I was just laid off, merry f-ing Christmas...

[Stormy Arthur]

Blargh!

[AngryScientist]

bad timing.

it sounds cliche, but consider it an opportunity to take the next step in your life rather than a blow.

good luck holding things together.

[Bobonli]

That bloze. I can't understand why one human would do that to another at this time of year. Like it can't wait a week, assuming it has to happen.

One door closes. Keep your eyes open for the one that's opening.

[Too Tall]

Be strong buddy.

[ron l edmiston]

-- their loss, your gain..

ronnie

[Stormy Arthur]

So I guess they want it to be a furlough for the next month and a half. I'm still pretty pissed. But more time to ride my bike, right?

[Jeffrey Borisch]

So I guess they want it to be a furlough for the next month and a half. I'm still pretty pissed. But more time to ride my bike, right?

That's the attitude. I'm in the same boat ATM. Take the time to study and broaden the skills that you've been meaning to all this time and go meet people who can help you broaden the net.

Peace, friend.

[72gmc]

A month and a half to gather, consider, write, edit, and find new ears for all of the reasons you are valuable.

[lumpy]

Not that unusual in the bike shop world. Hopefully you worked there long enough to qualify for unemployment in which case: field trip.

[dashDustin]

I was laid off by my previous shop 2 months ago.

I was, and still am, pretty pissed. But I'm in a better place now. Literally and figuratively. Unfortunately I'm away from my family 4 days a week. That's been a struggle. But it's only temporary. "Temporary".

Another positive is that I can say what I want about LA and not get in trouble anymore.

[Stormy Arthur]

Well we lay off seasonal mechanics and sales arround Halloween usually. I know lay offs and such are part of the bike-shop world, but I'm not supposed to be seasonal. It just sucks, but 2 year-round mechanics also have been furloughed so that takes away some of the sting.

I got to spend some extra time with the tots this weekend, that is always nice. Baked some bread with my daughter; she has been bugging me about that lately. They took the dog out for a long walk today, I spent that time on the rollers watching Le Samurai.

So it hasn't all been a hash...

[abbeyQ]

Time for some fun-employment!!! Get the hell out of Boston and go somewhere warm for a week or two. FWIW, every bike shop job I've ever gotten I've picked up in the off season or after peak season. Don't really know why but it's always worked out that way. Perhaps this is a sign that your employer isn't doing so well and you should look for another job, or better yet another career.

Personally I look forward to this time of year being slow. Time to make prototypes! But I'm self employed and plan accordingly.

Best of luck to you and the family.

[dennis]

Sorry to hear it. Is there at least some good riding in the vicinity this time of year?

[Mabouya]

Good luck with the employment situation - it might be an opportunity to move on to something better.

Re: Le Samourai - Alain Delon is a stud. I love going through the Criterion Collection and adding them to my Netflix queue.

I spent that time on the rollers watching Le Samurai.

[Maxspeedwell]

Man, that's just plain ol' bad.
I do feel your pain.

I wasn't "Fired".

No one ever get "fired" anymore. They get:
RIF'ed
Downsized
Accounting office adjusted
Re-balancing the workforce
Resource reallocated
Granted opportunity to pursue other opportunities
Involuntary attrition
Indefinite unpaid leave.
Option to pursue new employment
Eliminating redundancy
Smart-sizing
Redeploying "assets" (That's YOU, moron!) with excess capacity to areas where demand matches the market
Redefining our sphere of assets
Eliminating this position
We don’t know how this company would run without you, but as of Monday, we’re going to try and find out
We’re promoting you to a position you’re more suited for with a different employer
Trimming the fat
Resource optimization
Recycling the creative pool
Maximizing throughput by streamlining our workforce
We’re inviting you to be successful elsewhere
You're being recognized for incompetence

None of that happened to me.

I was just simply (ahem... drum roll please) "Right-sized".

Hang-in there, buddy.
It sucks. (Hey, it REALLY sucks!!!)
It hurts.
But It WILL get better. It took two years for it to
get better for me, but I sure do miss them money.

[Rich Beaudoin]

I was fired about 1.5 years ago and I said no problem as competitor has been trying to entice me away and I will just kick butt for them. Fast forward to March this year and previous employer asked me back at much higher pay.
First time in my life being fired (very political) and that call to return was extremely satisfying. No, I didn't return

[Maxspeedwell]

Oh wait, here's a good one. This just in from Jensen Button; “It’s not about getting rid of people,”
Button insists, “it’s moving people to better suited roles or making them feel refreshed.

HAH!! I remember when my (former) long-term employer moved me to a role out in the parking lot,
and then waited to see if I needed an invitation to leave. I was with them over three decades then
suddenly... WHAM! As my employer said, "Isn't three decades long enough?

Submitted by -
"Mad" Max Speedwell
who is too young to be out of work, and
too old to find a job. "Welcome to Walmart,
sir... can I hand you a shopping cart?"

[seanile]

well, given that this was bumped, i figured i'd pass this along.

the OP, Alexi, had 2 bikes stolen. one being the spooky you all followed along when he bought it from the guy on the west coast. if you're in the area, keep an eye out. call me if you have any info
ate 45 - 9 ate ate - 735 ate

"Stolen in Boston
56cm Spooky Skeletor purple, 7700 group 3t cockpit and seatpost, flite 1990 saddle Mavic Rsys wheelset shod with Vittoria Open corsa in 25s

Santa Cruz Chameleon orange size L, sram 1x9 X9 group, front disc rear v-brake "too Fat To Fail" written on left chainstay."