Just my opinion but, if a company is unplugging refrigerators and turning off florescent lights to save money....I doubt they are in a position to match or exceed any competitive job offers.

In addition, if they are being very selective on who they keep and who goes away they may not keep someone on the "A" list that is actively seeking new primary employment opportunities.

Just as a business owner has to do take uncomfortable action steps to keep the business a viable enterprise, it is important that you go through a similar review process. Evaluate your risk/reward of staying put vs the risk/reward of moving on. In today's economic climate it is encumbent on both the business and the employee to do what it takes to survive.

The economy is very dynamic so both sides of the fence have to remain vigilant and prudent.

 

I have survived through a "sinking ship" company and know first hand that it can be ugly. Just a week after the three bosses got new "company vehicles", they called us all into the conference room and told us they didn't have money for the following week's payroll. They asked us all to waive a paycheck. Some were willing to do it but I was strongly opposed on principal. Ultimately, after a nasty couple hours we agreed to allow them to postpone payday by a week. Nobody lost money, it just took longer to get it.

In the following weeks we saw our short- and long-term insurance go away, our insurance premiums go up, the receptionist let go and I can't remember everything else but we became pretty lean. Several engineers bailed in the next few months. But, the funny thing is that those of us who stuck it out and remained became more important to the company since we had contracts and projects that had to be completed. We got the work done, bills were paid and things got better slowly. I left the firm a year or so later.

Bottom line is, the guy needs a certain level of staffing to get the work done. Without guys to do installs, he is out of business. Sounds to me like he kept the people that produce in order to survive.

If you do get an offer from another company, you may want to take a close look at the company. They may be in survival mode as well and you could be replacing someone who bailed. I'd hate to be the new guy in a place that is going downhill. Maybe stick it out where you are and hope things improve. Crappy jobs are always out there and if you do lose your job, you can get one of those anytime.

Good luck.

 

Sticking with the sinking ship is exactly how I was able to acquire the intellectual properties of the company I was with for 17 years. Over a year and a half now and still holding our own.

 

kw5413, my intentions with telling Kyle to go to his current employer and give them a chance to counter offer was to give the impression to his current employer that he is not leaving in disgust or anger, but for a newer and possibly better opportunity. I also believe that if you have a good employee that you want to keep, and keep happy, you would do something to keep them rather than see a competitor get that person. And, as an employer, getting an opportunity to make an offer to keep a valued employee rather than receiving a two week notice looks good in both parties eyes. Maybe it is me, but I would prefer to stay on the good side of a future previous employer, if possible, than burn the bridge.

And I also understand the unplugging refrigerators and turning off lights are cost saving measures, but if the company is stretching pennies so far that they turn them into copper wire, maybe you are best to leave quietly with a two week notice than to be on the ship when it finally sinks.

If and when Kyle gets a job offer from another employer that he likes, I believe with all the information in this thread he will make a wise decision.

 

Working for yourself is always better i.m.o..

 

It's a "job" by the description, not a "career". When it's that bad for that many years there isn't a future in doing it as a laborer, but there MIGHT be doing it yourself.

It's ALWAYS a good idea to keep an eye out for a better deal, or just "another" deal since jobs can instantly vanish.

Be sure to have enough personal gear to work on your own at whatever you are good at, and if the business collapses due to not being able to shrink small enough, you might pick up some work they'd otherwise have gotten.

Get all the INFORMATION you can. Suppliers, what their prices to that particular business are (because they can choose to match them for you) and all possible details of how the business operates.

If it gets close, maybe (depending how tight you are with the owner) let him know you'll work some barter for equipment. Take the equipment off premises if you do this and get a receipt. Better it go to you than a liquidation auction, and he can buy time that way.

Some employers escort their employees off premises if the company closes. I tell mine that nothing is personal, and if they close they should hire me to do the cleanout, level the building, whatever. I don't care at all cuz it's all about the money.

 

If you're willing to take on small jobs, there's a lot of work out there that big companies can't be bothered to do. They have to send a guy to do an estimate, fill out a quote, do the work order, by the time you send a guy or a crew to do the work they've got all this overhead to pay for. Working for yourself you don't have all those costs, if you hustle, there's work out there.

Having a business has its advantages too. Dont know how it works in the States, but I can deduct a lot of expenses such as gas, phones, truck payment, tools/equipment, internet and a chunk of my mortgage and utilities that I couldn't do when I was working for a company and it really makes a difference. Word gets around too. If you do good work people and are easy to deal with people will tell their friends.

 

And make sure their are no liens or UCC filings on tools / equipment.

 

Oops! Deleted Double post. Kept getting an error message for some reason....