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The W - One Question... - How has the economy effected your employer/workplace?
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DJ FrostyFreeze
Scrapple








Since: 2.1.02
From: Hawthorne, CA

Since last post: 137 days
Last activity: 137 days
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.32
Read it and weep, fella


I work for an international freight forwarder. I've been at this job for 3.5 years now, and I did the same thing for another company for 2.5 years before this job. I've been in the industry for about 13 years now.

I used to handle between 3-5 air export shipments every single day. Today I did 1, Friday I did 3, Mon-Thur last week I did 2 total. For January, I'm averaging 2-4 weekly when it used to be 15-25. My import counterpart (who is a douchebag) is doing maybe 1-2 shipments a week when he used to do 2-3 per day.

My boss is feeling heavy pressure from the home office in France to do more out-of-the-office sales, as opposed to his usual "inside sales" over the phone. Every potential customer he calls says the same thing: Man, you wouldnt believe how many freight forwarders called me today looking for business! The Big Boss in NY says our company as a whole is doing ok because we have a lot of cash in reserves due to how strong our 2007 & 2008 were, but who can really say how 2009 is gonna turn out? (shitty)

What's up at YOUR job?



CLICK OR DIE
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Leroy
Boudin blanc








Since: 7.2.02

Since last post: 12 days
Last activity: 6 days
#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.33

I have the misfortune to work for the University of California - and, thus, the State of California. The rumor I am hearing is that our campus is looking at a 15% cut this year with the promise of another 15% next year. They're even talking about mid-year cuts. So... yeah.

The good news is that I work for a department that doesn't depend on state funding but is almost entirely student funded (with some minor exceptions). We might take a bit of a hit due to a decline in enrollment, which seems to be unique for our campus - but that impact will be almost inconsequential.

The bad news is that were still not immune to campus policies in dealing with the crisis, so if it is mandated that everyone takes a 10% time reduction, then it matters not that our department is fiscally sound - I still have to take that 10% cut. I don't have a problem with that if it means other people don't get laid off, but since my salary doesn't come from the same pool, I'm not sure it matters in anything more than solidarity. But that still counts.

The awful part is that they've frozen the salaries of the upper administration - which they spin as "they're not getting raises" when it mos likely means they won't take that 10% cut, either. Cheeky devils.




I think violence is always justified some of the time.
Dexley's Midnight Jogger
Pepperoni
Moderator








Since: 10.10.02
From: New Hampshire

Since last post: 3706 days
Last activity: 3621 days
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.26
I work for the State of New Hampshire in Health and Human Services. Due to the economic crisis, there has been a hiring freeze. On the other hand, this has provided me with a lot of overtime hours, so I'm making pretty good money.

The governor wanted State Employees to give up the raises that were bargained for by the union but it didn't pass.
drjayphd
Scrapple
Moderator








Since: 22.4.02
From: New Hampshire

Since last post: 766 days
Last activity: 350 days
ICQ:  
#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.54
You wanted the best, you got... Out of Context Quote of the Week.

"Mangini might not have had balls, but he DID have soft, supple breasts." (SEADAWG)


I'm a newspaper reporter. Need I elaborate?

Well, here we go. The parent paper's decided to outsource production, meaning earlier deadlines on their part. A couple of my friendlier coworkers were among the 120 layoffs (most of which were in production, but these coworkers were in ad sales and a fellow sportswriter). I'm assuming that, next month, I won't be getting a raise, which I need as my bills are going up... and I'm almost living paycheck-to-paycheck as it is. They've also asked me to not cover so many road games, so as to lower my mileage expenses.

It could be worse, though. Two competing papers were about a minute and a half from shutting their doors, but they were bought out. The biggest newspaper in the state (the Hartford Courant) is a Tribune one, so they're in trouble. Many of the other papers in the state are owned by the Journal-Register Company, which is doing horribly and has been for a while now.



El Nastio
Banger








Since: 14.1.02
From: Ottawa Ontario, by way of Walkerton

Since last post: 43 days
Last activity: 28 days
ICQ:  
#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.78
Right now I am doing contract IT work for DND. Looks like that's all I will be doing is the next while is contract work. I'd like a perm. position.....but right now I'll take anything.

(edited by El Nastio on 26.1.09 2139)


You know, I really don't know what to put here. Close your eyes and thank of something funny!
samoflange
Lap cheong








Since: 22.2.04
From: Cambridge, MA

Since last post: 3815 days
Last activity: 3808 days
#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.29
I'm a grad student with fully paid tuition plus a meager, yet sufficient, stipend which is guaranteed until I graduate. I'm doing fine.



Lloyd: When I met Mary, I got that old fashioned romantic feeling, where I'd do anything to bone her.
Harry: That's a special feeling.
DrDirt
Banger








Since: 8.10.03
From: flyover country

Since last post: 2346 days
Last activity: 2248 days
#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.43
Working for a state university, yes. We are looking at major cuts which equals people. We have recovered from the last round in the early 2000s. Kansans want the same services but don't want taxes raised so the legislature is in a quandry. I used to hate professional pols but our "citizen" legislators, while mostly well meaning, just aren't up to the task. And they only meet for 90 days a year in the winter/spring give or take.

And we are a large state with less than 3 million people and most of them live in the Wichita/Hutchinson, Topeka, KCK, and Dodge/Garden city. That means we are a rural state with an "urban" legislative body. It will get grim.



Perception is reality
OlFuzzyBastard
Knackwurst








Since: 28.4.02
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Since last post: 1819 days
Last activity: 995 days
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.54
I manage a small used media/action figure store in a dying mall (six stores have closed in 2009 already). Our business, oddly enough, is through the roof. We are in an odd position to benefit from the bad economy -- not only are people looking for extra cash, thereby selling off their old Super Nintendo games that they haven't touched in fifteen years anyway - but if people are looking for entertainment on a budget, they're much more likely to come buy a $5 DVD from us than a $20 one from the FYE downstairs.
Oliver
Scrapple








Since: 20.6.02

Since last post: 3314 days
Last activity: 3308 days
#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.14
Here in Hamilton, I work at a Tim Hortons that's located near an industrial park; and a lot of the companies in this area (Stelco, a/k/a US Steel and Dofasco, among others) have had numerous layoffs, so our business is down.

In the greater scope of things: I'm a licensed forklift operator, and I couldn't find anything out there in that. Getting a job as a midnight baker was the only job I could find.



Dash Dynamic!
MUTigermask
Boudin rouge








Since: 8.10.03
From: Columbia MO

Since last post: 3919 days
Last activity: 3070 days
#10 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.73
I work in sales for Gatorade, Tropicana, and Quaker products. I guess I feel somewhat safe since people will always need to buy groceries. There have been cutbacks on support for some of the products I rep and bonuses I can earn but nothing drastic..yet.
Lise
Mrs. Guru








Since: 11.12.01

Since last post: 3090 days
Last activity: 2863 days
#11 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.64
I work at a small museum that gets a large portion of funding from the county. Everything county took a % cut across the board. Sadly we'd already cut that % off our budget when we turned it in, so we took a double hit. The end result is that we're cut more than twice my yearly income.

We were already doing a year long exhibit for Oregon's 150 years of statehood, so we won't be changing out the galleries as much this year, or having as many opening galas. We have a tiny staff as it is, but there will be some cuts, and if I take time off to to the doctor or something I can't make it up on another day like I could before.

A lot of belt tightening, and attempts to cut back everything we can basically. Hopefully this economy means that people take their vacations closer to home, and we end up with more tourist dollars this summer from Portland.
Whitebacon
Banger








Since: 12.1.02
From: Fresno, CA

Since last post: 119 days
Last activity: 8 days
ICQ:  
#12 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.54
I work as an instructional aide for the school district, and as Direct Care Staff for a group home for developmentally disabled/emotionally disturbed kids. So far, I'm good.
Shem the Penman
Toulouse








Since: 16.1.02
From: The Off-Center of the Universe (aka Philadelphia)

Since last post: 3707 days
Last activity: 3506 days
#13 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.26
It's affected me by ensuring that I no longer have an employer (outside of freelance editing work).



"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?"
Mr. Boffo
Scrapple








Since: 24.3.02
From: Oshkosh, WI

Since last post: 3895 days
Last activity: 3856 days
#14 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.24
    Originally posted by drjayphd
    I'm a newspaper reporter. Need I elaborate?

    Well, here we go. The parent paper's decided to outsource production, meaning earlier deadlines on their part. A couple of my friendlier coworkers were among the 120 layoffs (most of which were in production, but these coworkers were in ad sales and a fellow sportswriter). I'm assuming that, next month, I won't be getting a raise, which I need as my bills are going up... and I'm almost living paycheck-to-paycheck as it is. They've also asked me to not cover so many road games, so as to lower my mileage expenses.

    It could be worse, though. Two competing papers were about a minute and a half from shutting their doors, but they were bought out. The biggest newspaper in the state (the Hartford Courant) is a Tribune one, so they're in trouble. Many of the other papers in the state are owned by the Journal-Register Company, which is doing horribly and has been for a while now.


I don't want to derail the thread, so if this would work better in a different forum, let me know.

But I'm wondering what people think the long term scenario is for newspapers. According to some numbers I whipped up only two of the top 100 newspapers in 2004 saw their daily circulation increase from that time to 2008 (USA Today with modest gains, and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review which must have something special going on to have a 26% increase in circulation). The average top 100 newspaper has seen daily circulation decrease 16%, with two newspapers (the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain Gazette) seeing circulation drop 38%.

So what are we looking at long term? Will it be just the USA Today left standing when the dust settles?
CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator








Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

Since last post: 8 days
Last activity: 3 days
ICQ:  
#15 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.86
    Originally posted by Mr. Boffo
    I don't want to derail the thread, so if this would work better in a different forum, let me know.
Well, let's see. Are you answering the One Question which is the title of this thread? No? I guess you should probably spin off into a new thread - perhaps in "Print!"



dMr
Andouille








Since: 2.11.02
From: Edinburgh, Scotland

Since last post: 2852 days
Last activity: 1198 days
#16 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.30
    Originally posted by drjayphd
    I'm a newspaper reporter. Need I elaborate?



I'll see your newspaper reporter and raise you business analyst for a property marketing company.

Naturally things ain't exactly going what you'd call "well".

Sadly because much of my days are spent mining databases and we've just launched two new systems, while the level of business is down, the amount of work I'm having to do has increased in inverse proportion to this.

I could likely bore you for hours on this subject so instead I'll summise:

Where the question is "How has the economy affected your workplace?" my answer is "really quite badly".

DrDirt
Banger








Since: 8.10.03
From: flyover country

Since last post: 2346 days
Last activity: 2248 days
#17 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.43
    Originally posted by Whitebacon
    I work as an instructional aide for the school district, and as Direct Care Staff for a group home for developmentally disabled/emotionally disturbed kids. So far, I'm good.


Don't be so sure. That's one of the things the Republican dominated legislature has in mind in Kansas. Not directly but that will be the result of there across the board cuts.



Perception is reality
Whitebacon
Banger








Since: 12.1.02
From: Fresno, CA

Since last post: 119 days
Last activity: 8 days
ICQ:  
#18 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.54
Emphasis on the so far. I live in CA, which has its own set of problems, but I haven't heard any rumors of cuts yet, at either job.
pieman
As young as
he feels








Since: 11.12.01
From: China, Maine

Since last post: 120 days
Last activity: 7 days
ICQ:  
#19 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.30


I work for a relatively large health system (at least for Maine) and we're looking at 100 lay-offs out of about 3000 total employees. The other two large health systems in the state have announced lay-offs as well.




The Eliminated Ex-World Champion New York Football Giants
Rush4Life
Kolbasz








Since: 2.1.02
From: Tacoma, WA

Since last post: 1762 days
Last activity: 1429 days
#20 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.55
The economy has effected me to the point that I am one of the many unemployed. My employer saw the writing on the wall and I was let go last September after nearly 8 years working for Griot's Garage. It's a place that sells auto detailing products, like Mothers and the type.



Chuck Norris drives an ice cream truck covered in human skulls.
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