First I want to say that Husband and I work for the same company and I do consider my company…publishing since 1807 stable in comparison to lots of companies right now. And I’m proud to have worked for this company for the last 14 years (!) since I graduated from college.
Our backyard neighbors - because they border us on the backyard - have not been as lucky. Husband J was notified back in April that he would be laid off by June 1st…and this happened. He is a civil engineer - a bit specialized in his expertise of computer chips but still marketable. He was offered a job 5 weeks ago in Allentown, PA that was to start on August 4th. So the family started working on a move to PA right away - getting their home in selling condition, looking at houses in the new area, transferring schools, telling family and friends, etc.
Husband J left a week ago to go out to Allentown. Wife J and their two kids followed a few days later with the plan of staying with brother-in-law while looking for a new home, then return to old home to move things and hopefully sell it. I was put in charge of watering their outdoor tomato plants and flowers. As promised, I watered on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I returned last night to water. On our way home from work, Husband and I noticed their car in the driveway so I assumed that Wife J was back to pack up things. When I went over with my water bucket, I noticed Husband J in the kitchen…hmmm. So I went up and knocked on the back door. I told him I was there to water the plants and wanted to see if there was anything else he needed. Then the bomb dropped on me that I cannot seem to forget. Wife J appeared from around the corner and they told me that the new company had rescinded their offer to him on Friday! I was shocked! They have now gone 2 months without a paycheck (Wife J is a Stay-At-Home Mom) and put $8k into their house for “repairs” to get it in shape to sell - which was supposed to come from the signing bonus that Husband J will likely NOT see. I was so stunned. I said that I was sad that they were moving, but happy that HJ had a job, but now I’m just sad.
Husband noticed me walking back to our house and was stunned to hear this news. The company told HJ that they were on the verge of laying off thousands of their employees and could not come through on his salary. I’m just sad - I know that I used this word before but I’m not sure how else to describe how I feel. You get a solid job offer and there is light at the end of the tunnel and suddenly it is gone for this family. And I am also grateful to have a Husband that got a new job/promotion to Publisher of our Tech UK editorial group. I’m still thinking of Husband and Wife J, knowing that lots of families are in this boat right now and hoping that they get through it…and grateful that Husband and I are keeping things in control at our own home.
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We are very fortunate to work where we do. I especially don’t take that for granted in the kind of economy we are in.
We are very fortunate to work where we do. I especially don’t take that for granted in the kind of economy we are in.