Outsourcing

[d4]

That thought crossed my mind. I was thinking that if I could get everyone in my group to chip in about $10,000 a year, I could just DM for a living.

well i don't know. Bugaboo's been doing it for years.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

That thought crossed my mind. I was thinking that if I could get everyone in my group to chip in about $10,000 a year, I could just DM for a living. I doubt they'll be too into that idea, though.

I'd say become a game designer, but the field's full and does not pay well, I suspect.

 

[Krail Stromquism]

A show of good restraint

Wow.

How can everyone talk about all the jobs being lost and keep from getting political? Excellent restraint on everyones part.

I spent the last 3 years wainting for some one to walk up to my cubicle and tell I was fired. Somehow that never happened. I ended up leaving on my own. Im now doing freelance for the company. Very weird.

I think we can all agree that the relationship that existed in the 50s and 60s between Company and Employee was killed in 80s, at least very well maimed. The company is only beholden to its profit line and share holders.

2 million jobs have been lost in america since the last election and a million more will be gone by the next. take that as you will.

Things to do:
#1- In most instances you dont owe anything to the company you work for. You're not indebted to them in anyway. You may feel grateful they hired you, but you owe them nothing.

#2-Never stop looking for a job. Whether that means in your company or at a nother. Always seek to improve your situation. I you get a better offer, tell you current employer and see if they'll match the offer.

#3-Always join a union. ALWAYS! Never be afraid or bullied into not joining a union.

Temp agencies have empowered a lot of workers. I worked for over a year with Manpower. It was great. But I was only empowering huge companies to value their employees LESS. Temp agencies have tricked the american worker into thinking they are getting a sweet deal. So try not to work for them and try not to use them for new hires.

Viva Mike Moore
Viva Al Fraken
Viva Greg Palast
Viva the Worker!

 

[DaveStebbins]

My sympathies and best wishes for all who are looking for work, or worried about their jobs. The company I work for announced a restructuring last week by getting rid of a vice president and several directors. Once they're done reorganizing the top they'll announce where else they've found oppotunities for "setting up shared resources" and "eliminating redundancies." I'm pretty sure my job is secure, but I can't help noticing that two high-level people with good opinions of me were just shown the door, while one manager who has (in the past) had his bootprint on my butt was promoted to VP. I also just finished up my part in a major project and am sitting in the morning meetings back in my old department reflecting that they've gotten by without me just fine for the past 18 months.

In the end, no job is truly secure, which goes even further to show the value of friendships and communities (like this one) of supportive people. Hopefully, this community can act as a network to help you all find something fulfilling. My thoughts are with you all.

-Dave

 

[woodelf]

And if your company is downsizing because of a down-turn in the industry?
Well.... I don't know of too many that haven't gone _below_ skeleton-crews by now, and the writing's on the wall...

Luckily, however, our economy is now fine--the Pres said so last week (or was it early this week?). Oh well, i'm sure there's another tax cut on the way for those earning $250k+--that should help us all out. </sarcasm>

 

[woodelf]

Oh, and the other piece of advice (probably much more usefull than my last rambling)

Get your finances in order if you feel that there is even a chance of being laid off. Reduce expenses, budget and overall exhibit rational finances.

I've been trying to do that. I keep reducing my expenses. Each year, my gross (not to mention my net) income is a couple thousand dollars lower. This recession hits *hard* when you're in the ~$10k range to start with. (And, no, it's not just me looking for a scapegoat--i track my receipts daily, and looking back, the decline started in Mar '01--the first month to be declared officially a recession.) At this point, i'm just trying to get enough money in the bank to be able to *afford* to switch jobs (and thus have to wait 2-4 weeks for my first paycheck, rather than get paid daily).

 

[woodelf]

There have been articles in the IEEE magazines in general about a lot of engineering jobs moving overseas... which is rather disheartening. I am not worried about my current job (can't effectively be outsourced), but it sure puts a damper on my prospects of moving soon and finding a job elsewhere. I really feel for you folks that have actually been displaced by this.

And it's gonna keep happening until there is something approaching wage- and cost-of-living parity worldwide. The labor unions are just starting to wake up to this (about 2 decades too late, i fear), and beginning to organize workers in countries outside of the 1st world. In the 70s and 80s, workers should've been trying to establish solidarity with potential overseas workforces, rather than fighting to prevent their utilization by companies. As long as trade imbalances and conversion rates and such make it possible for a company to earn its profits in one market and pay its expenses in another, cheaper, one, it'll do so. And as long as there are workers who'll let themselves be taken advantage of, it doesn't matter how adamant the others are.

 

[Ysgarran]

Yes, I'm afraid you are correct. It is part of what makes the problem intractable. I wonder about how this bodes for the long economics in the west. I don't know the statistics but I've always had the feeling that a large portion of the middle class and upper middle class has been filled in by just the kinds of jobs that are beginning to see downward wage pressures.

And it's gonna keep happening until there is something approaching wage- and cost-of-living parity worldwide. The labor unions are just starting to wake up to this (about 2 decades too late, i fear), and beginning to organize workers in countries outside of the 1st world.
<SNIP>

 

[der_kluge]

Krail, well, it wasn't a political discussion until you turned it into one!! Let's try and not get this thread banned, shall we?

The good news for me is, that all my friends are now in-tune with what's going on, so they're all looking out for me. So, I guess it's true what they say about friends coming in times of need. And it also just highlights the point that it's not what you know, but who you know. That really is just as true today as it was when the phrase was coined.

 

[Ysgarran]

Since I posted the bad news I felt a need that I should post the good news also. I just got a job offer (that I'm 95% sure I'll take) for a contract position for 3 months.

1. This job may turn into a full time position (but that depends on how well this small company does).
2. It will give me (or my wife) time to find a full time position.
3. The work looks interesting and I might be able to expand my skill set a bit.

later,
Ysgarran.

p.s. die_Kluge, Let us know what happens at your place,

Wow, Ysgarran. That's really tough. I hope you recover quickly.