Re: How has the economy affected you, if at all?
 

<font color="plum">I decided to return to college for a couple of reasons. I need a job that offers security and good health benefits. The two careers that seem to have a high enough demand for the security and also come with group benefits were nursing and teaching. I've spent enough time in hospitals already. A career in Nursing doesn't appeal to me. Teaching, on the other hand, is something I've considered for several years, but could never pursue when I was married because it required going back to college.

Now that I am single and only semi-employed, it seemed to be the perfect time to pursue the career in teaching. I began by taking the Effective Teaching class required for becoming a substitute teacher, then contacted my alma mater to see what classes I would need to qualify for my teacher certification. With my BS in Finance and Marketing, I only needed 6 additional classes plus 1 semester of student teaching to meet the requirements. Teaching is something I have a passion for. It is also relatively unaffected by economic downturns, because we will always need teachers and there seems to be an especially high demand for math teachers, which is the subject I am pursuing.

Finally, I feel that this is where God is leading me to be.</font>

Re: How has the economy affected you, if at all?
 

<font color="plum">My uncle is one of the engineers at their plant and I know the HR Manager very well also.

If things go down the drain with Staples, I'll be glad to give the HR Manager your name, though I don't know if they have a need in that area or not. Still, you never know till you ask.</font>

Re: How has the economy affected you, if at all?
 

That's a generous offer!

Thanks!

Re: How has the economy affected you, if at all?
 

Well if it doesn't pick up I am sure it will affect my bonus next year. I still got my nice bonus for last year and the usual raise. Other than that the only thing affected is we have less work lunches, and no meetings around lunch time to avoid having to pay for food. Damn I am starving! LOL
So it really hasn't affected me too much. However I do have neighbors who have lost jobs so I know there is a dark cloud looming around affecting people. But I am not naive it could easily affect me just been lucky so far. Luck affects everything.

Re: How has the economy affected you, if at all?
 

One daughter got laid off last week, another daughter started a new job this week after looking for several months. Last daughter and my wife both got raises recently. My workplace had 2 rounds of layoffs early this year and overtime is done for at least into June. The only real hit that I have taken is that my 401K has tanked by over 1/3.

Re: How has the economy affected you, if at all?
 

Is there a limit on number of tools purchased with an employee discount? Can you say eBay store? :laugh3: :laugh2:

Re: How has the economy affected you, if at all?
 

Your going to have to leave that accent behind! :hehe:

Hey that's great news, when are you coming across the ditch to start work?

Re: How has the economy affected you, if at all?
 

I worked at a rather low end retail job, when I say low end, I mean when I got hired on, that's where I was staying, no ladder climbing for me.

I was with them for several months, then after the holidays, something happened. The company fired two managers from each and every store nation wide, and our manager brought every employee into the office individually and told us this, basically,

"Sign this piece of paper agreeing to work with us for no benefits, no vacation time, no sick leave and for a amount of 20 hours per week (I was originally full time), if you don't, you're fired."

At first, I asked him, "Wow, the company really hitting the crapper isn't it?"

His response? "No, we're doing really well actually, this is for economic reasons."

I stayed on, because, well, not much of a choice. Where I lived, there were no jobs, and all jobs there were were for little teenie boppers, nothing you could do much with. I hit the wall, and then I blew out my leg, so I hit a really bad turning point.

My dad gave me a call and said, "I heard what happened, why don't you come live with me for awhile, get back on your feet and take things easy for awhile?"

It's been nice, I don't have to work myself stupid now like I had to, work 2-3 weeks straight just to catch up in bills. I went in to talk to the manager about everything afterward, and one of them stopped me, one of those people that think all low level retail workers need to be devoted utterly to their job, "You quit? Did you put in your notice?"

"Yeah, you notice I'm no longer here." :P

Thankfully though, I've been hired on as a lighting technician, makes really good money now and we work long days, about 11-12 hours, but totally worth it.

Re: How has the economy affected you, if at all?
 

Is this legal? I am so happy you have found a new job Gangrell rather than put up with that crap.

Re: How has the economy affected you, if at all?
 

I've heard several people ask the same thing, although, technically as it is 'legal', it's more of a loophole. Something along the lines of, "Yes, we agreed on said amount of hours when you were hired, but since the company has reconstructed itself, that is also altered" or some BS.

I appreciate it wellard, words to the wise kids, don't do drugs or retail jobs.