What would you do? Wed 3-11-2009 (cost, best, senior)

[AksarbeN]

What would you do, nobody wants to lose their job however you’re working in a small office or company of say 5~10 people. They need to layoff one person and asks for a volunteer. Everyone is equally trained and skilled in all of the needed work so no one person would be missed more or less then the others. Who should volunteer? What would you do?

[thefer]

Man this is a tough one! I need my job so bad!! I guess I would pray about it and if I felt the Lord was leading me to give up my job I would.

But my evil side would want to draw straws.

I kind of like the bail out plan! lol

[AksarbeN]

LOL This is a small company that makes straws.

[studedude]

I've been in this situation. Two of us doing the same job. I actually had been there longer. The other guy's wife was expecting their first child. My wife was making 6 figures. We lived on her money and played with mine. I volunteered for the time off.

[MidwesternBookWorm]

I've already been grappling with this situation at my workplace. The economic slump has hit my employer hard, and there have been big cutbacks in expenses across the board, including pay cuts (every senior executive including the president took a 10% pay cut), not filling vacancies and even some layoffs, the first ever in the decades-long history of the company.

My boss and I have spent a lot of time talking about this, both for our department and for the group of hourly-paid people I supervise, and at least for now, I think we are not in any immediate danger. We run a really lean group, and most of us salaried people work at least 60 hours a week as it is, so unless the workload drops significantly, it's hard to see how we could achieve a RIF and still get the work done.

And for the hourly-paid staff, my boss and I agree that the first thing we would do, if things reach the point where some tough decisions must be made, is to ask everyone to accept working a four or four and a half day week. We have a really, really strong team, all exemplary employees, and they all give their utmost every day; I could never, ever nominate one to let go. And the cohesive nature of the team, all of them helping each other and working together, means that I have no doubt they'd all rather share in a small amount of pain than see one of their colleagues lose their job entirely.

I dearly hope that things turn around for all of us and for my employer before anyone else in the company has to take a pay cut, or worse yet, a pink slip. But if the belt must be tightened still further, I will do all within my power to ensure that we share in the cost-cutting so that everyone will still be present to celebrate when things do turn back around.

It's great to work for a good employer when times are good and the money's rolling in. But you don't truly learn the measure of how fortunate you are until times get tough, and you see how your employer handles that kind of situation. It's never easy. But when you work for a company that considers employees to be people, not costs to be contained, it isn't quite so dreadful as it might be otherwise.

[AksarbeN]

It’s amazing the answers and suggestions that employees can come up with to improve the company in difficult times.

[Twinkle Toes]

Gosh, I don't know. I guess it would kind of depend on who was more in financial straits. If I knew a co-worker was going to be out on the streets with nowhere to go, I'd probably volunteer because I know I'm a lot better off and won't be out on the streets.

I was already laid off in December from the law firm I worked for and there just aren't any jobs for me in my area. But I am thankful that I have a husband who is an excellent provider and we have shelter, food, clothing and spending money, and I am still able to pay my bills. I still need a job though!

[Lady Ice]

I say vote one off, survivor style.

[kygman]

It shouldn't be up to the employee to volunteer. Doing that is up to the management. You know, in every office, there is that one person who doesn't quite keep up with the others. It should be up to management to figure out who that one is.

[Bydand]

Been in this situation before. One time I was single and everyone else was married or taking care of children so I walked. Figured it was easier for me to deal with it than a family. Another time the company was going to let one of the younger guys go on a short term lay-off, but we knew he would find work right away elsewhere and he was such a great worker and person the rest of us volunteered to take a week off one at a time without pay so we could keep him with us. Worked out well, we all got an extra week vacation that year basically. Third time I am married now and the wife makes very good money so I knew we wouldn't be hurting if I didn't have an income for a while, so I quit. BEst thing I have done really. Spent time with the kids, fished all Summer, then started my own business when I got bored. Doing even better now than before.