Oh! If I take two more sick days, then I have to retire a year later.
...what? Are you serious?
It's because you didn't have a strong father figure isn't it?
Joyce ,'Chosen'
Natter 69: Practically names itself.
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Zenkitty - Jan 31, 2012 11:47:18 am PST #19368 of 30001
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.
Jesse - Jan 31, 2012 11:55:26 am PST #19369 of 30001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Yeah, what?
sumi - Jan 31, 2012 12:00:52 pm PST #19370 of 30001
Art Crawl!!!
That's just bizarre, Kat.
How does that work?
amyth - Jan 31, 2012 12:05:16 pm PST #19371 of 30001
And none of us deserving the cruelty or the grace -- Leonard Cohen
Kat, that's messed up.
Burrell - Jan 31, 2012 12:17:15 pm PST #19372 of 30001
Why did Darth Vader cross the road? To get to the Dark Side!
I wish I was surprised Kat, but knowing your employer, I'm not.
I think--I hope!--I just successfully talked a student out of writing a paper comparing medical residency to comedy writing and/or sex. Oy vey!
P.M. Marc - Jan 31, 2012 12:40:34 pm PST #19373 of 30001
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear
Zenkitty, here is my bookmarked Pick-Me-Up link. [link]
billytea - Jan 31, 2012 1:00:26 pm PST #19374 of 30001
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.
Tom, I was in a very similar position about three years ago. I'd been with my company for fourteen years, the job had turned somewhat toxic over the last few, I got laid off in the wake of the GFC, and thanks to my length of service, my severance was enough to take stock for a bit. I don't know how you're feeling about it right now (my reaction turned out to be relief), but in any case, I hope that when you find your next job, you look back on this as a positive occurrence.
One thing I'd suggest, either in addtiion to or in lieu of the headhunting idea - you might find it helpful to talk to an outplacement firm. I found it very helpful in sorting out just what shape I wanted my next career move to take, and what I could find in the job market. (One caveat - my firm arranged for outplacement services for everyone who was laid off, so I don't know what it'd cost out of your own pocket.)
Sheryl - Jan 31, 2012 1:07:55 pm PST #19375 of 30001
Fandom means never having to say "But where would I wear that?"
Timelies all!
I'm sorry about the layoff, Tom.
Gudanov - Jan 31, 2012 1:13:13 pm PST #19376 of 30001
Coding and Sleeping
Last year I got laid off after 10 years at the company. I got a 10 year anniversary present in the mail a week later with a card saying 'Congratulations'.
javachik - Jan 31, 2012 1:24:10 pm PST #19377 of 30001
Our wings are not tired.
I'm sorry in some ways, Tom, and as sorry as you need me to be about your layoff...
BUT. I wish so much that I'd been laid off during our last layoffs in October. People with my length of service recieved good severance packages. Instead, I got to work in a miserably low-morale environment and deal with the replacement Chief Medical Officer who's so awful that everyone is either quitting or wants to quit. I tried to negotiate a lay-off of some sort (when I gave notice and had a lot of leverage since the only other person who can do my crucial job - my employee - was on vacatin for 3.5 weeks) and was told by a very sympathetic HR that me and my employee were considered "untouchable" for layoffs because our job was too critical (finding people who have my skill-set isn't easy). So it was just a nightmare all around.
The good part is that I am actively sought as a consultant and can definitely make a living doing that until I find the next perfect full time job (if that's what I want). So I am lucky in that regard. However, I am still pissed that almost 5 years in a company I once adored has turned out this way. Oh, well.
You've been wanting to leave for quite a while now, and I know financially you're very responsible. So you've got a few months to enjoy life and figure out what comes next. I think you're actually in a pretty damned sweet spot. And no more listening to your co-workers be snide about the OWSers!!