Downsizing

Submitted by Lunchtime on Thu, 01/10/2008 - 11:04

Surviving a downsizing and staff layoff can be really stressful, recently my company laid off a few people that were vital to our organization. The work load is still there, so we all have to pitch in and do the work that the laid off workers used to do. It has been a very frustrating task for the staff, we are all trying to pitch in to get the job done. We all work for the same company, and we are all in the same building and have a common goal of customer service.

We have come closer through this, the staff that are left are forced into cooperation with each other. We have learned each others jobs and are capable of covering each other more in the case of absence. I never new a thing about shipping and receiving, I can now put that skill on my resume. I have also learned a little bit about marketing and can speak more openly about our company because I have so much more knowledge now. I think a good thing has come out of this layoff, we have all come together, we have more knowledge of each other’s jobs, we can cover each other in times of absence, our product is still being ordered and shipped at an acceptable standard. So if you find yourself in this situation, hang in there, things may get better, ours did.

Oh, what a wicked word, downsizing, it simply means to me that you have to do more with less like you say. I am glad to see that you and your fellow workers have taken a brighter side to this and opted to learn and move on. It is always good to learn new skills and be functional in all aspects of your job, then if a positon is eliminated, you can try to transfer over if it happens to be your job that is gone and the openings are there in other departments.

We just had a funding cut where I work, so I know where you are coming from, we have tried to get some volunteers and other help, it just seems everytime we get something in place, some one comes along to trip us up. It can get really frustrating at times, we have all pulled together and we still get the job done with less, we have too, no other choice.

Thu, 01/10/2008 - 12:18 Permalink

i feel for you good nature ive been bounching around for about three months i work kinda like a temp but im soppose to get steady jobs.i just get to know the people and bam im moved when i said about all the moveing they said look everybody wants you. thats nice and all but if it wasnt for my first job none of these other people would of known me, and i only work three days a week since im a disabled worker.ive had people ask me if im crazy working when i could be traveling or doing what i want. working is what i want and its not for the money. its the enjoyment of feeling im contributeing to the community and i am actually helping others. im doing because a lot of people who could be working just dont want to this is the big picture so why would anyone complain about someone wanting to work.

Thu, 01/10/2008 - 23:56 Permalink

What type of work are you doing dadummy, is it great that you want to get out there and do something, disabled or not, it is not good for someone who is used to working to be doing nothing. You are used to working and being busy everyday, this is probably the best move that you have made for your physical as well as mental well being.

I had surgery in October and was off for 20 day, I was cut from hip to hip and was in the hospital for three days, after about 5 days off I was ready to go back, I could not handle sitting around the house even though I still had staples in. I was up and around the day after my surgery, the doctor said that is why I healed so quickly, but I will tell you that the sitting around the house drove me crazy.

Fri, 01/11/2008 - 00:36 Permalink

downsizing sounds difficult. I think everything happens for a reason and maybe downsizing brought you all close together which will turnover better work ethics. I hope you get new staff soon though because a fresh face is certainly an upper.

Sat, 01/12/2008 - 01:49 Permalink

i agree coffeebean new faces sometimes brings new ideas and makes for a better enviorment. sometimes though you get bad new faces and have to weed them out. im thinking of looking for a new job but i like the one i have just get moved around too much. maybe i can be a new face and help make an improvement or at least make a differance in someones life.

Sat, 01/12/2008 - 21:22 Permalink

That is a great attitude to take on dadummy, even though you are frustrated with moving around, no sense in taking it out on the people around you, they probably see you as a ray of sunshine, you sound like you really care about your job working with the elderly. I have read a lot of your other posts. Hopefully they will put you somewhere long term so you can stay and get established. I wish you all the luck in the world with this. Be the fresh face with lots of joy in the heart and the elderly people will just love you.

Sat, 01/12/2008 - 23:44 Permalink