Ever been fired unexpectedly?

The One Doctor · 29-05-2014 12:50PM #1

I was handed my notice today and while it wasn't a massive shock (I've seem similar signs in other big companies before receiving a swift boot to my overfed arse) or my fault it's still not particularly pleasant. Our first baby is currently in the plush residence of my girlfriend's womb and will be evicted in December, so there's no massive hurry and we've some savings, but still, needs must.

So AHers, have you ever experienced the heavy hand of unexpected unemployment rearrange you jaw?

Agent Smith · 29-05-2014 12:51PM

How much they give you?

On a completely unrelated note. how much stuff can you fit in your car?

anncoates · 29-05-2014 12:55PM

Been made redundant twice before in the last 8 years with very little warning but got redundancy both times and was working again within 2 months.

Still a horrible feeling though. commiserations. Once you get over the surprise, you'll feel a lot better and maybe even enjoy the break between jobs.

DrumSteve · 29-05-2014 12:55PM

Once, however I was in a cannon at the time.

The One Doctor · 29-05-2014 12:56PM

Agent Smith wrote: »

How much they give you?

On a completely unrelated note. how much stuff can you fit in your car?

No redundancy, only been in the job 9 months. Got redundancy in my last job though. Can't fit much in the car, it's only a 3 door. Worst case we move into my girlfriend's parents place, so no homelessness beckoning.

bucketybuck · 29-05-2014 12:56PM

DrumSteve wrote: »

Once, however I was in a cannon at the time.

Then it was hardly unexpected now, was it.

Maphisto · 29-05-2014 12:59PM

Commiserations OP.

Never been fired or made redundant in 35 years - maybe I just learned to jump first

All the best OP I hope you get sorted soon.

Sleepy · 29-05-2014 01:00PM

Yep, got made redundant back in 2009 with my (now) wife and kids to support. I knew there were problems in the company but thought I was relative safe because I was involved in the area of the company that was still making money and was subsequently sold off after the Irish tax payer took a €90m hit on the company's bad debt to Anglo. Unfortunately, those making the redundancies hadn't analyzed the business too well and while my boss and his boss both tried to fight for me, it was ultimately useless.

It's a horrible experience when it happens but luckily for me I'd been with them for 6 years so even though my redundancy payment was statutory minimum it was about the equivalent of 4 months pay and they paid out my months notice. I took a month off, brought the kids to Eurodisney and was back working within a month of job-seeking, albeit on short-term contract in the UK. About 5 months later I was contacted on LinkedIn about a role back in Dublin and I've just passed the 4 year mark with the company.

TBH, given the interest I've been getting from some recruiters lately, I'd almost welcome another redundancy!

Good luck with the job-hunt OP!

The One Doctor · 29-05-2014 01:04PM

From my job hunting in the last month or so, there are a fair few jobs out there, but they're being snapped up almost instantly or I'm over experienced etc. Pain in the arse.

razorblunt · 29-05-2014 01:05PM

bucketybuck wrote: »

Then it was hardly unexpected now, was it.

Hey, what he and the Canon do in their spare time is their own business.

falan · 29-05-2014 01:05PM

Got laid off last week after 10 years. Was told im getting made redundant.

Alf. A. Male · 29-05-2014 01:06PM

Yes, once. In fairness having an all night lock-in playing cards with gangsters probably wasn't the best reason for failing to open the pub on a Saturday. Letting the guard dog escape to bite the area manager who was hammering on the door only compounded the error. I say error, I mean wanton fecklessness.

Johnny Be Goode · 29-05-2014 01:08PM

Sorry to hear that. One door closes another one opens….. Best of luck

Mr. CooL ICE · 29-05-2014 01:10PM

Kinda. It was just a summer job while in college, but I was working 6 weeks before all summer students were let go. Company had a short-term order to fill, so hired loads of students with the promise of 3 months work. Some were only there 2 weeks and had turned down other jobs for this one.

My current company had costsaving redundancies a few years back but none were voluntary. I hated my job at the time and begged to be let go (was there just over 2 years) but was kept because I was one of the few who were good at it. It seemed completely nonsensical that most of those who were let go wanted to stay and vice versa.

Going Strong · 29-05-2014 01:17PM

From my first ever job after leaving school back in the early 1980's. I was an assistant in a store room, fetching and carrying and being treated like dirt. Six months in and I go to collect my pay slip on a Friday to be told "You're fired, don't come back." I wasn't given a reason other than "The boss says so."

A while later I heard that the boss had a nephew who'd dropped out of further education and was in need of a job, so he was given mine.

kylith · 29-05-2014 01:25PM

Three times.

Once I was made redundant when the company folded. There were about 35 of us out on our ears that day

Once I got a job and was told at 3.55pm midway through my 11th week to be gone by 4pm because they were downsizing. I later found that she pulls this trick all the time - sacks people just before their probation is up and they have rights.

The last time was in a temp job. I left on Friday with everyone telling me they'd see me Monday and as I walked in the door of my house my phone rang and it was them telling me not to bother coming back, I'd done what they wanted, and they'd courier my stuff over.

Wicklowrider · 29-05-2014 01:26PM

I sold Motor Spares for a large company back at the end of the '80's.
They then hired a hotshot sales manager and he decided that he would let me go and get a lad covering another area to cover both areas. Last thing he instructed me to do was drop off the van in Commercial Vehicle sales yard.
I stopped off at the credit union on my way and withdrew all I had and along with the small redundancy I got, I bought a Van before I left the yard. On the way home I bought 3 200l barrels of oil and several 25l of anti freeze/coolant. I then went into a wholesale tool place and stocked up on sockets etc.
Back then, mortgage rates were in the high teens and this was real sink or swim stuff.Learnt a lot and when I sold it on I had enough experience and competence to go further. I've been self employed/in business 3 times since and each time it happened it was not my choice. Each time I have learnt a lot and its a great feeling to "stand on your own feet". Someone I knew once told me "You can't teach Experience." Sound advise.

The One Doctor · 29-05-2014 01:32PM

Wicklowrider wrote: »

Each time I have learnt a lot and its a great feeling to "stand on your own feet". Someone I knew once told me "You can't teach Experience." Sound advise.

I suppose I have a few self-employable skills - PC repairs (hardest bit is listening to the owner saying 'Oh yeah, I nearly sorted it myself') and counselling. I've done both before and they're easy jobs but neither really pays the rent.

Maybe I should start a cut price counselling practice. It would work, and save a lot of depressed or anxious people a lot of money.

Tail Docker · 29-05-2014 01:35PM

I'm saying nothing.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 29-05-2014 01:35PM

I was never fired or sacked or made redundant unexpectantly or otherwise.

I was either the ideal employee or just lucky.

Renegade Mechanic · 29-05-2014 01:36PM

Tail Docker wrote: »

I'm saying nothing.

Thats why you were fired, matey. You were a terrible informant.

Penny Tration · 29-05-2014 01:39PM

Never been let go/fired. I'm only in the work force ten years though, since I was 15. Was driven out of one company (they paid up when i sued, though), but never fired.

Guess I've been lucky so far.

FloatingVoter · 29-05-2014 01:39PM

Alf. A. Male wrote: »

Yes, once. In fairness having an all night lock-in playing cards with gangsters probably wasn't the best reason for failing to open the pub on a Saturday. Letting the guard dog escape to bite the area manager who was hammering on the door only compounded the error. I say error, I mean wanton fecklessness.

....and you still owe me €500.

Adyx · 29-05-2014 01:40PM

Every single place I've worked has closed down (twice for one place!), none of them really unexpectedly, although for the first company we heard about it on the radio. Fingers crossed for where I am now...

gugleguy · 29-05-2014 01:40PM

The One Doctor wrote: »

(hardest bit is listening to the owner saying 'Oh yeah, I nearly sorted it myself') .

They ALMOST never needed you

Wicklowrider · 29-05-2014 01:46PM

The One Doctor wrote: »

I suppose I have a few self-employable skills - PC repairs (hardest bit is listening to the owner saying 'Oh yeah, I nearly sorted it myself') and counselling. I've done both before and they're easy jobs but neither really pays the rent.

Maybe I should start a cut price counselling practice. It would work, and save a lot of depressed or anxious people a lot of money.

Counselling does sound good. I'd give it serious consideration if I was you.

PC repairs is worth a try because if done correctly there is little to lose except your time. Contacting local I.T businesses to see if they have work for you on a self employed basis is a good bet. Hardest part of this is getting paid and don't provide hardware/software without being paid upfront.
Best of luck with family.

southcentralts · 29-05-2014 01:55PM

In my first job out of school, there was a daily game of soccer in the yard, I tackled my supervisor who fell off balance (tackle was fair), he fell and although not physically hurt his pride was somewhat dented and after lunch I was called in and summarily executed let go. The prick was smiling in the corner of the room. I was young and accepted the bs they fed me about why I was being let go.

galwayredgirl · 29-05-2014 02:21PM

The One Doctor wrote: »

No redundancy, only been in the job 9 months. Got redundancy in my last job though. Can't fit much in the car, it's only a 3 door. Worst case we move into my girlfriend's parents place, so no homelessness beckoning.

You could always move into the "plush residence of your girlfriends womb" as you so tastefully put it.:eek:

The Backwards Man · 29-05-2014 02:28PM

I got fired on my first day as a newsreader on a pirate radio station for reading the wrong weather.

The One Doctor · 29-05-2014 03:29PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I got fired on my first day as a newsreader on a pirate radio station for reading the wrong weather.

I don't get the joke, sorry.

anto9 · 29-05-2014 04:38PM

Johnny Be Goode wrote: »

Sorry to hear that. One door closes another one opens….. Best of luck

YES ,BUT THAT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE IN PRISON LOL:D

Ever been fired unexpectedly?

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