Copious Free Time

[denny]

I've just been made redundant.

Some paperwork bullshit to occur over the next week or two before it's official, but the bomb's been dropped and in a company this small, the paperwork is just a formality.

Time to tidy up the CV I guess.


Edit:

People keep asking 'why?' on IRC/IM/etc...

The company failed to get as much funding as they'd hoped for in their current round of financing talks. In combination with a very noticeable drop in the amount of work they have coming in, it was belt-tightening time. They decided that my position was the most expensive thing that they can limp along without until the workload picks up again. I'm told I'll get a good reference etc.

Comments

[kissycat1000.livejournal.com]

Gosh, that's two people that I know of who've been made redundant today within an hour of each other. Hope you're able to find something else. *Hug*

[msdemmie.livejournal.com]

Hope you make the most of your time off - and find an even better job X

[wildeabandon.livejournal.com]

Oh arse :/

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Bah, that blows. I'm starting to think this alleged 'economic downturn' might be for real.

Will keep eyes and ears open for you.

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Shit.

Have you had lunch yet?

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

"Uh, no... we sort of skipped that part."

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Are you still in Hoxton? Fancy meeting up? Japanese canteen?

Come say hello on Jabber...

[lovelybug.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the club :) What's your payout like?

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

5 grand if I leave voluntarily. A month's wages (just over half that) if I make them go through the full process.

I assume the 5 grand offer is on the table because it makes it easier for them to re-hire later this year.

[lovelybug.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I got - not too bad compared to statutory

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Take the money and run. Also, they can always hire you back later if things take a turn for the better - and you'll be £5K up.

[mirabehn.livejournal.com]

*hugs* So sorry to hear that.

Hope you find something fantastic nice and soon.

[fayroberts.livejournal.com]

Well, arse. At least you're getting a decent packet from it and references. My only advice to you: get the references in writing first; physical, signed things you can walk away with in your hand.

If there's anything I can do to help, let me know. Fancy meeting up in MK next time you come to kick some air?

Good luck with everything and keep letting us know how things are going.

{hug}

F.x

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

I'm flying at 9pm tomorrow night, if you want to pop down and watch.

[(Anonymous)]

Oooh! How long is a session and how much time around it have you got in MK?

Re: silly anon...

[fayroberts.livejournal.com]

That was me!

Re: silly anon...

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Actually I will be heading back promptly, as there will be a gf waiting in my bed :) I could head down earlier though, as I'm no longer constrained by office-leaving time.

Re: silly anon...

[fayroberts.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, okay. Um, it's up to you, really. If it's going to be too much of a squeeze to fit in socialising and flying, we can make it a day/ evening when there's less of a rush, if you prefer.

In short: tell me a good time to meet tonight!

P.S.

[fayroberts.livejournal.com]

as there will be a gf waiting in my bed :)

Show-off... ;)

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

I turn up at half eight (ish) to get into my superhero outfit flying kit, enter the tunnel area at 9pm, exit the tunnel area at 9:30pm, and then I'm in no particular hurry to leave MK given that I don't have to get up for work in the morning.

[kaz-pixie.livejournal.com]

*hugs*
I'm sure you won't have any problems finding something new, and it should give you some time to spend on the flat if you want to.

I'll keep my ears open and if I hear of anything i'll drop you a line.

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Yes, join the club. For me it's a positive thing - a fresh start. Maybe yours can be too?

*hugs*

[twinkle-lfs.livejournal.com]

That sucks, particularly as you're now mortgaged up :( But I've been there several times, it CAN actually be a good thing.

Put the payoff towards future bills (keeping some back for fun times!), sign up with some agencies for temp work and broaden your CV working here and there. It's amazing how professional temping, no matter how unsuitable for your long-term career plans, can pay well without leaving you emotionally and physically drained at the end of each week. And it buys you time to find a great new job.

But it still sucks, especially on a rainy January Tuesday. :(

[reddragdiva]

Yeah, when you have a good idea of just what the company's dire financial position is, it's hard to hold it against them.

(I used to have a job like this - company was on the skids, one of my duties was preparing a daily "here's just how fucked we are today" spreadsheet for the financial controller. It clearly showed that anyone who could be fired should be fired, e.g. me. When the axe fell, I accepted it quite happily, 'cos I would have fired me ... And then they got me a very nice job with someone else a year later.)

Stay on good terms, have a nice bye bye meal, depart in good order not leaving a mess, wish them well and preserve all possible karma :-)

[skx.livejournal.com]

Pretty much agreed.

It is bad short term definitely, but it isn't necessarily too bad past that.

[innocent-irony.livejournal.com]

Ugh.
Hugs.
And everything everyone else has already said.

[mejoff.livejournal.com]

Shit. This happened to me 18 months ago, so I know quite how much this fucking sucks. Still, at least you have a payout, and transferrable skills,you'll be fine.

[pooloftrees.livejournal.com]

Blimey - that's a bit of a shock!

It sounds like everyone is being nice about it (as nice as you can be telling someone they are "redundant"). From your other replies, I think the 5K should make the transition slightly easier. Did your compensation fully cover buying the flat, and do you have any reserves?

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

My compensation barely covered the deposit on the flat. I do have some reserves though, which is reassuring me considerably just now.

[burritob.livejournal.com]

It was certainly a shock when I got made redundant, even though I'd been close to quitting at the time anyway. I'm sure you'll be able to find something new quite quickly though!

[djlongfella.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that mate, yeah the 5 K option means that they can re hire later in the year ( I stand to be corrected ) but if you go " full process " I think they can not re employ someone in your position for a year. But hey the 5k option means they could re employ you if funding comes through quick.

Hope it all turns out well mate. Good news you have reserves

[calnen.livejournal.com]

Really sorry to hear it.. Best of luck with the coming jobhunt! I'm told harpoons work well.

[megashrike.livejournal.com]

I'm sure #orgy can chip in and employ you as form of love slave ;)

[samoth.livejournal.com]

Bleh, always a bit of a bugger to be made redundant - although I've always found it seems to turn out to be a blessing in disguise in the long run...

I've got some contract Perl work about to start, if you want something to do while you're looking for something more permanent? :)

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Definitely worth discussing - thanks :)

[whatleydude.livejournal.com]

Obviously sucks.

But if I can help, say so.
That doesn't suck as much.

[tephramancy.livejournal.com]

Major suck. Good luck with the next venture.

[pndc.livejournal.com]

Oof, bad luck, but at least it's not a bad time to be looking for work.

I happen to know that WCN (Wimbledon Park) are looking for a senior Perl hacker at the moment, and the number of pimps calling me at the moment is getting annoying, so I can pass on anything that's not a complete waste of time if you wish.

We're also hiring, but I suspect that the kind of money on offer wouldn't keep you in the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed...

[promiseclean.livejournal.com]

Sorry to read that. Looks like redundancies are really in fashion at the moment.

Speaking from my own experience (having been made redundant twice so far) it's much better than it probably feels at the moment. You basically get paid for finding a much better job! And with the job market in London being quite ok (as far as I can tell) you will have new money coming in before you have used up your compensation.

Good luck with the job search, I'm sure you'll find something cool very soon :)

[preachermuaddib.livejournal.com]

If it helps I may be finally starting to drag myself out of the financial abyss i have been in and should be able to pay u bck money owed and buy you overdue drinks in about 2 weeks

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that'd be nice. Glad to hear things are picking up for you.

[sevenhelz.livejournal.com]

oh, boo. still, less boss-hassle for a while. *hug*

[steerpikelet.livejournal.com]

God, love, I've only just picked up on this - so sorry! Are you okay? How are you doing?
Any time you need hugs/random pants unhelpful advice from someone who's only ever had shit bar and shop jobs, just ping me, 'kay?
Love and thoughts. xxx

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Your random pants would be very welcome. Oh wait, more words. *reads again*

;)

Actually I'm feeling very very upbeat. I've caught up on my sleep and continue to get enough on a daily basis (mornings, who needs 'em?). I've also had quite a lot of positive leads on potential new jobs, without doing any actual work to find them, so I'm feeling hopeful about my prospects in the short and medium term.

Plus, I've taken advantage of the time off to start decorating my bedroom in the new flat, which is making me happy (if somewhat paint-speckled).

[ninneviane.livejournal.com]

Bugger! Sorry to read this...hows the work situ looking? Of course it's never a good time to be unemployed, but there are definitely worse times that others...think it will be long before something comes along?

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Early signs are promising - quite a lot of interest from agencies and companies despite me not doing a lot to promote my availability to the world at large.

I'm hoping I can find something fast, but then delay starting for a few weeks - OG got quite stressful and I like the idea of having a short period to catch my breath (and sort out a few things around the flat) before I get back to the grind.

[ninneviane.livejournal.com]

Fast find, delay start sounds perfect...I can well imagine a little breathing space would go along way! Fingers crossed something ideal comes along very soon for you! :)