Need to vent..
 

I work as office personnel for a large lumber company. At this time sadly all hourly employees have been cut to 30 hours. I love my job and the people there but my blood pressure and an ulcer are taking it's toll. I have two other people at home here depending on me. They say this is only "temporary" until sales pick up (that, and the inexperienced manager has way overhired). A number of people on the floor have already left and the rest are sticking it out, the ones with husbands I guess.

Thirty hours is quite a blow, and of course this comes right at the time I am up for evaluation and a raise. The response is, "You'll get something Denise, just not right now". If I look for other work with competitors I would be fired if the manager got a call for reference. That's just the rule, you go to work for competitors there is no putting in your 2 weeks, it's get out now.

Then there's always leaving and the other job not working out. I hate job hunting, not a lot of opportunity for 47 yr old career gals with tatoos..they are old of course but do not wipe off, I have come to make friends with them as they are not going anywhere. I am good at my job. It was only after this was distinguished that they weren't noticed anymore. I thought I was set till retirement, guess I am if I am able to stick it out. The uncertainty is nervewracking.

What would you do?

I'm sorry.....sounds terribly stressful especially with responsibilities at home to worry about.

You said you thought this would be your job until retirement so that leads me to believe you like your job?

I would say depending on how long you've been there already and how much you trust the fact that your hours will go back up once the "slump" is over...then I'd stay and wait it out.

I was thinking too that I'm sure they'd be upset if you interviewed for another job elsewhere but what if you picked up a part time job in the meantime. I mean you should be able to tell them you need to make up the extra income until your hours go back to normal.

Maybe something on the weekend or nights?

Good Luck to you....

I would stick it out abit longer and see if the hours do infact go back up. If they don't I would re-eval as needed and make a decision then.

At 47, you have another 20 years of working if your health holds out. You are young. Why not look around? The best time to make a move is when you are not pressured into doing so. If you wait to get laid off, then you will be desperate and will pounce on anything that knocks at your door, even if it might be the worst possible choice. Only offer a reference if it looks like the new company and you will make a good fit. At our age (I am 46), the biggest concern I have with making a job change is losing my retirement with my current employer. Find out if you can roll over your current retirement funds to a personal IRA, before you quit! You might want to speak with a financial planner to figure out the best way to protect what you have financially while looking for something else that might be a bit more secure. Privately managing your own retirement funds might net you a greater return. It never costs anything to look, other than maybe the cost of a new interview outfit! Good luck!

If I really liked the job I would wait it out and try to do other things to help earn extra income. You could try ebaying stuff or craigslist. You could work part time somewhere else and test the waters at a different place. Maybe if your kids are old enough they could pick up summer jobs to help out with their own costs.

You could also talk to management and tell them that you would like to be on call for other people. Like if someone calls in sick or can't complete a shift you could be called in on short notice. You really have to be available and come in though. If you come in and as a fill in they most likely will call you again. Good luck and I hope things get better for you.