MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 57,771
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
You are being taken advantage of. Fill out a resume, apply for a few other jobs, and you may be surprised just how marketable you are.
I was at my last employer for 30 years. My job description when hired was to "learn all aspect of production." and I did. I could maintain, repair and operate ALL production equipment (machinery) AND all computer systems. I could do ANY job function. I also had to manage each of the 5 production departments for a week, after training with the department managers for a month. That gave me a very good view of how each person and asset fit into the big picture and how one person or asset not working could affect the entire process. During that time, I also spent two years working with an electrician in the plant doing repairs, retrofit and installation. Eventually, I got sucked up by I.T. and was involved with the installation, operation, maintenance, and training of users on ALL computer systems. Anyhow, I ended up with 25 years in I.T., doing all aspects... networking, hardware, software, servers, workstations, training PLUS helping with repairs on the production machinery. I was the only person in the entire company that knew what everyone else was doing and how they were doing it. They sent me to schools for weeks at a time. Brought in vendors for in-house schooling. They spent huge dollars on my education.
Then, out of the blue, aobut 5-6 years ago, corporate took over all I.T. operations... we went from 10 people in I.T. to 3 people. They took everything away from us, we had to train them, and then we were slowly let go. They took away my computers and they eliminated many managers and a couple departments. So 3 years ago, sensing my eminent termination (and having it confirmed by a friend with "old family blood), about 2 days before the evil I.T. people at corp could terminate me, I moved over to the night maintenance department. I've been working 7pm to 3am for the last 3 years. Good gig. No supervisors, just workers. Only person in my department at those hours. :thumbsup:
Then, back in May of this year, pretty unexpectedly, they outsourced all production. ALL production staff was told we would be let go in 6 weeks, and we'd have to stay to the end if we wanted our severance... 65 people gone.... most of my friends.
30 years.....
What the he$$ am I going to do now? Lots of angry people in the building. Lots of tears. Some broken equipment.
Well, I was ticked for about 2 hours after they told us. Then, I thought to myself, "MOVE ALONG!"
I got on the phone, made 1 call to a colleague in another line of work, and asked if he knew if they were hiring anyone in any positions? I had a job interview secured within 2 hours of being notified, attended the interview 4 days later, got offered the job that afternoon and started the day after my last day at my old job. I now know what I'll be doing for the next 10 years.
Officially, I'm retired from my old job. I got a meager severance package, but, in reality, I was paid for 30 years. I have a pension that was frozen with 19 years of service that I'll draw at 62. I have a 401K that they and I contributed to for the past 28 years. And all of the sick time I never used got converted to "health credits", that will pay for my health insurance for 2.5 years. They owe me nothing and I owe them nothing.
It's sad that I put so much of my personal feelings into keeping that place running for so long and did not realize they would just kick me aside when it was a good business decision... but that's what it is, a business decision. No more. No less. They paid for two houses, 20 acres of land, two kids through 12 years of Catholic schools, and quite a bit of college for both. Numerous cars, vacations... and a tractor, too! :laughing:
So, my advice to you would be... if you still enjoy it, keep doing it. But recognize that no matter how much sense you try to talk them into, they aren't going to change, and, in fact, it will probably get worse. If its eating at you, its time to move along.
I'm sure you know many people from your working past... doctors, health care professionals, vendors, landscaping, delivery, facilities maintenance .... you know you know those folks.
Update your resume. Put out some feelers. You'll be surprised how fast someone will want to snatch you up. And you'll be happier for it.
I was at my last employer for 30 years. My job description when hired was to "learn all aspect of production." and I did. I could maintain, repair and operate ALL production equipment (machinery) AND all computer systems. I could do ANY job function. I also had to manage each of the 5 production departments for a week, after training with the department managers for a month. That gave me a very good view of how each person and asset fit into the big picture and how one person or asset not working could affect the entire process. During that time, I also spent two years working with an electrician in the plant doing repairs, retrofit and installation. Eventually, I got sucked up by I.T. and was involved with the installation, operation, maintenance, and training of users on ALL computer systems. Anyhow, I ended up with 25 years in I.T., doing all aspects... networking, hardware, software, servers, workstations, training PLUS helping with repairs on the production machinery. I was the only person in the entire company that knew what everyone else was doing and how they were doing it. They sent me to schools for weeks at a time. Brought in vendors for in-house schooling. They spent huge dollars on my education.
Then, out of the blue, aobut 5-6 years ago, corporate took over all I.T. operations... we went from 10 people in I.T. to 3 people. They took everything away from us, we had to train them, and then we were slowly let go. They took away my computers and they eliminated many managers and a couple departments. So 3 years ago, sensing my eminent termination (and having it confirmed by a friend with "old family blood), about 2 days before the evil I.T. people at corp could terminate me, I moved over to the night maintenance department. I've been working 7pm to 3am for the last 3 years. Good gig. No supervisors, just workers. Only person in my department at those hours. :thumbsup:
Then, back in May of this year, pretty unexpectedly, they outsourced all production. ALL production staff was told we would be let go in 6 weeks, and we'd have to stay to the end if we wanted our severance... 65 people gone.... most of my friends.
30 years.....
What the he$$ am I going to do now? Lots of angry people in the building. Lots of tears. Some broken equipment.
Well, I was ticked for about 2 hours after they told us. Then, I thought to myself, "MOVE ALONG!"
I got on the phone, made 1 call to a colleague in another line of work, and asked if he knew if they were hiring anyone in any positions? I had a job interview secured within 2 hours of being notified, attended the interview 4 days later, got offered the job that afternoon and started the day after my last day at my old job. I now know what I'll be doing for the next 10 years.
Officially, I'm retired from my old job. I got a meager severance package, but, in reality, I was paid for 30 years. I have a pension that was frozen with 19 years of service that I'll draw at 62. I have a 401K that they and I contributed to for the past 28 years. And all of the sick time I never used got converted to "health credits", that will pay for my health insurance for 2.5 years. They owe me nothing and I owe them nothing.
It's sad that I put so much of my personal feelings into keeping that place running for so long and did not realize they would just kick me aside when it was a good business decision... but that's what it is, a business decision. No more. No less. They paid for two houses, 20 acres of land, two kids through 12 years of Catholic schools, and quite a bit of college for both. Numerous cars, vacations... and a tractor, too! :laughing:
So, my advice to you would be... if you still enjoy it, keep doing it. But recognize that no matter how much sense you try to talk them into, they aren't going to change, and, in fact, it will probably get worse. If its eating at you, its time to move along.
I'm sure you know many people from your working past... doctors, health care professionals, vendors, landscaping, delivery, facilities maintenance .... you know you know those folks.
Update your resume. Put out some feelers. You'll be surprised how fast someone will want to snatch you up. And you'll be happier for it.
