I give thanks just to be employed

NotaSuv

Around round of layoffs and these are only the big companies we read about..I know of many many small companies forced to close that never make it to the press....best of luck to any job hunting its got to be slim pickings.......funny our biz is overloaded...we have enough to keep us busy thru the Fall.....and yes we count our blessings........


Caterpillar Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp. and Home Depot Inc. led companies today announcing at least 73,900 job cuts as sales withered and construction slowed amid a global economic recession that may persist through 2009.

The biggest layoffs were at Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar. The world’s largest maker of construction equipment said it’s cutting 20,000 jobs after fourth-quarter profit fell by almost a third.

Pfizer Inc., the New York-based drugmaker that’s acquiring competitor Wyeth for $68 billion, said it will close five factories and eliminate 19,000 jobs, or 15 percent, of the combined company’s workforce.

The firings came as American jobless claims hit a 26-year high, reaching 589,000 in the week ended Jan. 17, as shrinking demand for products and services forced companies to lower costs.

Employers “are each cutting thousands of jobs. These are not just numbers on a page,” U.S. President Barack Obama said today at the White House. “We cannot afford delays” in passing the economic stimulus program now before Congress.

Sprint Nextel Corp., the U.S. wireless carrier, will eliminate 8,000 jobs, or 14 percent of its workforce, in order to reduce expenses by $1.2 billion a year.

Home Depot Inc., the world’s largest home-improvement retailer, said it will cut 7,000 jobs, or 2 percent of its workforce, and exit its Expo home-décor business.

“Certainly since 2001, with the dot-com collapse, we haven’t seen these kinds of large cuts,” James Pedderson, a spokesman for Challenger Gray & Christmas Inc., a Chicago-based provider of executive-outplacement services, said in an interview. “In terms of the number of companies and the number of cuts, this morning is certainly unusual.”

General Motors Corp., the largest U.S. automaker, said it will eliminate shifts at Michigan and Ohio plants, shedding 2,000 jobs as sales drop.

And IBM fired at least 1,400 from its sales force last week, the Associated Press reported.


In Europe, ING Groep NV, the biggest Dutch financial- services company, said it will reduce its workforce by 5.4 percent, eliminating 7,000 jobs, after its second consecutive quarterly loss.

Royal Philips Electronics NV, Europe’s largest maker of consumer electronics, said it will cut 6,000 positions after its first quarterly loss in almost six years.

Corus, the unit of India’s Tata Steel Ltd. that’s Europe’s second-biggest steelmaker, said it will reduce its workforce by 8 percent, or 3,500 jobs, as demand from builders and automakers declines.

Fireman32

It sure does suck. I work for Pfizer so alot of people at our office is wondering if they are going to be part of that cut. We were told not to worry though.

Pauly

Fireman32 wrote: »

It sure does suck. I work for Pfizer so alot of people at our office is wondering if they are going to be part of that cut. We were told not to worry though.

Wish you the best, but i have heard that song and dance before.


Pauly

markmarc

I got word last week that my teaching position has been trimmed to 4 days next year, but it could get worse if enrollment takes a serious dive. Thankfully my benefits package stays the same.

sucks2beme

70% of my company has been laid off in the last 8 years.
Another round planned next month. Resume is circulating,
but what good is that going to do if nobody is hiring.

WilliamM2

My company has laid off about 1/3 of the work force so far this year. Production workers that are still there have been cut to 6 hour days. So far nothing has changed for me, or my department.

My job appears very safe at the moment, but my wife is the shift supervisor for the second shift, which may get shut down until things improve. Don't know if there is any room for her on the first shift. Losing half our income would really suck, but we are debt free other than the morgage (only 6 years left!), so we should survive.

devani

I am lucky that I know our company has enough work for most of us....knowing that I have work!

bruss

Sprint has been bleeding for quite some time... Buying nextel goes down as one of the worst mergers ever

nadams

WilliamM2 wrote: »

but we are debt free other than the morgage (only 6 years left!), so we should survive.

Can't wait for that day... only 28 years left!

I'm thankful that I'm employed, and looking to move to a higher-paying job at a different company, in town. Things are almost looking up here.

opus

KNOCK ON WOOD.........


We are going very strong in our company. Record year and hiring qualified applicants. Wish you all the best of luck.

RuSsMaN

Not a question of IF things will turn around, it's WHEN.

Regardless, I'm ready.

obieone

I've been sweating a pink slip since LAST year. Even though I got a raise on 1/1, I'm still nervous.
And with one of our acct.s announcing layoff's, I feel even LESS secure.

Igo

We make everybody's co-branded trash bags. Glad is hating us and we can't make enough product right now. We've only gone to 40 hours twice in 22 or 23 years. Everybody is still on OT. Thank goodness.

nooshinjohn

I am one of the casualties... if anyone knows of anything in the indianapolis area... let me know please...

mantis

It's a terrible feeling to get laid off, I was and I was sick to my stomach. I was fortunate to get a new position quickly due to knowing the owner of my new job and being good at my job.

Most people who worked with me at Tweeter are still jobless and I feel so bad for them. Some have to sell there houses to survive. Most have kids wife/husband and are having a difficult time making it or even getting a interview.

This is a terrible time and I feel so lucky just to be working.

george daniel

Guys,, I count my blessings every night and morning.We will make it through these times, but we gotta "hang tight".Thankful for what I/we have.

Sherardp

Agree with all of you guys, hang in there. This news about CAT was very big for us at John Deere as the market is pretty much frozen in Industry. Seems like we at Deere are even cutting back as well. Times are rough, hang in there all as said.

And last but not least "Nothing Runs Like A Deere". Had to throw that one in there.

avelanchefan

Sherardp wrote: »

Agree with all of you guys, hang in there. This news about CAT was very big for us at John Deere as the market is pretty much frozen in Industry. Seems like we at Deere are even cutting back as well. Times are rough, hang in there all as said.

And last but not least "Nothing Runs Like A Deere". Had to throw that one in there.

Yeah Sherard, I know you have played with my buddy Shindig, he is a ten year electrical engineer for CAT. And he is really worried. Even the longer veterans of CAT do not feel safe right now.

Sherardp

avelanchefan wrote: »

Yeah Sherard, I know you have played with my buddy Shindig, he is a ten year electrical engineer for CAT. And he is really worried. Even the longer veterans of CAT do not feel safe right now.

Ah man its getting pretty bad. I'm due to head back to the states to work on a new 850J Dozer project here next month to April. So I'll be on the road for about 2 months. I cant wait to get out in the field and get this thing underway. Should be fun...............GPS system, laser level, fully hydrostatic, and more.

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Motzart

It's a scary workplace out there right now!
Many PPL don't know from day to day if they have a job or not.

In this economy I'm also grateful to have a job!
I have 20yrs in the school where I'm at and hope to get 11 more years in to make it to 55yrs old to early retire at least.
Provided there is Social Security by then?

.

madmax

My last job released me, severance, job hunting skills, the whole mess but then kept renewing another 3 or 6 months for almost two years before re-hiring me. After that I've decided that I'm not even going to worry about it any more until I've actually been laid off. Its not worth the worry for something that may not happen.
madmax