Layoffs are Looming

My primary job has been quite stressful these past few months. My development team is rapidly shrinking and my teammates and I are required to perform much more work with much fewer hands. When layoff rumors began circulating this fall I decided to pick up a temporary second job.

As time goes on I am less and less worried about losing my job, but I figured it certainly couldn’t hurt to plump up our emergency fund. In fact, as rumors swirl I find myself checking out more and more from my full-time job. When layoffs occur at my company employees are immediately escorted from the building. They don’t have time to box up their belongings or collect their things. I think that’s a horrible way to end a career at the company, but I’m sure upper management doesn’t care to hear my thoughts on the matter.

If I am fired I will not step back into the building. I packed up and took home my personal belongings long ago. This week I noticed other folks bringing in boxes and packing up their cubes. I guess everyone wants to be ready in case the axe falls. I would imagine no one wants to step back into the building to clean out their cubes.

Tomorrow will be my last day of work at job #1 until the new year. During my two week vacation from job #1 I plan to work between 30 and 40 hours at job #2. Since job #2 pays me an hourly wage it probably makes sense to squeeze in as many hours as possible, but I look forward to my year-end vacation and still plan to spend at least a few days reading and relaxing at home.

I think I’m being proactive enough for the time being. Of course, I’m also hoping for a decent severance package if I am let go.