The lost job thread.

I'd rather not clog up the normal pandemic thread with job loss stuff, so I started this one. 

Tomorrow is my last day at the job I started this spring. We're out of work to do and I'm the contract guy, so I'm first to go. I won't be the last. They have a plan in place about who goes when. I don't need to look for another job right now which is nice, but I really liked going to work and I'm going to miss it. 

I know I'm not the only one on the board going through this now and more than a few probably need some help navigating unemployment payments on the state and federal level.

Come on in, pull up a chair, we're here. 

Started Westmoreland Preservation in October. Got my first contracts in February. Shut down "indefinitely" as of March 16th. Had to shut down my drop shipping sites in January when everybody got scared of stuff coming from China and traffic and sales went from "paying the bandwidth bill" to "ghost town". But that's ok, the companies I get contracts through haven't answered a single phone call or email about owed pay since then either. 

To small of a business that hadn't existed long enough to qualify for anything on a state or federal level, so now I can either buy a still to pickup the hard liquor business the state gave up when they shut down liquor stores, or go work at a gas station and expose myself and my family to people who should be voluntarily quarantined but are too busy fighting over lottery tickets. Seriously, 3 old women got into a fight over the lottery machine at the gas station SWMBO manages at this afternoon.

Not happy. Especially because I never dealt with the public face to face.

The state lost over 20% of its workforce since this started. We were actually 10% of the nation's new unemployment filings last week. That's a pretty grim picture to look at.

I'm on temporary layoff but was told they have to bring me back as soon as they can afford to. They plan on me being off for most of April atleast.

Full time is in a pharmacy, but I was willing to walk away from the side job. I'm a state contractor serving a specific type of legal document. After receiving an "exception letter" for serving for this particular agency, I spoke with the account manager at the company I contract through in order to voice my concerns about dealing with 30 or so people a day face to face and then going to work at a pharmacy. Fortunately enough, they understand and I'll be taking a break from that type of work.

I'm very fortunate to be able to continue my full time job and maintain the benefits. The wife is able to do the same, but it's a little nerve racking for me thinking about her continuing to work in the current environment wile being pregnant. I do appreciate the income, though.

As a career change recomendation from my doctor I'm still employed but being the new guy and the fact we're running a skeleton crew I now work 1 day a week. I would almost be better off in the unemployment line 

I work in the events and conventions industry (We do the carpet and such for SEMA, PRI, etc.) and we're furloughed until June 30th.

I'm in commercial construction in the Bay. I'm a lead for a large Union company and we have several Billion dollar plus jobs all shuttered at the same time. We got big fat vacation checks, our last week's check, and the company and Union both approved fairly decent sized bonus checks as well from each. When we go back possibly either next week or end of the month I'll have more OT than I can shake a stick at

My GF is still working from home, the company deals with electrical primarily so they are basically business as usual at the moment. Money isn't my concern it's finding projects to keep me busy at this point

I've been idled for the last month.  Waiting to hear from the Governor about when I can go back to work, right now it's mid April but I know that he's going to extend that.  Really frustrating to sit here and wait to that declaration to be released.

Not sure what I'm coming back to, I'm sure plenty of people will have lost their jobs/benefits and won't be coming in.  Makes it hard to know what I can offer my staff as far as hours.  I just hope we're back working in May, in Oregon they've shut down dental offices except to ER care until June 15th.

The missus manages a pair of salons and spas. She had to lay off 60+ people Saturday before last before they laid her off and might not be able to open them back up until June.  

In reply to docwyte :

Well, just know as soon as you do open, I'll be in for some work. Ok a lot of work. I may keep you busy for a day. 

I teach shop at an engineering college.

Still working, sans students obviously. The University says they plan to keep everyone on payroll, but how long can that go on? For now, I'm finishing the projects that the students designed and were in process of building. The design process is the main focus of their education, the manufacturing component is secondary.  

The administration has created enough paperless paperwork to keep me busy enough to work from home, if needed. 

I'm *almost* within reach of retirement, but would prefer it on my own terms.

Very grateful for my position and certainly feel for those in a less fortunate situation. 

As a fed and "essential" I'll be working till 10 minutes after the planet explodes.

Tiger Mom has had her hours cut in half which isn't great.  She's been offered lab work in a hospital but it's night shift and she's less enthusiastic about that these days.

Her daughter is in HS and works as a cashier/bagger at Krogers part time.  She has to refuse shifts, Kroger just gave everyone a $2 raise for the duration of the emergency and is actively hiring.

I'm still working, but not sure for how long.  Most of our customers have shut down and we slowly running out of orders.  When the time comes, hopefully we will survive.  We're a small business but global, it's no better elsewhere in the world.  I feel for you that have already lost your job, hopefully we will all get through this intact.  Best wishes everyone!

I got furloughed two weeks ago from a non-profit arts organization (live theater) and PA unemployment is so overwhelmed I might never get it.  The theater was hit at the worst possible time.  Our cycle is typically to spend most of our money getting a show up and running, then the sponsorships and ticket sales get us ready to get the next one on its feet.  We had just opened a show and had to cancel it, so not only did we have no real money, we had to give back pro-rated sponsorships and still pay the production team.  Basically, at the time of the virus shutdown, we were 10lbs of deferred payments stuffed in a 5 lb bank account.  I do know that my job security there is amazing.  They LOVE me there.  I'm not worried about if I would be called back, I'm worried if there will be a theater to get called back TO.

Add to that, we had just announced our 2020/2021 season which means we had to pay rights ahead of time on most of the shows.  We're trying to get that money back, but since the entire staff is furloughed, the board is trying to handle things and they are (rightfully) clueless on daily operations like that.  Add to that the rights-holding houses are also overwhelmed with every theater in North America requesting refunds in the same week.  We also aren't getting any money from the rich donors to stay afloat because their funds are all in panic mode with the market dropping.

We might have to shut the doors on a 94 year old theater, just when we started our long-range plans for our 100th season.

I've spoken with several board members and the response ranges anywhere from "don't worry, we'll be back in the fall," to, "Nice knowing you.  Let me know if you need a job reference."  One even said, "look at the bright side.  You'll definitely be called back to oversee the liquidation."  

Not really the same thing, but I'm retiring and my last day is tomorrow 4/3.  This was planned before the whole virus pandemic thing came along, it remains to be seen if it's a good time to retire or not (it has been weird working from home for the last few days, obviously my retirement lunch didn't happen.)

dropstep said:

As a career change recomendation from my doctor I'm still employed but being the new guy and the fact we're running a skeleton crew I now work 1 day a week. I would almost be better off in the unemployment line 

Depending on how long you've been there, you may be eligible to collect unemployment benefits while working, from having your hours cut.

I had to lay off all my employyes and shutter things for the time being.... Construction company.... Luckily my wife can work remotely, and is doing so. But I have exactly zero imcome now, and the business overhead continues....

I'm furloughed until Mid May at the earliest, I've been out (medical) the past 3 weeks and furlough hit this week. I'm off quarantine Saturday. UI will actually be a raise and with the stimulus in addition, I'll be okay for a bit. Though I'm bored and looking to get back to work. Expect to see fleet movement. 

I suppose I should have specified in my original post. I was working for a manufacturer of motorcycle accessories and drag car wheels. We got hit by this mess in what is supposed to be our busy season where we make all of our money for the year. 

java230 said:

I had to lay off all my employyes and shutter things for the time being.... Construction company.... Luckily my wife can work remotely, and is doing so. But I have exactly zero imcome now, and the business overhead continues....

Yup, negative cash flow here too.  No income, all the expenses still.  April will be a little better expense wise than March, but not a whole lot.

bmw88rider, I'll let ya know when we're up and going again, be nice to see you.

Service Technician at a GM dealer. Got furloughed on Monday. They had already laid off a lot of the office staff two weeks ago, then the sales staff a week ago and then Monday they went from 13 technicians to 3.

Business owner here. No one is laid off yet, but I'm not making any money. The expenses are currently eating up the majority of the income. We do a fair amount of work for the local hospitals which is keeping the guys working, just not very hard. Where we usually work 10+ hours of OT a week, we are now only working 30-35 hours a week. I'm eating the difference to make sure they at least get their 40 and stay out of the unemployment line. It's not helping my cash reserves, but I can afford to do that for a couple of months before I'm going to have to cut hours or people. Hopefully this situation will straighten out in less time than that. Ask me again in a couple of weeks. 

I'm a 1099 contractor for auto body supplies. Right now I'm staying home instead of potentially spreading the virus. Working the phone and it seems the work is drying up for the shops. Any of the shops with high fixed overhead are going to be hurting if this doesn't start to clear up fairly soon. Fortunately, I have some fixed income, but it could get tight not too far down the road.

I’m an automotive plastics equipment sales rep in Detroit area.  Straight commission.  Four weeks ago my customers started closing doors to visitors.  Two weeks ago our governor requested non-essential  businesses close.   Manufacturing remained open in some cases until production plants closed.  Many of these OEM assembly plants were slated to open this week but with the Detroit area peaking within the next week to 10 days, these plants are now closed until further notice and their suppliers, my customers, face a bit of a conundrum-re-open or remain closed.   Many of my customers have laid off their staff or are cutting wages.  Most non-plant employees even at manufacturing companies are WFH now.   I’ve been WFH since ‘98 but Im usually on the road and need to see customers to sell equipment.   This makes my job difficult at best but I understand and agree with plans to close plants to outsiders.  With my travel plans and my international customer base I’m a perfect disease vector which has my wife a bit on edge.   

Future automotive programs, ‘22 and afterwards, are still being discussed but regular equipment sales opportunities have dried up by and large though I do have some non automotive business opportunities that are still moving along.   So, I’ve not been let go and we have plenty of reserves but this is rough now and will be for some time for sure.  

Tenants are asking for rent deferrals or abatements.. I'm happy to help, and glad to be in a position where I can, but our bills aren't going to stop coming in. Unless the county forgives property taxes or the city provides free electricity or ...

Thankfully my partners and I are very, very conservative financially. But it's gonna sting for a while here.