From money but no time to time but no money.....

[Feltwell]

Looks like the old project list here will be getting a shake up! Labour intensive but cheap will be rising up the list - trouble is, outside of gardening (clearance of jungle....) I can't think of too much that qualifies for that list.

Lack of cash means my company is intending to strip out all the middle & senior management, which includes me, and have all the junior staff reporting straight to the directors. A new experience for me - I've never been made redundant, despite wanting to be a few times!

The company has managed to make a complete hash of the process, very much in my favour - I had the pleasure yesterday of going to my boss with a colleague with paper evidence that they were planning to make us redundant at the end of February, which we should never have seen. The look on his face was a picture, he couldn't look either of us in the eye. The balance of power is with me, as I have a lot of technical and systems knowledge than no one else has - if I went straight away with no handover they would have very real problems. However, I have the moral high ground at the moment and I intend to stay there - so it's negotiating time, an agreeable deal for me and they get full co-operation and transfer of knowledge.

So it's job-hunting time. Not the best time to be looking, but in my field a good recruitment contact of mine tells me things have been on the up since November - the rest of last year being dire. I view it as an opportunity, albeit one with risk.

 

[worms]

Sorry to hear about your situation, hope it all works out.

Labour intensive but cheap will be rising up the list - trouble is, outside of gardening (clearance of jungle....) I can't think of too much that qualifies for that list.

Limewash is my solution to this issue. Very cheap to make up, but a fresh coat makes a big difference to the look of the place.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Sorry to hear your news. I lost my my job last September when my office was moved from Central London to Swindon. My four months off work have been the longest such period since I was a student in 1977. I too need to re-enter the job market and am seeing an agency next week.

I always believed I would be usefully employed at home if I was off work, and so it proved for the first two months - I threw myself into decorating my hall, stripping paint from the exterior of the house - but then I found myself drifting into a dream-like languor. I would get up late, read novels, watch movies and engage in pointless discussions on internet forums, while the house projects remained unfinished. Too much time for introspection, too few externally imposed deadlines, too little social intercourse were never things which I thought would affect me much, but they clearly have. The idea of going back to work really doesn't appeal either but this little taster of being retired has taught me something about myself.

Good luck in your job hunt.

 

[CatherineB]

I am sorry to hear about your job loss, Feltwell, but applaud your positive approach to the situation!

As Nigel says, it is easy, when you have no deadlines, to let things slide. Perhaps Mrs FW should set you some targets and a date for your performance appraisal, before your work-at-home style becomes too sloppy :wink:

 

[Moo]

Strangely enough, the cabin fever brought on by the weather (neither golf nor the allotment can tempt me out of doors until the weather improves) has really got me going on the home front. I've scrubbed, sanded and varnished the kitchen floor, washed the walls and ceiling** and repainted all the cupboard doors.
But I suspect that, like Nigel, the novelty would wear off after a bit. I think Catherine has the answer!



** A frying-pan fire before Christmas created interesting abstract patterns on the ceiling and at last I got round to removing them. Which, of course, created a clean patch.......

 

[Penners]

Feltwell, that's tough news.

Or is it? Reading between the lines, do I get the impression that you weren't totally in love with this job anyway?

Maybe this event could be the impetus that you need in order to go out and find something else that's a bit more suitable and stimulating, with a modest financial cushion (I assume) by way of redundancy, to keep body and soul together while you're doing this.

It's certainly not a time that anyone would (I imagine) have chosen to enter the job market. But if demand for your skill-set is showing an upturn, then this might all turn into a blessing. I do hope so.

Best wishes, and do keep us all in touch with your progress. Meanwhile, get out that machete and get hacking!

 

[MatthewC]

I sympathise, having been made redundant last year (I think in the same industry as you, Feltwell?).

Contrary to your employers, mine were scrupulous in making sure that they followed the legal processes to the full, which is why it took 12 months from when the re-organisation was announced to actually leaving. Mind you, that was also because they intended to fully tax any "pay in lieu of notice", despite me finding HMRC rules which showed that it should have been included in the £30,000 non-taxable amount - so I worked my 6 months notice with copious time off! I reckon the HR Dept were only briefed to protect the company's interests and bu***er the touchy-feely stuff about "our most important assets are our employees". Still, I was fortunate enough to be able to cash in my flat in London, buy in the country, and take a slightly early retirement.

As regards having no job, you need a daily routine as well as performance targets and assessments from your wife. My routine is our new house... six days per week, 8.30 tp 4.30 - and I've not worked as hard for years!

 

[Feltwell]

Thank you all for your comments.

Penners, you are very perceptive. We used to joke that at my company you got a long service award after 12 months, such was the rate of staff turnover - though it has improved of late. The MD is a very difficult and eccentric man to live with but the people are on the whole very good. The problem for me I guess was that it was too comfortable - it's close to where I live, fairly flexible, I have a great team reporting to me, I know the job inside out and it pays OK. What it doesn't do is "feed the soul" - I always knew I was going to move on, it was just a matter of when. I'm still there at the moment and am highly likely to be so for at least another 3-4 weeks, and yes I will have some "financial cushion", but that only lasts so long - although it should be long enough to find another role. I'm actually quite happy about the situation - but I'll be even happier when I've got something new sorted.

Nigel, I can well understand what you say - with a lack of external deadlines and stimulus, it would be very easy to "switch off" to some degree. My father is 64 and shows no sign at all of slowing down - quite the opposite, he seems to be taking on more. His normal retirement age would be 67 (he works for a Danish company), and I do wonder how well he will take to finishing work. The problem is with what he does he can carry on doing consultancy work forever, which is my mother's fear - he won't stop unless something dramatic happens to his health.

As Nigel says, it is easy, when you have no deadlines, to let things slide. Perhaps Mrs FW should set you some targets and a date for your performance appraisal, before your work-at-home style becomes too sloppy

:lol: Isn't that what marriage is all about anyway?????


Actually, Mrs F has reminded me of all the bits I've bought to do jobs that I've then never quite around to starting or finishing....most require a little extra investment, but I'm sure I'll find some modest ones! Until I have something else secured, it's time for strict financial prudence. If I get something sorted quickly, hopefully I can get some time before I start where I am free to spend some cash, safe in the knowledge that more is coming in imminently.

Worms, alas limewash is not really an option for anything other than ceilings. With 3 young kids, putting something on the walls that can rub off on clothes would lead to divorce I am sure.....

 

[Feltwell]

Matthew, just seen your post. My employers tried to follow the letter of the law but basically screwed it up completely by letting the documentation into the public domain by accident -very sloppy. As such it gives me a distinct advantage, as it is far easier for me to now negotiate a settlement involving compromise on their part to ensure there is no possibility of any comeback and the business continuation is there. You're right - with the right deal there should be no tax up to £30k, but if the tax man thinks it is pay in lieu of notice then he grabs his usual amount. 12 months is ridiculous though, I have had to make people redundant in the past and with the right legal advice it can be done in a matter of a few weeks at most, and that includes making a difficult situation as good as can be for the staff concerned. With a suitable compromise agreement I've done the process in as little as 3 days!

Retirement isn't an option, I'm 38. Mind you, the chap who lives behind me is 60 and has been retired for 16 years - Barclays Bank offered him a generous golden handshake and full pension (as if he was 65) to leave at 44 ! I think those days are well and truly over in that sector, and all others!

 

[Alex]

Really sorry Feltwell to hear about your bad news, the same thing happened to me last year, so I know how you feel. I did a lot of sulking and feeling sorry for myself but then we did the guttering on one side of the house (as you know) and the rest is ready in the garage to be put up as soon as possible this year. I'm currently keeping myself busy by painting my new porch with the famous linseed oil paint (no not outside, I knew it wouldn't dry in a Welsh winter, I'm not sure that it would dry in a Welsh summer) its dried quite nicely on the dining table :wink: . We have also made our first wooden window frame to replace the rotten one in the stone shed and thats had a coat of paint too and you can guess where that is drying. Im not sure if we would have attempted making a window frame if we had had the money to go out and buy one so maybe its not all bad.

I do hope you get another job soon,

Alex

 

[Flyfisher]

I view it as an opportunity, albeit one with risk.

That's a very healthy, positive attitude. I've known many people made redundant over the years and it turned out to be a good thing for them - spectacularly good for two that I kept in contact with.

A friend was made redundant after a couple of decades with RBS in October (he worked in their IT department). He walked away with 18 months salary and he had a new job before the end of November, for which he negotiated a start date earlier this month to give himself a decent break over Christmas.

Keep positive and you'll make your own luck!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Poor Feltwell, I wish you the very best of luck in your job hunting. Chris was snapped up immediately in December when his bank laid off a load, it's not all bad.

I know it isn't an option, and it certainly isn't ideal in my case, but being a person of leisure is something you just settle into after about a year and a half. I lost my job in 2007 ( entirely my fault), and now the habit of not working is so completely ingrained, and the lifestyle one of such delicious ease, I think I'd find it impossible to go to a job that took up more than a day or so of my time.
The downside is I never have the money for my schemes, but we manage alright on one salary. If Chris lost his job altogether it would be terrifying though - one person in the marriage needs to be working. ( poor men, it's usually them)

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Rotten luck Feltwell, everyone seems to have said all the things that should help you to keep positive. I find it quite helpful to set small targets, i.e. if budget allows, get one essential/important bit of maintenance/ improvement/ completed, then move on to another easily achievable target. I suppose the worst bit is, as Nigel says, missing out on social interaction-- unless there are young children to ferry back and forth-- then one ends up meeting people on a regular basis.

Our opposite Neighbour, wife and 2 children, lost his job last year--- he told me that he had made a fatal mistake by hitting the job finding in an obsessive way from day one-- he kept drawing a blank and has now completely given up, spending a lot of time in bed and reading. A little extreme maybe, but he says he wishes that he had focused on life outside of work straight away, then moved onto job hunting. he is now getting involved with the kid's school, helping out etc. so is feeling a bit more positive.

Best of luck.

 

[Penners]

My father is 64 and shows no sign at all of slowing down - quite the opposite, he seems to be taking on more. His normal retirement age would be 67 (he works for a Danish company), and I do wonder how well he will take to finishing work.

Not slowing down is the key - it really is. Despite the lack of professional constraints, I'm convinced the important thing is to keep setting yourself targets. I'm 68 and I've been retired for 8 years, but - at the risk of sounding smug - I can honestly say that I always try to ensure not only that I have a project in hand, but that the project has a planned completion date.

There's nothing that keeps you active more effectively than waking up and thinking, "Whoops - only a week to go before the xxxxxxxx has to be finished. I'd better get my finger out."

That reminds me.....!

 

[Juju]

Bad luck. I'm not in the same position as I've chosen to resign from my job and I can do freelance work. It's funny though because I just heard this morning that a big consultancy job I thought was happening now isn't but I'm really pleased because I was worried I was going to have too much to do and I really want to get on with jobs in the house and completely redesign the garden - and do all this before hopefully hosting a PPUK party in May!

I think as Penners says, having defined projects with deadlines sounds like a good way to organise your time. I need to start imposing deadlines on the half-finished decorating jobs I have on the go... I'm also doing voluntary work for 2 days a week so that will give me a reason to get out of the house and interact with people and be busy.

Juju

 

[Nigel Watts]

being a person of leisure is something you just settle into after about a year and a half.

That must be where I have gone wrong. I need to give it 14 more months!

 

[Moo]

Chris was snapped up immediately in December when his bank laid off a load,

I told you so, didn't I?

xx M

 

[Moo]

Over thirty years ago my husband worked for a huge new polytechnic (now, of course, a university).
Then, for reasons I never quite understood, they decided that they needed to shed staff and sent round a package of assorted early retirement/voluntary redundancy schemes to tempt their top management, all of whom had followed the standard route of school > university > management, and to their amazement they were nearly mown down by the rush of applicants.
What I found interesting was the fact that almost invariably the successful ones used it as an opportunity to move to occupations that they could have entered after school without staying on to take A-levels, let alone spending several years getting posh degrees.
As far as I know, they all lived happily ever after.

 

[Penners]

they all lived happily ever after.

Mr Moo definitely included.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

As you rightly say Juju, voluntary/community work does help. OH is heavily involved with Community Safety, Street Watch and is a memebr of the Police independant Advisory Service------ means a whole stream of plods knocking on our door for cups of coffee and scaring the kids next door!! I have found that keeping an eye on the Town Council, through being the Chairman of the Chamber of Trade quite amusing----

There are loads of other projects-something covering a diversity of interests-- landshare, The Big Lunch, to name but a couple and a villlage near us has organised Volunteers from the Community to keep the library open.