Quoteth the Raven: Never More, Never More
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128837)
Gainesville, Florida
May 18, 2016 9:00pm CST
Well, the Raven has nothing to do with this, but I always liked saying that!
Today, almost 10 years to the day that I first started, I found out that my part-time night job was eliminating all of our positions, effective immediately! It seems the new company that just took over our business several months ago bit off more than they could chew, and found themselves financially strapped for cash. So, in a cost-cutting move, they are basically just getting rid of everyone.
As a businessman myself, I totally get the need to be able to meet your bottom line. I harbor no ill feelings toward them, and I actually saw the writing on the wall the past few weeks when they wouldn't fill vacant positions.
Fortunately, they agreed to pay my salary for the remainder of the month, plus a one month severance package after that. That was nice of them to do that, knowing that 1) they really had no obligation to; and 2) they are strapped for cash. So, the generosity definitely was appreciated!
Not having to go to work every night from 6-9pm is going to be a whole new experience for me! I'm not going to know what to do with myself, but I'm sure I'll figure something out!
The only bad part is that I was continuing to work this second job to pay off my truck. I still have two more months of payments before it is completely paid off, and my severance package will only cover one of those months. That means for one month I will be extremely tight on my finances, and then things will smooth over. I was planning on leaving my part-time job anyway after the truck was paid off, I just got to do it two months earlier than expected.
Have you ever found yourself out of a job unexpectedly?
10 people like this
8 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 May 16
Well, you are fortunate that this happened with only 2 payments left on your truck and not 6 more.
When I was let go of a job that I absolutely hated, I cried. Probably for the relief that I didn't have to go there anymore. It was horrible. However, it was a paycheck that paid the bills. I was able to draw unemployment and that helped. I was only unemployed for about 3 months.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May 16
I wonder if I can collect unemployment from this job, since it was only a part-time job, and not my main line of work?
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 May 16
@moffittjc probably not considering you do have full-time employment. It would be nice if you could though!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May 16
@ElusiveButterfly That's what I was thinking, that since it was not my main job, I wouldn't qualify for unemployment. It's a nice thought though! lol
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
19 May 16
Yes, and it was tough to find another, since schools have to pay for experience and education. Most districts were only hiring young teachers, which is, of course, illegal, but happens all the time. I was lucky to find a school that needed an experienced French teacher. They hired me on the spot. I really didn't have an interview, or even an appointment. I just walked in with my resume and letters of recommendation and waited until the administrator was free.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May 16
That's how I found this job. Or, actually, it found me. I was in the right place at the right time, the staff at that time was having a rough day, and I told them I could help them if they needed the help. They hired me right on the spot!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 May 16
@ElizabethWallace I'm keeping my eyes open for unique, interesting, or great opportunities! Sometimes you have to go out and make good things happen, and sometimes good things just fall in your lap! It's best to be prepared for either option! Got to keep that positive attitude!
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
19 May 16
@moffittjc Good luck happens when we are ready and seize an opportunity.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May 16
It's amazing how vivid our memories can be sometimes! This job that I was just let go from, I had been working there for 10 years. I can still remember my very first day with the company, as if it were only yesterday!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 May 16
In and of itself it wouldn't have been so bad, but the timing was horrible....I'm going through a really tough time at my main day job right now. so much so that I am looking to quit that job and find another career doing something else. I would have preferred to have kept my part-time job until such time as I found another financially stable day job! But this is just a minor setback, and I will get through it! I just have to keep a positive attitude!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
21 May 16
@moffittjc Poor you. Good luck and make sure you find a job before you leave.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
19 May 16
I was sacked from my Saturday job in a shoe shop when I was sixteen. That was quite unexpected!! But sorry to hear your news. Three extra hours a night ... how will you cope with so much free time?!
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 May 16
@moffittjc well there ya go, you can earn a few more pennies toward that payment you'll need to make.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May 16
@ElusiveButterfly I will cherish every penny!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May 16
I'll probably spend more time here on myLot! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May 16
This job was great, because it allowed me a lot of flexibility. I made my own schedule, so I could customize it based on my availability from my main daytime job. I could easily find another evening part-time job, but I probably wouldn't have that flexibility I need to work when it was convenient for me.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
19 May 16
at least it's only one month and it won't be so hard to be frugal for the meantime. hope you get another part-time job.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May 16
I know I can manage, it's just that it now changes my financial goals I had set for the year. It's a minor setback, but I'll adjust and continue moving forward.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 May 16
That's something you don't see much of anymore! People have no loyalty to their companies anymore, and companies have no loyalty to their employees anymore. I have been in my main job (my daytime job) for 15 years now, and I had hoped to stay with this company all the way until retirement. However, over the past 2-3 years, I've seen a complete culture shift where they are no longer taking as good of care of employees as they used to. It will be interesting to see how the next five years or so go. If I can make it to 20 years, I can retire with a full pension even though I'm not close to retirement age yet. However, with the way the direction seems to be headed, I'm not sure I'll still want to be with this organization for another 5 years. Such a shame.
