Photo credit: weegeebored
There hasn't been a day these past weeks when I haven't come across any news update on increasing job lay-offs and more impending lay-offs to be experienced worldwide. Businesses are closing, companies are downsizing. Even giant industry leader Microsoft wasn't spared from the blow.
Some of those who were fortunate enough not to lose their jobs, however, had to make do with fewer working hours which translates to a much lower pay. Several stories on news groups present personal tragic anecdotes of job loss and it's ill effects on countless families. Just a few days ago, I received a call from a friend who wanted to meet and talk to air out her disappointment and frustration because she had just lost her job due to their company's cost-cutting measures.
The economy is in a rut; the future looks gloomy. And the casualties are the growing numbers of workers who find themselves unemployed. Our prized job today may be gone tomorrow. Recent study shows that 1 out of 3 workers fear losing their jobs.
Anything now could be possible. And if we haven't made good preparations for any such dire eventuality, it's scary to think where the future will find us.
Whether you feel secure in maintaining you current job or afraid to waking up and finding it gone, here's a scenario: Assume you walk in to your workplace tomorrow and your boss suddenly presents you a severance pay check and tells you that you can clear your table the soonest possible time because in accordance with the company's new cost reduction policy, it is retrenching some it's workers. And that includes you. Are you prepared to handle that?
That was a similar situation my friend faced a few weeks ago. She was stunned. And unprepared. She had just been back from the Christmas break and quite fresh and excited to get to work again. But to find it gone just a few minutes after arriving at work and even before she was able to leave the imprint of her behind on her chair was quite a devastating blow. The real sad thing was that during the Christmas break, she spent quite a fortune on a shopping expedition that drained her salary, bonuses and thirteenth-month pay. She has a large credit card debt and a practically non-existent savings account. The bright side of her predicament, though, is that she has no mouth to feed but her own.
In these tough and unpredictable times, the question of whether we are prepared for the possibility of losing our job is very important to consider because it brings forth good preparation. No matter how farfetched the above scenario may apply to you, preparation is necessary for it equips us with the ability to better handle a job loss situation. Good preparation includes putting up a savings account, cutting expenses and living within our means.
Of course, it goes without saying that we are not in any way hoping or wishing for any such bad situation. Nobody really does. However, as the cliche goes, it is better to be safe than sorry. Or, one can never be too careful.
Have you been making preparations for any eventuality of job loss?
Powered by Qumana
16 comments:
It's always in the back of my mind. It's a constant worry. What if I lose my source of income - I will have nothing to pay for the internet subscription, the electric bill, the coffee that makes my writing crisp and decent? I have no children so these things come to mind first. :)
On the brighter side of things, I noticed you have follow me on twitter icon on your page. Yipee. Yess! hahaha.
I very recently asked my hubby that if I resign from my work, will he be able to shoulder all the bills we will have to pay, alone at that.
And the answer: yes, but i will need to have a side job.
I asked: What sidejob when there are no decent jobs to offer you.
I laughed at the answer: I can dance, in bars...side job every night.
Reality check, we must really value our jobs now, even if we never like what we do. It's frustrating to know people commit suicide because they don't have jobs, we who does, must treasure them, or else, they'll be gone.
My husband is paying every month insurance for circumstances like this-- if ever he gets laid off or something, we will be able to get cash (for the meantime) from the insurance unitl that time he can find a new job.
Have a nice day and thanks for dropping by!^_^
@Jan: Yeah, that's my worry too. Especially, the internet subscription, hehe :D. Haha, Yeah, I finally got around to joining twitter. I still have no idea how it works, though. Still learning the ropes. Ay, thanks for promoting me in twitter, ha. and of course, following me. :D I really appreciate it. Thanks so much. :D
@Sheng: Haha, that's really funny.:D Yes, that's true. Seeing people get sad because they lost their jobs makes us really appreciate our jobs more, which is quite a good thing.:D
@Clarissa: Oh, that's really good! That's very helpful and comforting. I wish all workers have that kind of protection. Have a nice day too, Clarissa, and thanks for the visit.:D
yeah, it's a depressing time nga especially for those who lost their jobs. i kept on telling my former co-workers nga to make sure they show their employers their abilities eh kasi they might get axed from work.
thanks sa twitter. followed you narin. :)
OFWs (the sensible kind) are way ahead in this kind of eventuality. Being a contract worker, that means no job security and no pension. Armed only with their wits and skill, he/she thinks ahead and prepare what to do next when their contract expire. They face this kind of crisis wearing a smirk. That's how tough this kind of people are made of.
As they say, "Save for a rainy day." and "Always be prepared."
We never know what will happen to us in the future. That's why it's always good to have a fall back and always have your options open. I know it is hard but try to look at the situation in a different light. If you lose a job, maybe there is something better waiting for you.
"If a door closes in on you, a window will open."
I don't think so. Most people more prepare to expand their job or their business than lost it.
Sa mga panahong ito, people really can't afford to be confident about keeping their jobs... but I think it shouldn't be a great cause of anxiety either for as long as you have some fall back.
I actually went through the same experience years ago as your friend had... it was difficult then esp. since unexpected but later on I realized it was actually a blessing in disguise...
Whatever happens, we just have to be positive... :)
Oh, yes, these are difficult times. For a young couple like us, just starting out, it's not the time to have a baby no matter how much the annoying pressure from family. There are immediate concerns to think about. But like 7thstranger said, we have to look at the brighter side of things. Think positive.
this is not applicable to me since I am a work-at-home mom. I'm so used to having projects today, gone tomorrow. what you posted is a reality.
But as I've read on one of the articles on the net, if you lose your job, there is always a possibility that you can find one (esp pag young pa). SimplyHappyMe is right: When a door closes, a window opens naman, I believe that.
hey. i added you to the list of people i tagged. i'm not sure kasi who hasn't done that tag eh. :)
Hi Dee, Yep the present situation scares me too esp. that hubby is retiring soon.. Madaming what if at the back of my mind, his.. retirment benefits wouldn't be enough if he don't find a job esp. that our kids will start to go to school soon.. Hayy kakapagod magisip hehehe..
Nakakawa nga yung mga natatangal sa work lalo na sa Pinas tapos madami pa anak hayyy buhay...
That is a sad story Dee, but like what you said, you can never be certain of the job you have right now. Anything can happen in a blink of an eye. My hubby's work is not certain, he can get laid off even if he has a great performance if they need to downsize. That's why I am aware that we need to save money for the times like these. I go out shopping, I love it, but I know my limitation. My kids come first. I can live without electricity, TV without lots of food, but my kids can't. So, live within your means would be the best thing, wouldn't it?
@Reena: That's a good advice. One good thing good, they say, about the current economy is that we get good services because people are learning to value their jobs more and give their best. Thanks a lot too for following me. :D
@BlogusVox: Oh, that's really good to know. It's really important to be tough these days and that is something to be admired about the OFWs.
@SimplyHappyMe: Saving for the rainy days is exactly what we must do now. And of course, be positive. Thanks for sharing that. It's really helpful.
@Arya: Hi Arya. Thanks for dropping by. What I meant was that the current economy is so unpredictable. More people are losing their jobs everyday, that we who still have jobs right now aren't really sure that we'll still have them tomorrow. So I believe that it is important for us to make preparations just in case the unfortunate thing of job loss will happen. Have a great day, Arya. :D
@7thstranger: Yes, being positive is really important. Oh, I'll tell my friend about her job loss being a blessing in disguise. That's a good point. Maybe it is. Who knows. It may be a way of guiding her to something far more greater or rewarding. :D
@Karmi: It's really difficult to have babies at these times. Quite expensive. But yes, looking at the brighter side of things really help.
@Elizabeth: Holding on tight to the positive outlook that everything's gonna be alright is important. I believe on that saying too about a door closing and a window opening.:D
@Reena: Hi Reena.:D Oh, thanks for the tag! I haven't done that yet. I'll sure have fun doing that. Thanks again! :D
Chubskulit: Oo nga, nakakapagod talaga. Ako din nga napapagod din. But as Beth and the others said, it helps a lot to have a positive outlook.:D
ryliej: Yes, totoo yan. Kawawa talaga...
Mom Of Four: Absolutely, living within our means is really important because in that way we'll be able to save and I think it also develops discipline and contentment. Thanks for sharing that, Liz.:D
Post a Comment