On Jan 27th I received a Termination Letter from my company

[The Polack MSgt]

30 days notice. Posted about it here if you'd like to follow the conversation:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/103445508
I turn 58 in a couple weeks, and the thought of collecting unemployment on my birthday kind of pissed me off.

The fact that I was getting laid off a week after being told in my quarterly review that gold dust practically wafts from my ass and rainbows bend to greet me also put a bit of salt in my attitude.

So, whatever. I dusted off the old resume and started looking around.

Cutting to the chase, I just accepted an offer today at 93% of my current salary.

Crisis averted.

Everybody gets a virtual beer on me.

[soothsayer]

1. Congrats!

[CurtEastPoint]

2. It's all gonna turn out better! Kudos!

[MyOwnPeace]

3. OK, so tell us..........

MORE about this "gold dust" part, not to mention the "rainbows?"

Oh, by the way - CONGRATS!

[MustLoveBeagles]

4. Congratulation

[Gothmog]

5. Congratulations

[The Polack MSgt]

15. Thanks Gothmog

My wife is pretty happy too

[NJCher]

6. Bet that feels good to know

going into the weekend.

[The Polack MSgt]

11. Indeed it does. The evil part of me wanted to put in two weeks notice as a middle finger move

But a good reputation is critical in defense contracting - we all move company to company in situations like this - and a "Kiss My Ass" move like that would get the wrong kind of notoriety

[iamateacher]

7. A heart for you!

Congratulations!

[The Polack MSgt]

12. And one back to you.

I'll always heart teachers.

Thanks for the good thoughts

[iamateacher]

16. Thank you!

I am glad for your good fortune. Good luck in the future.

[Desert grandma]

8. Good news!

I have always believed that things like this happen for a reason. I hope your new company will appreciate you more than the previous one. Congratulations!!

[dhill926]

9. Congrats! and thanks for the beer....

[Wolf Frankula]

10. If you can, send your boss a picture of his/her spouse and kids sleeping in their beds.

Tell them "I don't want to hurt anybody." You'll keep your job.
If that doesn't work, tell them you'll sue.

Wolf

[UpInArms]

13. I hope you find your new work home

Very comfortable

[sinkingfeeling]

14. Congratulations.

[JDC]

17. That's great. Congrats.

[SergeStorms]

18. Fantastic, MSgt.!

I always said someone of your "caliber" wouldn't have a problem finding employment. I'm sincerely overjoyed for you.

[The Polack MSgt]

21. Thanks SergeStorms

Appreciate the good vibes

[Karadeniz]

19. Yay for you and the lucky new company!

[SheltieLover]

20. Congrats!

I hope your new job is even better with advancement oppurtunities!

[Tbear]

22. Sprinkle some of that gold dust around

the new digs and thanks for the brewski.

[lunatica]

23. That's great news!

I was worried it was going to be a sad post!

[TNNurse]

24. So happy for you.

[Tanuki]

25. What a relief! That is such good news!

🎂🥂🍾⚘

[MLAA]

26. So, I guess they were right about the gold dust wafting from your ass? 😬

Congratulations! And whew!

[George II]

27. Great! Quick turnaround. Like to hear something like that, especially in this day and age...

I remember more than 20 years ago now (1998!), a bunch of us were laid off. On his way home, one guy stopped to visit a vendor of the company's to say goodbye to someone he was friendly with. They offered him a job on the spot, he was out of work for less than an hour!

No beer, but I'll dedicate my nightly Manhattan to your good fortune.

[The Polack MSgt]

29. Thanks George.

I'll raise a glass with ya, and thanks for the good thoughts

[zeusdogmom]

28. Congratulations!!!!

I am really happy for you.

[niyad]

30. Congratulations! Could I have wine instead?

[The Polack MSgt]

31. Of Course. My wife has a Malbec in the cabinet

[niyad]

32. Mmmmmmm. Thank you. Hope the new job is wonderful.

[Hamlette]

33. congrats

hope you love the new job!

[Fla Dem]

34. Congratulations! 🍾🎉🎊

One door closes another opens. So happy for you.

[srose58089]

35. Thanks for the virtual beer

I turned my virtual beer into a Corona.

[The Polack MSgt]

43. I hear those limes are loaded with ACID!

Not gonna risk it.

Thanks for the positive vibes cousin

[wendyb-NC]

36. Congratulations

and Best Wishes on finding a new job.

[Generic Brad]

37. Wow! Way to go!!!

It took me six months to find work when that happened to me. What is it about people in their late 50's who are vital and relevant one day to suddenly become expendable without warning the next? For some it's nearly tantamount to a death sentence.

Thanks for the virtual beer. I toast you!

[BComplex]

64. You aught to be trying to find work in your 70's!

I love a good beer in the morning!

[FuzzyRabbit]

38. Congratulations on the new job.

[ailsagirl]

39. That's great!!!

There’s hope for those of us who are unemployed!!

[leighbythesea2]

40. WOW

Congrats! That is impressive. So agravating however. We are of an era that performance does not matter.

I too received a stellar review @ this time last year. I was let go along with many, knowing it was prob salary related. Never laid off before.
Everything was going fine with leads, until March, then the world shut down. Took me til December. & not near 93%. But it's a non-existant market out there in some fields.
So I drink you you, and drink to me.
Wonderful news.

[The Polack MSgt]

46. It's a weird life being a DOD Contractor. I'm in a highly technical specialized field

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a "One of One" type of guy, but the community is pretty insular.

We either know each other we have a friend who knows you.

So when a company loses a contract - which is what happened here - the names are floated around, resumes are shared and most of us find something.

The issue for me was salary.

I've been in this role for quite a while, so the drop to entry level would've been to steep for me to accept - and they know it.

So this company ALMOST matches my requested salary with their offer figuring I'll take the bird in hand, rather than hold off. I accept the offer figuring if I execute the contract well, I'll get some pay boosts or bonusses.

Then we all shake hands and move on.

The game sucks but it is what is

[leighbythesea2]

52. It's interesting

How fields can be different but still the same in many ways. Your work sounds cool. I've always been fascinated with military work and the compliments to it. Maybe bc its 180 of my industry.
The fashion industry I guess lost its contract with consumers as a whole. Lol. But it is one propped up by constructed desire, so that's the game, and we all saw the writing when everything shut down.

What's similar is everyone knows everyone. I know what some peoples portfolios look like never having met them.

I relate to your description of everyones name gets floated around (from a brand closing) and then the offers, (during normal times) are just under where individuals were. It IS a game. They can play with bonus and promise etc....
So glad it worked out for you.
I am beyond happy with my new gig. And relieved.

[Colorado Liberal]

41. About 12 years ago...

...in my mid-forties, I got laid off (f***ing "Business Machines" company). Wound up getting a job with one of the partners I did business with, but settled for about 80% of my then salary. Am now making >40% more than that salary I was kicked to the curb from, and am SO MUCH happier in this job (now 12 years in).

I guess you never know how much happier you can wind up being. Congratulations on the new job, and on averting the crists.

[SunSeeker]

42. Congratulations!

[Heartstrings]

44. Congratulations!

[catbyte]

45. Congratulations!

It restores my faith when good things happen to good people.

[rurallib]

47. Good things happen to good people! Congratulations

I'm a teetotaler, but I think I can have a virtual one with you



Damn, that was good

[The Polack MSgt]

56. Good things do happen to good people, and sometimes good things happen to me too!

[58Sunliner]

48. Congratulations!! Glad to hear you landed on your feet.

[PJMcK]

49. And you get a heart from me, sir! (n/t)

[The Polack MSgt]

57. Sent one back to you just now

[tiptonic]

50. Way

Way to go MSgt. Everyone knows, NCOs now how to get things done.

[PatrickforO]

51. I'm really glad for you! You dodged a major bullet there.

[Upthevibe]

53. Awesome!!!!!!!!

Congrats

[GeoWilliam750]

54. Champagne for me please!

And leave the bottle if you will....

[The Polack MSgt]

55. So many folks in the room, I bought Spumante for the pre-poured glasses.

But, (looks over both shoulders) Don't tell any one but I have a bottle of Ayala Brut I was saving

Cheers!

[GeoWilliam750]

58. Well, in a pinch.....

But I will bring the Dom by a bit later. No need to share with so many.

[NewEnglandAutumn]

59. congrats

I'm so happy for you

[NNadir]

60. My wife got laid off from her university job and I was very happy for her.

She was practically running her office and they were treating her badly.

She was out of work for a few months, and then got hired at a much more prestigious university, working with people whose work actually matters, slightly lower pay but much better benefits and the satisfaction of doing good for the world.

Congrats to you!

[mountain grammy]

61. Congratulations and thanks for the beer..

[housecat]

62. On what grounds was the layoff? Sounds like you are highly valued if you got an offer right away.

So do you suspect some kind of discrimination?

[The Polack MSgt]

82. No. It was strictly a lowest bidder getting the contract and squeezing out as much

salary as they can.

[keithbvadu2]

63. What was the 'reason' for the firing?

What was the 'reason' for the firing?

Personal, performance, loss of personal contact, company contract, railroaded out?

[The Polack MSgt]

81. My current company was not the lowest bidder, and the new company is sure that our section is -

"Over Staffed"

So they convinced the agency that their company can do the job with fewer people for much less.

[keithbvadu2]

83. OK. The 'evil part' and 'middle finger' made it look like you were a little bitter about it.

OK.

The 'evil part' and 'middle finger' made it look like you were a little bitter about it.

[Bmoboy]

65. Huzzah!

[Nictuku]

66. I'm 59, 21 years on the job. Now my job description is re-written

Either I move in the new direction (and basically become a glorified secretary), doing things that I dislike and would never ever have interviewed for, or go find another tech job where I can still use my strongest strength skills (which is what I have been doing for 21 years there).

I haven't decided what to do. I'm in the middle of a pandemic. I don't want to go to committee meetings and take minutes and write up reports...

I want to troubleshoot computer problems and fix them and make people happy.

I wrote up a new resume, and am looking around just to see what is out there. So far it looks like I'll have to take a big drop in salary. I take care of my mom, have a mortgage. I feel like screaming. Crying. I'm angry. I feel like they are setting me up to fail by asking me to do things that I don't have any training (or even interest) in,.

They just want me to quit (have offered early retirement, but I need to make it to 62 so I can also get SS. I'll barely be making it then, but that was my plan.

So .... I don't know what to do. I'm so upset. I have to give a decision by next Friday. I feel stabbed in the back. Everyone in the place I work absolutely loves me, I am a fantastic tech support person.

But now I'll basically be doing my boss's job and someone else will be doing the tech support.

*sigh*

[The Polack MSgt]

80. After I retired from the Air Force I had planned to get back to my strongest talent

Bench work, system testing and trouble shooting. Working wideband and narrow band RF systems like I had for most of my career.

Then I found out that a mediocre staff officer makes twice what a great tech makes.

So, I found a niche position that allows me to stay in the field with the Soldiers and Airmen doing training and evaluation several times a year.

Then I try to correct any shortcomings I found in those exercises and training events the rest of the year.

But that transition was a bitch.

Yes, Senior NCO Academy taught me the basics but that's 12 weeks out of my 23 and a half year career. The remaining time I was in a production work center, either fixing the gear or running the shop -I'd never been assigned to a Headquarters billet.

So I had to bite the bullet and work my ass off to where I became the fat guy from HQ that I always used to hate.

But I had a mortgage and 2 kids in college, so I did it.

I don't know your position your situation or your personality, so my advice is going to be incomplete at best and misguided at worst - So gather a hold of as many grains of salt as you think you'll need.

But Imma give it anyway, because I'm kinda pushy like that.

What I used to dismiss a "Being a glorified secretary" namely staff work, developing exercise plans, resolving budget issues and scheduling training (and the paperwork & processes to make that happen) are all things that I learned to do to keep that higher paycheck.

But I've been doing them so long because as I developed skills I started seeing the value of my work in the bigger scheme of things.

I'm not anything special - I'm just a small cog in a big machine, but I made myself an efficient reliable cog over the course of time.

I don't know, maybe if I had taken a technician job at Raytheon or one of the Cellular companies I'd have been happier in the long run.

I don't know, but I put my family in a good situation.

I know that it sucked back in 05, and I stumble fucked around at first, but thee is a place for technical folks in management, if for no other reason than to be that one dude "upstairs" that remembers what the hell goes on where the rubber meets the road.

Good Luck Nictuku. I wish you success

[Nictuku]

84. Thank you for your advice

That is the direction I am leaning. I am telling them that I hope to at least have guidance and direction of where I'm going to get all this data I'm supposed to be analyzing and making reports and recommendations on.

The other bummer is that since Covid, I've been able to work at home, so no more 4 hour daily commute from Napa to San Francisco. Eventually I will have to go back and I was hoping I could transition into mostly working from home (since I've been able to do almost everything from home).

They really want me to resign though, and take this 25K early retirement offer. (I qualify for full retirement in July anyway, but wasn't planning on it until I reach 62 so I can also get my SS)

It is definitely outside of my comfort zone. But I think I can do what they are asking, as long as I get some kind of guidance, and if needed, training. If I can record the damn meetings that I'm supposed to now be taking minutes for I can do that as well. I don't take shorthand. And he better not ask me to get him a cup of fucking coffee!

I think this is driven by budget decisions, but it is hard not to take it personally. The tech world is a man's world and it has been a difficult fight for me over the years, and I still don't feel like I get the same kind of respect the guys do.

[Tender hopper]

67. Thanks for the beer Master Sargeant

Just think, you`ve been inoculated against boredom for a while

[c-rational]

68. Congratulations The Polack MSgt - good to hear good news. No beers for me but you do get

a heart for your new job as well as for all the wonderful music you post that I appreciate so much.

[machoneman]

69. I'll drink to that!

[COL Mustard]

70. Congrats MSgt!!!

Well done, and I'm sure you'll get the remaining 7% back.

[marble falls]

71. Have two, the glasses are too small. Pints is for my auntie.

[BobTheSubgenius]

72. And a toast to you, as well!!!

93% of your former salary to start is pretty easy to take, yes? Congratulations.

When your medical insurance kicks in, you might want to get that ass thing looked at.

[Moostache]

73. Very happy for you...

Hoping good things and better times are in your immediate and long-term future!

[Mrs. Glamrock]

74. Congrats!

That is great news! Cheers to the new job!

[Jay25]

75. Congratulations! So happy for you, it's rough out there, my husband is still looking.

[world wide wally]

76. Just for you

From one Polack to another;

[The Polack MSgt]

77. +++

[DFW]

78. A crisis averted is always better than a crisis looming

I don't know what you do or what you made before, but what you have now is probably better than what you were looking at a few days ago.

I hate beer (I know, and I live in Germany), but I'll get out a teacup and put on the hot water in your honor!

[barbtries]

79. wow congratulations!

after i got laid off at 63 i looked for 6 months and never got an offer.
i do have a happy ending, in that as soon as I started collecting early SS, an former colleague offered me a contract job, then a year later he found me another one! So I'm working for myself making good money and all i have to worry about is the taxes.

[Joinfortmill]

85. Way to go

[Paladin]

86. Outstanding news, sir!

I'll pass on the virtual beer and just go directly to an actual scotch & water, in celebration.

[iluvtennis]

87. Nice...congratulations! nt

[yardwork]

88. Good for you!

[weissmam]

89. are you and engineer