how many layoffs you got?

[NoiseBoy]

For my first career out of college I worked for 2 different state universalities for a total of 9 years and I was never laid off. After returning to school and taking some classes in computer science I started my second career in the private sector working in corporate IT for a Fortune 50 company. For the first 10 years I never worried about the security of my job. However, in 2009 my megacorp announced that they would start laying off salaried employees for either short, or long term periods.

The people with short term layoffs had return to work dates so as long as you could handle a small cut in pay, which I could, you were fine. Those with a long term layoff had no return date and no promise of a job. I was fortunate to only be laid off for 4 weeks, but the day they told everyone what straw they drew was a real eye opener for me. The knowledge that my well paying corporate gig could disappear on me caused me to evaluate my finances to see just how much I really needed to live. I started tracking my spending from that period and one of the decisions that I made was to accelerate paying off my mortgage.

We are going through another round of layoffs this year. I will be off work and on unemployment for a total of 3 weeks, but they are laying off people permanently in the division that is struggling the most. Back in 2009, some of the people who were laid off indefinitely were hired back, but some were not and I think some just decided to retire. Those would be the poor folks who misjudged taking the buyout package that the company offered just prior to announcing the layoffs.

 

[Fishingmn]

Twice -

First was in 1987 when the computer retailer I worked with out of college finally went Chapter 7.

That ended up being a blessing as I went out and found a software sales job where I worked for 21 years. That small company I joined ended up being acquired along the way and then I was RIF'd in 2009 from Megacorp as part of the recession as they eliminated my department.

That was fine too. They treated me well (1 years pay & healthcare) and I was kind of ready to do something else anyway.

 

[Tom52]

I have worked full time for nearly 40 years now with only two different employers. Never laid off, never fired, not one day without full-time employment. Now that I am close to RE I wish my current employer would give me a package to "go away" but that won't happen.

 

[zedd]

Volunteered to get laid off when I was ready to ER. Figured I could get a nice severance package and save somebody else's job (for a while) at the same time.

Same here. FIREd as of yesterday

 

[LoneAspen]

Same here. FIREd as of yesterday

Congrats!!

 

[Cassius King]

Same here. FIREd as of yesterday

Nice. Enjoy!

 

[zedd]

Nice. Enjoy!

Thanks Dude.

full disclosure: The Dude abides

 

[madbrain]

Two in 17 years. The last time I received an 8 months severance package after working only 18 months. I hope more to come, it will get me to early retirement faster.

 

[Koolau]

Actually, never. Worked for one Megacorp for entire c@reer. BUT, it was not uncommon to be w*rking in one department, field, specialty, or location and with 15 minutes notice be informed that I was now reporting elsewhere (within the company). Could be worse, I suppose, but the disruption and looking forward to yet another learning curve was a significant stressor (not like being laid off or fired, though).

My favorite example was the time I was assigned to an area for which I was part-time teaching university courses in the field of w*rk involved. I was called into the boss' office and he hung his head. I knew this wasn't going to be a good day. He told me to report (tomorrow) to a new field in which I had once taken an "intro" course back in college. I had taken it only to fulfill an academic requirement. I had no interest and had shown little aptitude for the subject matter. Yet, I was to become the new "expert" in the area.

Fortunately, I never was in the military, but my experience reminded me of stories I often heard of the "military way" of filling positions. The guy who can type a 130 words per minute goes into the infantry because that's where they need a warm body at the time.

 

[retire2020]

My professional career has come to a full circle. Two layoffs in past 22 years and both worked out in my favor. First one was in 1994…Ended up getting a job on wall street with 50% more money than what I was earning. 2nd was in 2008…got me out of wall street and back to the company I worked for in 1994 when I was first laid off. 2nd one fetched me double pay for nine months as my company was bought in firesale by a big bank. I hope to retire where I'm today - just need six/seven more years.

 

[HappyOutsourced]

That's how I came to retire. Severance pay and time to look at my expenses and finances plus retiree health insurance made it all possible. I probably would never have walked away from the job at 51 on my own. I hope my replacement in India has a good life too.

 

[comicbookgujy]

Two in 17 years. The last time I received an 8 months severance package after working only 18 months. I hope more to come, it will get me to early retirement faster.

My first real job, I worked there for 3 months and received $5k bonus and 6 months of servance, and I collected unemployement. Best time of my life.

I can't wait to get laid off again after 15 years on this job. I survived 5 layoff since 2009, unfortunately...