Topic: How has the economic downturn affected your workplace? (Read 8450 times)

xolik · « **on:** March 11, 2009, 03:37:08 PM »

With the economy dropping faster than a President's pants in front of an intern, many institutions have implemented various cost-cutting actions. What steps have been made where you work to reduce costs? For me, it's been the following:

Salary freeze for the next two years.
Hiring freeze unless it's for a damn good reason
A round of layoffs to the tune of 90 positions being eliminated
Training budget slashed to next to nothing
Travel budget is pretty much gone as well
A sudden interest in 'going green' as in turn off all unnecessary electronic items, reusing supplies and that sort of thing

ivan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2009, 03:48:23 PM »

Not too much has changed around my workplace, although I've noticed fewer people are stopping to put money in my cup.

HeavyJay · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2009, 04:12:12 PM »

I can't find a workplace, the way things are going. Everywhere I've applied is in the middle of a hiring freeze.

xolik · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2009, 04:19:04 PM »

Quote from: HeavyJay on March 11, 2009, 04:12:12 PM

I can't find a workplace, the way things are going. Everywhere I've applied is in the middle of a hiring freeze.

Have you tried working with a slavetrader for a while? When the old factory I worked at shut down and we all got laid off, I went and did work for a temp agency going all over the place fixing other people's computer goofs. Some of the short term contracts paid pretty well, but then there were always the times in between getting contracts that was the pain.

Wunderkind · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2009, 04:24:47 PM »

I tried a temp agency. They can't find any work for me either. It's really pathetic.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2009, 04:30:53 PM »

Ditto here. I've been hooked up with probably the best IT-related slavetrader in the area for the past three months, and haven't gotten a single, solitary smidgen of work as a result.

I gave up calling them and bugging them after they got firm with the "we'll call YOU when and IF we have something for you!" bit.

Feh.

HeavyJay · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2009, 04:43:17 PM »

Quote from: xolik on March 11, 2009, 04:19:04 PM

Have you tried working with a slavetrader for a while? When the old factory I worked at shut down and we all got laid off, I went and did work for a temp agency going all over the place fixing other people's computer goofs. Some of the short term contracts paid pretty well, but then there were always the times in between getting contracts that was the pain.

I'll give it a shot after I have my A+ cert. I feel dumb walking into a slavetrader's office without that piece of paper that says, "See? Seeeee?"

Scheherazade · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2009, 05:44:47 PM »

I don't currently have a job, but I'd love to share how the recession is effecting my university.

1. Our yearly tuition increase is currently at 6% a year (2 semesters) and is expected to raise.
2. Not only is tuition perpetually increasing, but to save money the school is cutting all courses which are NOT general education requirements if they have less than 15 students enrolled. This means that the rate of students who graduate in 4 years is plummeting because the classes they need for their degrees are simply no longer available.

BizB · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2009, 06:14:16 PM »

Very similar situation with me, xolly.

6% reduction in staff (about 650 people) 2 weeks ago - tomorrow.
Free coffee still in place, but no more free Styrofoam cups.
Hiring freeze.
No merit increases this year.
No more plant care service. We have to take care of any vegetation near our cube/office.
Night guards have been reduced to one guard on duty. No more third shift guards.
Going green effort.

Joe Sixpack · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2009, 08:01:49 PM »

Pretty much the same:
Hiring freeze
There were some layoffs but I think they are done with at this point
No merit raises
No OT
Pay cuts across the board, different % depending on your pay level
Re-orgs all over the place
I think they actually raised the 401k matching though

Chris · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2009, 09:33:50 PM »

It's funny, I'm in the restaurant business and I'm experiencing none of these things which all of you speak of. In fact, my store was up nearly 5% last month in total sales. We're hiring more people on a weekly basis and we just got a major addition onto the store.

RelandR · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2009, 09:39:59 PM »

Semi-retired, work at home here.

The (were supposed to be) good things:

A large part of the income is fixed
Extra side work is virtually non existent
Existing side work is dwindling

The (as it turns out) not so good things:

A large part of the income is fixed
Extra side work is virtually non existent
Existing side work is dwindling

Changes to prepare for:

Assorted progeny and other connected and disconnected relations going into mooch mode
Create and Initiate "Chores and favors for food" program so as to appear generous and still win
Turn green
Polish up the "No, now is not the time to re-evaluate my lack of religion" speech because the seemingly inevitable Armageddon will be a man made phenomenon and if there is a God, he's already made it perfectly clear that he's not interested in fixing stupid.

Socrates · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2009, 07:01:53 AM »

Similar to Xolik here

elimination of 60-70 positions out of 3000, half of the eliminations coming from empty positions that just won't be filled
hiring freeze for many months now and as far forward as they care to speculate, unless you can convince the committee you need to fill the position
no pay increases for non-faculty staff
budget cuts for the next fiscal year and reductions projected for every year out for the next 5
coffee is free but now it's a pot not those little k-cups and provide your own mug
slashed travel budget and allowances, I'm taking the train to a conference in Philly in a couple of weeks
much less catering for meetings, now people are stopping at the donut shop and picking up a dozen instead of trays of pastries being provided by food services

All of these are pretty much steps every company takes in these kinds of situations.

We were already doing the green thing here but is has stepped up. It's funny how in order to save a bunch we need to implement new processes (which usually require new hardware or software programs be purchased, configured or developed) but the trouble is getting the money to actually do those things. Kind of a catch-22.

I feel for everyone job hunting, RI has a 10.3% unemployment rate at the moment and it only appears to be climbing

Demosthenes · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2009, 10:32:45 AM »

Quote from: Chris on March 11, 2009, 09:33:50 PM

It's funny, I'm in the restaurant business and I'm experiencing none of these things which all of you speak of. In fact, my store was up nearly 5% last month in total sales. We're hiring more people on a weekly basis and we just got a major addition onto the store.

That's because it's McDonald's. Seriously, I'm not being facetious. McDonald's enjoys a market niche that tends to be pretty recession-proof.

Probie · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2009, 10:34:10 AM »

that's because its so darn tastey and bad for you. Also i think they sprinkle crack over it....so you keep going back.

xolik · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2009, 10:37:44 AM »

Quote from: Demosthenes on March 12, 2009, 10:32:45 AM

That's because it's McDonald's. Seriously, I'm not being facetious. McDonald's enjoys a market niche that tends to be pretty recession-proof.

It's almost as if poor people eat cheap food.

HeavyJay · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2009, 10:54:10 AM »

One of the many places I applied at actually called me today. It's a grocery store bakery, but beggars can't be choosers. It'll feel nice to finally contribute to the household a bit, and have some cash left over to fuel my DVD addiction.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #17 on:** March 12, 2009, 10:59:29 AM »

Quote from: xolik on March 12, 2009, 10:37:44 AM

It's almost as if poor people eat cheap food.

Call it what you will, it's at a price point that tends to thrive during economic downturns.

Which is why among discount retailers, Wal-Mart is the only one that isn't doing too badly right now.

Probie · « **Reply #18 on:** March 12, 2009, 11:06:23 AM »

Quote from: Demosthenes on March 12, 2009, 10:59:29 AM

Call it what you will, it's at a price point that tends to thrive during economic downturns.

Which is why among discount retailers, Wal-Mart is the only one that isn't doing too badly right now.

Almost all my income is spent in ASDA (aka Wal-mart). Asda is huge over here and aside from food and alcohol, they also sell clothes, cosmetics, and petrol. They are making a killing.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #19 on:** March 12, 2009, 11:09:16 AM »

Oh yeah, I've shopped at an ASDA before, on my trip to Scotland a few years back. I didn't know until I got back to the US that ASDA was owned by Wal-Mart.

Probie · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2009, 11:19:54 AM »

Quote from: Demosthenes on March 12, 2009, 11:09:16 AM

Oh yeah, I've shopped at an ASDA before, on my trip to Scotland a few years back. I didn't know until I got back to the US that ASDA was owned by Wal-Mart.

Yeah, they didn't always own it. They where bought out i believe. It's really weird as well, because their is a hell of a lot of brand loyalty with asda which is diametrically opposed to the relationship between Americans and wal-mart. At least that's what the movies teach us.

ivan · « **Reply #21 on:** March 12, 2009, 12:27:58 PM »

If Wal-Mart were really as loathed and despised as media portrays it to be, no one would shop there.

Probie · « **Reply #22 on:** March 12, 2009, 12:30:45 PM »

Quote from: ivan on March 12, 2009, 12:27:58 PM

If Wal-Mart were really as loathed and despised as media portrays it to be, no one would shop there.

Well its difficult to tell from all the way over here. The english hate tesco's but we still shop there.

ivan · « **Reply #23 on:** March 12, 2009, 12:44:12 PM »

Quote from: Probie on March 12, 2009, 12:30:45 PM

Well its difficult to tell from all the way over here. The english hate tesco's but we still shop there.

We've got Tescos now. They're called Fresh and Easy.

Good stuff, actually.

xolik · « **Reply #24 on:** March 12, 2009, 12:58:39 PM »

Quote from: ivan on March 12, 2009, 12:44:12 PM

We've got Tescos now. They're called Fresh and Easy.

Just like my ex!

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Author Topic: How has the economic downturn affected your workplace? (Read 8450 times)