It never ceases to amaze me just how low companies will go.

Odds of the remaining key people picking up the existing clients and trying to get by?

Zero. There aren't many left, and they can't be serviced without the equipment which will need to be sold. Obtaining such equipment costs in the hundreds of thousands and I doubt anyone would be interested in trying to do what we already failed to do. So I think we will all set about some new adventures. Its not really the kind of work that cant be replaced with any other working class job.

For point of reference we serviced professional photographers. Prints and the like. On the print side a lot of photographers have the option to spend 6000$ and buy a large inkjet printer to do the work themselves, and the results really are hard to argue with. Staying relevant between that and the economy means offering stuff people can't do at home. There are places making it work, but we just got too far behind.

The good news is I get to keep working for a few more days to finish things up in process. At least that's the current plan. So I'm about to crash so I can go in and start putting a bow on this chapter of things. Then see what comes next.

I am going through something similar, though with more intrigue.

I went to work for a former employer that I had a GREAT relationship with, in a part time capacity. I cannot work more than that due to a prior workplace injury. I had left on good terms initially (I gave an initial TWO month notice, which he begged me to extend another month, which I did!).

Things were alright at first, though after a few weeks, he started REALLY nitpicking my performance to the extreme. If I left a cabinet door open an inch, he would leave a note for me. He then "punished me:" by taking away a shift, which really hurt. Sensing that I was not particularly wanted, I went to him about a week ago, and said in plan language: "We have a lot of history, I feel like you don't want me here, and if that's the case, no hard feelings, just give me at least 2 weeks notice, and I will get another job". He seemed somewhat floored by it, stating that while he would like me to pick up my speed of service, that I was "fine", and that he would give me a months notice if things were not working out. Heh.

This past Monday, 2 hours before my shift, he called me and told me he wouldn't need me that night. I was confused, and asked him why. He said we would talk about it more tomorrow, but that I was being cut back to just Tuesdays and Saturdays until after Xmas, and that I would be out of a job at that time. I was floored, as he had essentially cut my shifts in half, and reneged on our agreement.

His excuse was that sales were higher when I was not working...despite a multitude of customers telling me they prefer my food (It's a restaurant), and that they come more often when I am working. Also, his sample size for this comparison was ONE day at this point, the "punishment" shift.

So on Tuesday, again two hours before my shift, I get a call with more bad news. The other worker had done "so much better" the night before than I tended to do that he could not responsibly have me working. So now I could do Saturdays until after Xmas, or leave immediately. Sample size of two.

I have benefits relating to my previous workplace injury (From a previous job), but they are only just about enough for me to live like a pauper while I look for something else. I was barely making ends meet as it was.

I will never know why he turned on me, though I suspect sales at the store are significantly lower, and that he may not be able to afford to pay me. I cannot be sure of this, though I know that I gave 100% to his customers, and my work. Such a terrible thing to deal with this time of year.

Bosses are people too and only a single person may have said something bad about you to him behind your back and he may have hold a grudge against you for that.

At my old job, there was one guy who constantly screwed up but he was liked by the head of the department so he got away with it. Until one day when they went to have a drink together and had a big argument about something non-work related. A month later, the guy was fired. He deserved it but should have been fired much sooner.

Another example is about the opposite: a guy who was great at his job but new company regulations stated that you had to wear hairnets for hygienic reasons - but only in the production areas. This guy didn't work in production areas but in an office operating a Xeror printer yet a new manager told him he had to wear the hairnet anyway even though no-one else in the office had to wear one (him included). Heck, this manager had the bright idea of wearing a hard hat (the kind used by builders) to stand out from the rest of the workers even though a hard hat was of no use at all since it wouldn't stop hair from falling.

One day, the manager was passing by and the guy was not wearing his hairnet and he came over to him and demanded to know why he didn't wear one and the guy simply said it was not required and no-one else had to wear one in the office - so yeah, a week later, he found out he was fired for disobeying "house rules" - house rules they had to write up just so they could fire him.

So yeah, it's ridiculous but people don't need many reasons to fire someone and they'll rarely admit the true reasons.

Oh hai guise. What a joy. Just mailed my CV. Fuck this shit.

I'm not fired yet, but my salary is sliced in half for the next three months, and it wasn't high to begin with.

I'm pretty sure that's illegal. They don't have to give you the same job, but they do have to give you an equivalent job (same position level in the hierarchy, same pay), if you're coming back after a work-related injury. I'm assuming you are filing a claim with workers' comp.


Unfortunately, it's not. Believe me, I looked. Most states these days are "employment at will" which technically means they can get rid of anybody at any time if they feel like it. Being let go because of "less work at the company" can be tricky to navigate through. I will be getting a lawyer, just to make sure I understand everything, and to help with my final settlement.

That's awful. I'm glad you're getting a lawyer, because you just never know. Good luck.

Actually, worker's comp and disability claims have more protections than you might think, even in at-will employment states the burden of proof will be on them, instead of on you, even starting a claim may be an automatic win. They might choose to settle a fat severance check rather than get their asses handed to them by the state.

If you pursue a claim and get your job back, realize you're a marked man and they will document a way to terminate you eventually, probably sooner than later, so phone in the minimum amount of work you owe them for the pay and document the hell out of your way to a better job. Everything you do at that point should be in an effort to foster personal contacts, resume building experience, and anything else that will help you get interviews and a new job. Leave before they toss you if you can.

That sucks. Its weird how petty and quirky managers and bosses can be. At least I tend to think they are supposed to be above average people, but I think that's wishful thinking. My ex had a relationship with managers at one place side off the deep end. One of the managers actually started a rumour about her after she left saying she hit her. That's pretty damn low to make something up like that, and anyone using their power and authority to deliberately trash someone deserves something. I don't know what that something is but its something.

Then I had a job 8 years ago that I was on good terms. It was pretty strict about being on time and being very punctual about breaks, but nothing a lot of people don't have to worry about. One night I got showered up and ready to go into work, but on my way out my apartment shook. Going outside I found the unit below me had caught fire. As it turns out someone had killed my neighbour and lit him on fire. The whole thing ate up some time and I showed up a bit late that night. A week later a manager smiled and had me sign a paper "for last week." After I signed it I finally realized I had just gotten written up for being late. It didn't put me in a bad place with anyone, but I still think that was douchy.

I don't even want to know what caused it. I had a history with the employer, I was the cornerstone of the business 5 years ago when I was in school. We parted on creating terms, which makes this the more shocking.

He even refused to give me a layoff, which would have caused a lot less problems. Le sigh.

At my job that I got a month ago (part time at a retail store, weekends and after school), they hired me, put me through training, and told me about 10 mins before I started that I was seasonal and would probably be cut after the holidays. Meh. :/

It's a good place to work so let's hope this isn't the case.