Sara writes… Well, I can't say I didn't know it was coming but the shock of "being terminated" that I experienced yesterday was still devastaing. I was told all last year that the company is doing great and basically felt that the economy was slowing business but we would be ok.

In december i was told that the cost saving measure of outsourcing of my department was made and they wanted me to help with the "transition". Yes, I was to train the people in another country how to do my job! After I got over the shock of the request, I decided that being helpful and a team player may get me brownie points with the boss. But I was told yesterday that my postion has been premently outsourced and I was terminated. I found this site helpful in finding unemployment information and just wanted to tell my story.

Thanks for listening.

Leslie writes… I should have known something was going on, and it wasn’t good. I had been out sick for two days and came back on a Friday. Things seemed very odd in my office. The guy who was always late, and dressed like a slob, was there before me and dressed up, as were others.

Last year right after shelling out some big bucks for my cat surgery and right after the holidays – I was called to HR for what I thought was a help desk call. Turns out I would be the one who would be needing the help after that visit. I was called into a small room with the VP and the head of HR and told that I was being laid off with no chance of being rehired. Our overly perky and clueless HR wouldn’t tell me how they selected me out of my cracker-jack squad of numb nuts, even though two of them where worthless and needed to be retired. So after getting the news that job was gone, and my benefits would be ending in two days, I went back to my desk to gather my things. Of course the minute I stepped out of the elevator a swarm of “concerned” co-workers came to my aid. Let me just say that if you really don’t want to help a down and out ex-coworker then don’t say a word, because we will take you up on it. All the people they know and network you with turn out to be just false hope.

So after 3 months of being laid off, I didn’t hear form anyone I use to work with, and I really can’t say I miss them all that much. The only thing that makes me feel better is that my old company is about to go down the tubes and they laid off two directors the day they let me go.

Brownie writes... Last year, I was laid off from a large nonprofit organization. The news was not a surprise. A few months prior, senior management put the organization’s staff on notice. Financial donations were down. In order to help balance the books, staff positions and services would need to be cut. The organization was comprised of about 3,000 staff. Ultimately, 1,000 positions were cut.

The office rumor mill had predicted that layoffs would be forthcoming. This was before senior management made it official via their company email. As a long time employee, I started saving my leave days. My official notice was given by a VP and a HR rep. Because I had saved my leave, the organization paid me for about 25 days. Also, severance was given based on the length of service. I was given six months severance. My health insurance would end with the last severance check.

Overall, I was pleased with my severance package. With some time off, I was able to go to the doctor, have medical tests completed (the ones that I had put off), etc. Also, I had my doctor double up on my prescriptions.

In the interim, I am taking classes in order to pursue a career in another field. After several years with the same employer, I was long overdue for a change.

Genevieve writes... I worked for a native american casino for 23 years. I too worked through 2007 and 2008 performing two other manager positions (due to their positons being eliminated). In March of this year I was called to the office of the manager and told there is no other way to say this but your position is being eliminated. I was handed a packet with information on unemployment and how to cash out my 401K. Which I had to do because of some bills that I needed to pay as my unemployment was not enough to cover a car payment and other bills.

I am now on an extension and will tell you that there are no jobs or should I say no one who wants to hire a 50 year old who worked her whole career in a casino. I live in Michigan where the unemployment rate is the highest in the country 15.3%. The local unemployment agency has 6 jobs posted and one of them is a specialized field (need 5 years experience). Every day I spend time on the internet searching jobs everywhere not just in the state I live in. I become frustrated when I see reports that the recession is ending?? Where not here. I guess I needed to share my story which is very simular to many others in this country today.