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Becoming Invisible
3

Becoming Invisible

Becoming Invisible

(OP)

Why is it when someone has been laid off, it instantly renders them invisible?

I got the word this morning, I'm out of a job.  But I have to stay on for a week or two until my testimony as an expert in an on-going trial is completed.  I told my office partner and one co-worker who has been expecting the ax as I have.  I have now become invisible.  No one talks to me.  No one even looks up when I walk by.  It wasn't like this on Friday.  

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Becoming Invisible

Who said that?

RE: Becoming Invisible

Go to the beach when you're not in court.
There's no reason for you to be in the office.
What are they gonna do, fire you?  Oops, already did.

It gets worse.  Most of your professional contacts won't take your calls, either.  At least you'll find out who's truly professional.

Wait, it gets still worse.  HR weenies will treat you like a pariah as soon as they find out your departure was involuntary.  State of the economy and all that stuff doesn't matter; it's like time traveling to the Fifties.


On the other hand, since you've been discharged, you're eligible to file for unemployment compensation right now... and there's no reason you should appear in court without compensation, since you're not an employee any longer.

Coupla grand per day or fraction, in advance, sounds fair to me...

 

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: Becoming Invisible

Sorry to hear that Cass. I've never worked with a 'dead man walking', if they were fired for naughtiness they were straight out the door, otherwise we have good compensation packages for involuntary redundancies (and there have been few of those, most people volunteer).

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Becoming Invisible

My guess is, basically the awkwardness.  People don't know what to say to you.  They're glad it wasn't them, maybe don't want to rub it in.  Maybe they don't want to catch the lergywinky smile.

Here they are invisible because they get walked out that day, preferably stopping only to pick up their lunch box and jacket or equivalent.  They are expected to return in a few days at a time convenient for HR/management to pick up their stuff.  There have been exceptions, my boss earlier in the month was allowed to pack up there and then - big of them - but had to leave once packed.

Chin up, plenty of time to perfect the dance moves.

 

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at posting policies: http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: Becoming Invisible

Leaving voluntarily is the easiest for the folks to handle because presumably you are going to a better place, you usually get to work your notice and can be relied on for a round of free drinks on your last day.

Being canned doesn't affect them because, as pointed out, your little feet don't touch the ground between being told and given the bums rush by security and so they don't have to socialise with you, just watch the fun.

But, in your situation you are walking dead and they smell blood in the air.

They don't know how to react and they don't know how you will react if they initiate contact.

You just became an alien and you might be friendly but then again you might reach under your desk for that mail order AK with the folding stock and do a postman on them.

When I was made redundant from my last company they would have liked to see me gone within 5 minutes of the decision.

The big dummy (me) then asked what they were going to do about a new system I'd designed that had to be commissioned in Siberia.

But they had no succession planning in place (HR really are useless and they could never admit to anyone being indispensable even for a brief spell) but simply giving someone my laptop and saying "it's all in there go figure it out" wasn't going to cut it (actually, I guess no-one has accessed anything much on my old laptop even to this day... that's one of the benefits of being verbose and disorganised - who wants to go slowly mad trying to figure it all out?).

Now, if I'd been smarter I'd have gone immediately and let them field the phone call from the client asking when I was going to come over and commission.
That way I could have charged them a fortune at contractor's rates.

As it is, they rescinded my redundancy temporarily (legal necessity in the UK) while I went and did the work.

Of course, management also have their AK fears so I was given an assistant to take who was supposed to learn on the job. I did everything I was supposed to to the best of my ability but really, I should have been smarter and made a deal for better terms.

I'd say you are in exactly the same boat and maybe need to check whether they can do to you what they are doing or whether you are entitled to go as soon as told and then negotiate a deal for any necessary work.
Redundancy is supposed to be a quick and painless kill. They shouldn't be allowing you to walk around spreading doom and gloom and even, possibly, sabotaging everything in sight.

So go do something a smarter than I did and ask them for contractor's rates for this last task.


 
 

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Becoming Invisible

I was made redundant in my last job and out of the office within an hour of being in HR.  Company was small, less than 150 people and HR put out some feel good message about me leaving to seek other opportunities.  I still run into people from the old company that ask why I "left."  My guess is embarrassment/fear of being associated with you and being next.  This is when you find out who are your real friends and who are clingons.  The world can be a cruel place.

RE: Becoming Invisible

Very unprofessional of the management to give you notice of termination while you are in the middle of a litigation.  I would imagine the client and attorney would not be too happy with the situation.

After a period of stress and dismay, you will be better off elsewhere.

RE: Becoming Invisible

Sorry to hear that Cass !! Good luck with the job hunt. KENAT and jmw pretty much summed everything.

"Does the man make the journey or does the journey make the man" - Mark Twain

RE: Becoming Invisible

Sorry to hear that, but if I was you, I would report the next day you found another job, and that to continue as a expert witness, you will have to have a contract. They want thier cake and be able to eat it too. They dont care about you, just getting out of litigation.  

RE: Becoming Invisible

Maybe I'm missing something, but if Cass is basically being made to work her X weeks notice how relevant are some of the points people are making?  While a crummy situation etc. is it that unusual/unreasonable?  Plus, I wonder how it being a court appearance may affect things, are there any subpoena or similar issues that make just walking off the job unrealistic?

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at posting policies: http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: Becoming Invisible

(OP)
Yes KENAT, you are right.  I have been subpoenaed to appear at this trial.  If I walk out and do not appear, I could be charged with contempt and I suppose I could be fined and go to jail.  I seriously doubt the state would do that since the reality is that they don't have enough space for real criminals as it is.  It would certainly not look good for me if I stay in this field and run into the same attorneys under different circumstances.  

I'm not sure what would happen if I were forced to leave AND forced to testify.  The expert witness contract is with the firm, not me as an individual.  I suppose I could simply name my price.  I'll have all of it, all $500/hr, thank you.  The opposing side makes the check out to my company and they just sign it over to me.  I'll have to check, but I think I can refuse to testify if I have not been paid in advance, too.

My boss didn't even ask about the trial.  He had assumed it settled.  He wasn't at our last biweekly staff meeting where I gave a report on where my ongoing cases stood.  His bad.  So he agreed to keep me on until the end of my testimony.  Works out better for the company and it makes a smoother transition for me.  I've just got to deal with being invisible for awhile.  I've still got trial prep to do and then there's always the exit plan I've been working on.

I do believe my company has behaved unprofessionally.  They didn't even tell our HR person.  She found out when I asked about the formwork for my 401K rollover.  I'm not looking to do any harm.  I plan on remaining completely professional.  I'd do it even if I planned on leaving the field altogether an become a massage therapist.  I'd rather them think, "we're going to miss Cass" and not "thank goodness we got rid of her."

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Becoming Invisible

People ignore you because they are self-absorbed jerks.  They are more concerned with the jolt to their own mortality than with the coworker they are losing.

RE: Becoming Invisible

Cass,

Sorry to hear about your lay-off.
Like others have said, people avoid you because it is akward for them.  Engineers are generally not touchy-feely types, and they (we) have a hard time empathizing with others.

Massage Therapist?  
On the local TV commercials the massage therapiet graduates say they make as much in half the time as when they worked full time.  (trying to lighten it up) another trait us engineers have in lack of empathy.

RE: Becoming Invisible

Engineers ignore you because we are introverts.  GOD that was hard to say!

- Steve

RE: Becoming Invisible

(OP)

I think the reason is far more basic than that.  I think it goes way back in evolution when it was dangerous for animals to be near any sick, injured or dying member of the flock.

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Becoming Invisible

Oh, so it appears my assumption that you were completing the trial just as part of working your notice was incorrect, it's more like a jmw situation.  

It does indeed sound like your boss or whoever else is involved is doing a crummy job of things.  For all my places faults, it's my understanding that when they let you go they have all the paperwork ready and usually there's some kind of 'job finding' seminar a few days later.

While what Tick says will be true for some, I think it's a bit harsh for many.  Honestly I'm not sure what I'd say.  I didn't know what to say to my boss when he got let go.  Once you express your commiserations/sympathy and ask if they're OK etc. what else do you say?  Maybe you ask what their plans are, but if they don't have any yet this could make them feel worse.  You could lament the state of the company, economy or whatever with them but again this probably doesn't make them feel any better, maybe worse.  Of course you could just 'listen' but being male & an engineer you tend to want to fix things, not just listen to the problem, and while perhaps not the case in point, if they're a typical male engineer they may not want to talk about it anyway.

Cass, your 'not being associated with the sick etc.' that's what I meant by 'catch the lergy'.  I can't say this really went through my head with my boss but I can see it happening.

Maybe some of it was shock too and it will wear off as the day/week goes on.

Somehow I find it hard to imagine you being invisible though, based on the pictures you've posted on the pub etc. and the personality that comes across in most of your posts I know there'd certainly be people around here that would notice youwinky smile.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at posting policies: http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: Becoming Invisible

This isn't a case of let go under normal dismisal (is it?) nor a resignation i.e. it is a redundancy and I think you hinted at some of the concerns about business earlier.

Ergo:

Quote:

My boss didn't even ask about the trial.  He had assumed it settled.  He wasn't at our last biweekly staff meeting where I gave a report on where my ongoing cases stood.  His bad.
Absolutely. Same as in my case but instead of keeping quiet until I had cleared my desk and taken the money, then tipping them the wink so they would have had to bring me back at contractor rates, I blabbed.
Did you blab? Or did someone spot the problem?
But now:

Quote:

So he agreed to keep me on until the end of my testimony.  Works out better for the company...
Yes, of course. "he agreed"?  don't you mean "you agreed"? He needed you to stay on unless you suggested staying on... your bad.

In my case they had an obligation to suspend my redundancy and re-instate it once the job was done.
My bad.
I should have insisted on the redundancy and then negotiated a sweet sub-contract arrangement when they had begun to sweat blood.

Quote:

... and it makes a smoother transition for me.
but not as smooth as being paid consultants rates.
I can't help but think you have been shafted twice here and you are missing the opportunity to spend some of that time looking for a new job with a bit more cash in hand to do it.

Don't forget the per day or part day, expenses at your rates, pay for days of preparation etc. and what happens if there is no clear cut result? More work.

Price it up and see if you don't think you should re-negotiate... I mean, what have you got to lose?

Plus, you set a precedent for contract work.
If they get occasional jobs coming up they should be able to use you again while you are looking for new permanent employment.

If they just let go extra staff there will come a point where they don't have enough work for a return to higher staffing levels but insufficient staff to cater for transient uplifts in work load i.e. they may find they need to refuse some work when they could call you in on contract basis.

The moment you get a good job offer, game over.

You say the contract is with the company.
It is their responsibility to provide an expert witness. I am sure (this cannot be an isolated instance) that if you had notified the court that you were no longer employed or under notice (and felt that in all honesty because of the conditions you did not think you could necessarily guarantee to be able to "focus" fully on the case etc., they would probably have/want to release you from your subpoenae and might even have cause to want to release you even so as there is always a possibility that your testimony could be adversely influenced...(or something along those lines).

Now, the moment you were notified your services were no longer required you needed to focus on you, not the company.
They aren't doing you any favours. You are doing them favours and you shouldn't, you should switch to working on contract as being better for you and for the company (if they don't want your testimony later challenged for whatever reason... the losing side may exploit any circumstance to set aside a judgement?).

I'd suggest you investigate the situation your probable losses here (the difference between salary and contract fees, and put a value on lost time searching for new employment and then discuss with your ex-boss.

You have nothing to lose by investigating and by saying you were caught of base by circumstances, agreed to something you should not have agreed to and don't think it appropriate for you to act on the companies behalf under the current circumstances.

If nothing else, make them sweat it a bit. The closer to court date the sweatier they will be.



 

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Becoming Invisible

Cass,

I've been partially invisible for 8 months now.  I worked for business "A" for 18 years.  I bid out to business "B" 2.5 years ago.  The parent company bought another company and the FTC said the parent company had to sell business "A".  Eight months ago, business "A" hijacked me from business "B", (yes, I'm for sale) but my office is still located with the business "B" folks until the new owners decide where I'm going.  So, I've been invisible to my associates in business "B" for 8 months.

It is eerie, but I think it's to be expected.  They are a great bunch of folks who speak socially whenever our paths cross.  They even gave me a goodby party.  Most of the time though they just leave me alone business-wise because they know I should not be helping them.  That gives me a chance to focus on business "A", which I appreciate.  It's just that a large percentage of the interaction has ceased and I notice it very much.

Good luck,
Latexman

RE: Becoming Invisible

I like jmw's advice in his last post, last line.  Make 'em sweat.

I've left jobs voluntarily, and involuntarily, and have seen the behavior you describe regardless of the circumstances.  Ignore it, and cross those people off your "friends" list.  Some people simply find you worthless if they can't use you to further their own purposes.

Your real friends and professional colleagues will take you out to the pub this Friday and get you likkered up and talking war stories.  Then take a drive out past the boss' house, and "hey, look what I found in my trunk, who put these paint-filled water balloons and valve stem wrenches in here...?"  Ok, that last didn't happen, but we did discuss the possibility.

RE: Becoming Invisible

Racecar driver Robby Gordon (not to be confused with Jeff Gordon) once said: "You don't have any friends at 200mph".

I also wonder how much faith a court would have with a witness who was testifying "at the point of a gun". Best to keep you on the payroll (in one way or the other) for the duration of the case.

RE: Becoming Invisible

"Friendly" <> "Friend"

"Nice" <> "Good" (this one courtesy of Stephen Sondheim)

RE: Becoming Invisible

Sorry to hear about the job loss Cass but the way it is playing out seems off to me.  When I was RIF'd, they walked me out that day to return at a later time (with security) to collect my things.  This sounds like torture to me.

I think everyone is avoiding you out of fear that the lay off 'bug' is contagious.

Also, if you haven't signed anything renegotiating a contract to stay on, why are you obligated to do anything for these people under your current salary?  You have been laid off, to me that means you should be getting contractor's fees.  They need you.  As for the court case, you were let go, you did not quit.  The company is required to have representation right but not necessarily you.

Good luck!

RE: Becoming Invisible

A layoff may turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you. It's very liberating.

I suspect there are more jobs out there now than people think. Go find a good one!

RE: Becoming Invisible

(OP)

livingston,

No, it has to be me in court.  A Declaration of Expert Witness was filed a long time ago and the attorneys would have to refile a substitution, which I guess would delay things even more for a new discovery phase on the expert substitution.  It's possible, just very complicated since the trial is already in progress.  Fortunately for me, no one else was involved in the site inspection, generally considered a requirement for testimony.  Never having been involved in the investigation phase is considered a serious liability that the opposing council can use to their advantage.

Actually, I think my coworkers are getting over the initial shock and things have gotten a bit better.

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Becoming Invisible

It's very likely that your co-workers simply didn't know what to say - it's a common thing with deaths of family, too.  People truly don't know what to say, so they either avoid you completely, or blather on with verbose meaningless platitudes.

Your best option is simply to carry on as normal, except that you can spend your time at work looking for work, without any negative ramifications.

RE: Becoming Invisible

Heck, bring in a fifth of Tequila...and offer to pour shots for co-workers...that should liven things back up.

RE: Becoming Invisible

As the song goes, "Tequila makes her clothes fall off!"

Good luck,
Latexman

RE: Becoming Invisible

This is what you said at the outset.

Quote:

I have to stay on for a week or two until my testimony as an expert in an on-going trial is completed.
.In response to comments you said:

Quote:

A Declaration of Expert Witness was filed a long time ago and the attorneys would have to refile a substitution, which I guess would delay things even more for a new discovery phase on the expert substitution.
And the problem is yours?
 
But you also said:

Quote:

My boss didn't even ask about the trial.  He had assumed it settled.  He wasn't at our last biweekly staff meeting where I gave a report on where my ongoing cases stood.

So, let me get this right.

You were called in and told you were canned.
Did they give it to you in writing with a declaration of when you were to be gone by?

Did they then say "Clear your desk, you can go home today but just hand over any outstanding work to someone."?

It seems your boss was not aware of any court work. I have to assume he wasn't saying, "You are canned but we expect you to work your notice period." I mean, how many companies do that?

So, the next bit is presumably where you say "But I've got this case coming up."
And the boss says, "fine, you'd better hang on till that's completed."?

The reality is the boss should, having made a decision, acted immediately on it and then dealt with any issues in a fair and decent manner, not just exploited your good nature and he should have allowed you some time to think about the situation as he himself should have done.

Fair means either bringing you back on contract at appropriate rates where you control your spare time or it means requesting you allow them to rescind your notice until the case is over but agreeing a guaranteed separation bonus.

Once you had that notice, you were history.

So do you now have a new notice to quite but with lots of ifs and buts in it to cater for the trial?

Have they made any gesture toward you?


 

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Becoming Invisible

(OP)

jmw, I don't even want to tell you the latest with this Clu$t*r  F^@k.  I'm embarrassed for my employer.  I was a majority stockholder and executive officer of a corporation twice the size of this mom and pop shop I work for and I'm horrified by their lack of management training.

Right away on Monday I requested the following information;

1. amount of unused vacation pay
2. amount of severance pay (my boss mentioned 2 weeks)
3. date of my last day of employment (gave them the option of making it 2-3 days after my testimony with that day being somewhat unknown, but likely to occur first week in July.  Because of delays and a court recess, that date has now been moved to somewhere during July 16-22.
4. amount of my CalCOBRA payment, assuming that I would be paying my insurance premium x 110% x 35%.
5. when my COBRA payments will start (30-60 days after termination, generally but who knows)
6. if dental insurance also subsidized at 65% for the 9 months that health care is

To date, nearly a week later, I know the answer to #4 only.  My COBRA payment for health care, not including dental, would be around $351/month.  I've been at my dentist's office three days this week maxing out my dental benefit for the year since I'm not sure if I'll keep the dental plan.  I'd like to if I can start an implant (it's covered at 50%) in January.  Not many plans cover implants.

I asked our HR person yesterday about the other items and she said, "I asked one of the partners and he told me to go ask your boss."  On Wednesday my boss left two BRAND NEW CASES with a note to cover them while he's gone, out of the country, and unavailable by phone or email.  Unbelievable!  He told me I was laid off, gave me work to do while he's gone, then skipped town.  I have no words that adequately describe my sentiments.  Incomprehensible!

I actually need the answer to 3, 4 and 5 to calculate whether it's better to stay or leave and work on a consulting basis.  I'm guessing that my health insurance is paid around the first of the month, so that gives me good reason to stay at least through the July 5.

The problem with the consulting work is that I don't have enough to bill whole days.  And testimony pay is only for the actual time on the stand.  The longer trial is delayed, the better for me because I still receive a salary.  As a consultant, I'd be sitting here getting zero.  And it really doesn't prevent me from spending the day as I want, except for those new cases to inspect.

It also gives me a bit of cushion to decide what to do about where I'm going to live.  My rent is $1,800/month, the exact amount of my unemployment benefit.  So I'll be moving, just not sure where...

Too many questions and not enough answers.

 

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Becoming Invisible

Ass,

Wow your experience was so similar to mine. I got laid off, but needed to work another week to finish off some work loose ends.

Everyone seemed to talk to me much much less. It is not just an American thing.

You should really look at the employment law to see if they can legally expect you to work during the notice period e.t.c.

RE: Becoming Invisible

Fat fingered that one didn't you csd?

Good luck,
Latexman

RE: Becoming Invisible

(OP)

It's OK by me, made me laugh.  But then maybe I am an ass for staying on and trying to do the decent thing.

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Becoming Invisible

Sorry, that one obviously wasnt meant for you Cass!

Sometimes its worth staying on that bit just to make sure things are properly handed over and you keep a good rep with clients.

RE: Becoming Invisible

You know, the way your boss is, they'll forget they fired you.
Sinc you've gone down this route, you might just as well keep turning up for work.

But, do you have a written indication of when you employment terminates?
The moment you got that the first time, you contract ended.
When they asked you to stay on that technically constitutes proposing a new contract of employment.
Negotiate. (too late now?)
If this case hangs on then they have it all to do again: Negotiate. Don't let it slide next time. If you can sort out Crystal Beth etc. you can sort these guys out witout breaking into a sweat.
 

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Becoming Invisible

(OP)

No, nothing in writing and when confronted with the questions I listed above, the two partners who are in the office scurried for cover under a piece of furniture like roaches.

Cowards

I just don't want to be another Milton.  On second thought, life turns out pretty sweet in the end for Milton.  Now where did I put those matches.....

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Becoming Invisible

Don't forget your sssstapler.

V

RE: Becoming Invisible

(OP)

Milton Waddams: Mr. Lumbergh told me to talk to payroll and then payroll told me to talk to Mr. Lumbergh and I still haven't received my paycheck and he took my stapler and he never brought it back and then they moved my desk to storage room B and there was garbage on it... I could set the building on fire.

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Becoming Invisible

Nothing in writing?
Nothing....?
Cass, Cass...

Does anyone know where there are some post office special AKs?
Yes? Then send one to Cass with some banana clips.


Bottom line, the smart, sensitive, conscientious and professional ones are the victims in this world; victims of brown-nosers, bad managers and fluffy animals.

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Becoming Invisible

Maybe it was just your evil twin sister that was fired...

Get far enough into those other new cases that you have to stay until they are finished.  Enjoy life in limbo, you can't be fired again until you are hired again, so follow the rules at work that work for you and ignore the rest; you are, after all, only there as a favor to them any way.

RE: Becoming Invisible

Go to the Unemployment Office and file a claim.
They _will_ find out your real status, right there and then.
They will _not_ take any crap from your employer.

If it turns out you are unemployed, assert the claim to start your waiting period right away.

If I had the kind of leverage that you (may) have here, I'd bill for court time at multiple thousands of USD per day _or_fraction_thereof_, and let the partners worry about making up the difference... and coming up with cash in advance of your appearance.

 

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: Becoming Invisible

Take a job anywhere, even wallmart.
They want you to testiy in court?  I get $150/Hr for that crap plus expenses.  Minimun 8 hr/ day.

RE: Becoming Invisible

The reason that you have been laid off is that there is no work. I am guessing that is not just your company, so finding a different employ may be difficult.

Are you still being paid?  If so keep turning up to work.  If you are being paid, you have a duty to do your duty for the company, so therefore, if your boss gives you more work, then you have an obligation to do it, and professional pride and a good reference, requires you to do it well.  I think that this is the bottom line.

not having a finish date, does this matter? The company will have to give you a set notice period, this is a minimum notice period.  You have asked for it you cannot do much more, follow it up with an another letter saying that you do not have a finish date and that you will continue to work on commitments.

At the moment everything is verbal. to formalise it send them a letter "following from our conversation I understand that i am fired but I am still to do work for you. I will continue to do this work at my previous salary".

Sorry to hear about the redundancy, I wish you the best for the future.

RE: Becoming Invisible

Good luck Cass. I'm sure something will turn up for you. In the mean time, enjoy the vacation.

If we all agreed, we would be Communists. - Me

RE: Becoming Invisible

In my past i have been laid off so many times it does not matter, I have become jaded.  And every time i went looking for a job, I got a better one with better pay.  This is an opportunity for a big pay raise!!!

I remember this one job I had as a contractor, the boss would come up to me say my last day was Friday.  Then on Thursday, the boss would come over and say they extended me till next Friday.  Week after week went by, same thing went on till it became a running joke to me.  Everytime he showed up next to my desk I would start laughing and say, "Please put me out of my misery!"



 

RE: Becoming Invisible

(OP)

controlsdude, So why did you stay? You probably could have claimed intentional infliction of mental distress.

I've had this discussion with several people recently.  My job is getting extended until mid-to-late July due to court schedule, nothing intentional on my employer's part.  In the meantime, we've gotten additional work, to which I have been assigned.  But I will still leave for anything that comes along within the right range.  Mentally I have already left my job.  I do not trust my employer to manage and market their services effectively.  I have also always disliked that they under-utilize my skills, training and experience.

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: Becoming Invisible

It was contract work, I was looking too, so if I find something better I am out the door.  No two week notice for me, just leave that day and go to next job.  

You don't owe that employer nothing, they already showed you what they are made of, not the right stuff.

RE: Becoming Invisible

On one contract job the shop called a couple of us to let us know that we were being let go. We started looking for the next job of course. Comes the day before what was our last day, the manager finds out and lets us know that he was just checking out his options and the shop misunderstood. The other guy had found a position closer to home and left. I stayed for another year or so.

Peter Stockhausen
Senior Design Analyst (Checker)
Infotech Aerospace Services

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