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I still believe there is a difference between getting laid off and getting fired.
It seems more and more posters and the media see no difference and label both " being let go"
I agree. In my case, I was fired from a job in 1993, and laid off (downsized) in 2009. Big difference in the two experiences from a job perspective (although both treated me fairly).
Location: Mableton, GA USA (NW Atlanta suburb, 4 miles OTP)
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The first time I was laid off, we knew it might happen almost a year in advance. I worked as a software developer at a company which wrote and sold complex software packages to airlines, and our management told us that the reality was simple: if we didn't get a large customer contract, up to 20% of the staff would be laid off.
We didn't get the large contract we needed. 20% were laid off ... two waves a month apart. As someone with 5 years of experience compared to the 10-15 years most others had, I knew I would be on the list.
When that morning came, those of us who were selected were called to a meeting room downstairs. Of my 4-person support team, 3 were let go. We were given a couple of days to come back into the office to help make it a smooth transition for the people (in my case the single person) who remained, and our system access wasn't turned off until at least two days had passed.
I think that company handled things exceptionally well.
The second time I was laid off, I was told I had a meeting when I got into the office, and my director was the person who told me. It was a shock to him as well as to me ... this was at an airline post-9/11, and the airline IT department had already done two large waves of layoffs which I had survived.
Again, they handled it very well. I was able to come back to gather my things after hours. That one hurt because I loved that job, and being a middle-aged airline software specialist after 9/11 didn't really help my job prospects, but the company itself was quite respectful.
Now that I am retired I can look back at my checkered job history and just smile (and laugh too.) But at the time each abrupt job change seemed like the end of the world. After losing my job, I thought I would never work again and would end up living on the street.
Maybe the toughest part of being terminated multiple times in my forty year professional career was how cruel my employers were when I was terminated. Instead of having a chance to work a few days to clear up loose ends and train my replacements I was always escorted out the door by security and told they would mail me my personal things. I rarely got any severance pay and the only reference I would get is a simple verification of my employment.
Please take my poll and discuss how you were treated when your employer laid you off or terminated your employment in previous jobs.
You missed "Let you walk out on your own"
I have been laid off 3 times in my history, never have been "Escorted out" ever....
I was fired from my last job and they had me still work my last shift. I cried a lot and lots of customers asked me what was wrong. I told them and they were sympathetic. Some were upset about it because I had been the only one in the evenings that actually helped anyone. I always did all I could to help a customer. I even dug through pallets to find food items for people that they needed for their holiday cooking. The other employees just blew them off and said they were out because they didn't want to dig around for it. So, customers knew I was a good employee. My last day was the day before Christmas. I ended up not doing much work that day and just kind of hung around doing as little as possible. I had already figured out that they'd lied to my face about not having spots available for me because they were hiring more temps. What were they going to do? Fire me twice? I helped customers like usual, but I did not do anything else.
Other jobs I was fired from I was made to leave immediately, but I was allowed to grab my purse and keys before leaving. The church I was fired from I got to grab my purse, keys, and child. My girl was too young to understand why we were leaving soon after getting there when we usually stayed a while and she would get to play, so she was crying hard as we were leaving because she wasn't allowed to play.
I have been laid off 3 times in my history, never have been "Escorted out" ever....
Back many years ago when I worked in a factory layoff notices had to go out a week before the effective date, so there was no walking out. Nor was there any vandalism (although there was always some at a low level).
The only people I ever saw escorted out were those who had been fired. And, as someone else mentioned, there is a difference between that and a layoff.
My second year as a teacher I was RIFed from the school due to enrollment reasons. No escort out there either.
Now, when I retired I went in to pick up some personal items from my room (I'd been on long term sick leave) and one of the newer teachers followed me around so closely he ran into me a couple times. It made me so uncomfortable that I ended up leaving some stuff there that I wanted.
Also when teaching, we did have some people escorted out. Usually because they had been fired or had an accusation made against them.
For me, the poll is irrelevant. I always had a new job in hand and had cleaned out all the things i wanted to take with me in previous weeks. I had a contract in most cases, with a 2 week notice period attached to it.
When my job was outsourced last year most of us were given dates 2-6 months. We signed documents showing our final compensation and requirements for us to get it - which included training our Indian replacements.
Only a handful of people were walked out immediately - no reason given.
I've been laid off twice within three years. First place I was given three months notice, and the second place one month's notice. I was not escorted off either job. But it was common practice to escort someone who had been fired.
Back many years ago when I worked in a factory layoff notices had to go out a week before the effective date, so there was no walking out. Nor was there any vandalism (although there was always some at a low level).
Funny you mention vandalism...For the life of me I NEVER would consider doing that. I worked security at a meat company and when they were sold (Broke the Union) the scales were often damaged, forklift hydraulic lines cut and food cut open (Thus rendering all on the cart worthless)
I spoke to some workers who had been there 3-6 years and they laughed and said that the new buyers were not Union friendly, so those who were higher up in the union, now "had to work for their paychecks" and thus, the vandalism...
I can't answer the poll question. In over 35 years, I've never been fired or laid off. In most of the companies I have worked for, I can't ever remember seeing a fired employee being escorted out either.
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