sister" companies, and we traded info, products, equipment etc. We were given a great 5 year "plan" as to the future and goals for all 3 companies. Things were looking great and one year later, they "absorbed" our company into the other two.
The one good thing was they gave us plenty of notice, and offered incentives to stay on until the move was complete. I was still devastated, but I now look at it as a blessing in disguise. I never realized how much that place burned me out! I have decided to start out on my own again as a general contractor. Anyway, Keep your chin up and good luck. Remember when things look bad, we always bounce back!

Kenny

May 16, 2001 | 05:03 PM

#20

aerocolorado

Postmaster

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 3,818

Likes: 3

downsizing

Food for thought. A recent article made a compelling argument that in the near future, very few people will be left who know how to work with their hands and fewer still ones that can actually fix things. Those who have mechanical skills in particular will be in great demand. As we become increasingly dependent on mechanical devices so too will be the need for technicians for repair and service.

May 16, 2001 | 05:44 PM

#21

Ultramagdan

Post Fiend

Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 11,496

Likes: 6

From: Kansas

downsizing

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 16-May-01 AT 06:59 PM (EST)[/font][p]To add insult to injury it appears that Ford is one of the problem companies. The CEO of Ford has stated that they do not want to look across a room of white male faces. This has resulted in Ford having a very aggressive hiring program for others that are not white males. It also resulted in Ford being the only automaker cracking the top 50 in diverse companies (they came in 30th I believe). Oh and by the way it also resulted in a class action lawsuit against Ford by all the white guys they fired. The age of the guys they let go, around 51.

I fight this stuff all the time and if Ford is actively doing this. I have a problem with it. You don't fire people so that you can hire someone of a different sex or color. That is discrimination.

WorldNetDaily has the story.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=22838
98 F250LD 4X4

May 16, 2001 | 10:16 PM

#22

rocky

Elder User

Joined: Nov 1999

Posts: 684

Likes: 0

downsizing

Funny thing, back in the sixties I read a book about Fidel Castro, and he predicted this stuff for us. He said when a man cannot work with his hands, he becomes useless to himself and to society, and that's why he values a farmer and carpenter the same as a doctor. I've always remembered that, and forty years later, here it is. The metal-workers, machinists, and "normal" mechanics are being abused and cut out of the mainstream. The best machine-shop in our town just closed too, and I think this trend will continue for a while. I feel myself becoming "extincter" by the minute.

May 21, 2001 | 09:51 PM

#23

caseman

Freshman User

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 34

Likes: 0

downsizing

Just went through the same thing earlier this year. Twelve years of service down the tubes. Although I got blessed with a new job, it still feels kind of weird. I firmly believe that there is a mean spirited attitude in industry management now that was not there ten years ago. The bottom line drives everything, and even though they say people are their most important asset, when the money is gone, the loyalty is gone too.