D-Day Has Arrived At My Shop. Wish Me Luck.

[Pete Incaviglia]

I'm off today. But I just received an email informing all staff of "a number of layoffs" at our paper taking place this afternoon. I think — and hope — I'm safe. But I can't help but feel anxious.

I hope I don't get a phone call or email asking me to come in. And I sure hope I don't go in Wednesday and have the axe fall on me.

Wish me luck. And, if you're religious, pray for me.

 

[GuessWho]

Good luck, man. Best wishes to you and the all-too-many others of us in the same boat. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Last shop I worked at had layoffs on a Wednesday (because that was the end of the pay period), but one of the "victims" was off that day. So they laid her off when she came in on Thursday.

Good luck, Pete. Hang in there either way.

 

[Ace]

Hang in there, Inky.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Best of luck.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Best of luck.

How appropriate you post, Bob. I watched Office Space last night when I got home, just to cheer me up. Now it's my reality.

 

[Dan Hickling]

You asked for prayers, mate...you've got mine...

 

[zagoshe]

God damn.

I can't believe how bad things are getting -- and not just in our profession.

I had a friend who just got laid off -he can't even find work at places like K-Mart while he searches for something new.....

 

[mustangj17]

Good luck Pete, I know you just bought a house and all.

 

[Mediator]

I went through this recently. I didn't get fired, but the waiting was agony. I couldn't sleep or eat. Worst part was how bad I felt for those who did get the axe. And knowing that it's coming around again soon, and might get me or other people I care about.

 

[JBHawkEye]

I had a friend of mine (not in the newspaper business) who got her layoff notice while she was on vacation. When she asked her boss if he knew about this last week before she left on vacation, his response was, "I can't comment on anything about that."

Yesterday, after the Big Ten basketball game I was covering, the writer next to me said, "Good luck," when she left. It used to be when all the beat writers would see each other for the last time, it was more of a "See you later." Now it's "Good luck," because we don't know who among us will have jobs by the time next season rolls around.

So, good luck Pete. Hope this turns out to be a good day for you.

And good luck to everyone in the coming weeks and months.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

God damn.

I can't believe how bad things are getting -- and not just in our profession.

I had a friend who just got laid off -he can't even find work at places like K-Mart while he searches for something new.....

Almost nobody is hiring at anything. Most places that don't require that someone have a college degree want no part of hiring someone who has one.

 

[mustangj17]

God damn.

I can't believe how bad things are getting -- and not just in our profession.

I had a friend who just got laid off -he can't even find work at places like K-Mart while he searches for something new.....

Almost nobody is hiring at anything. Most places that don't require that someone have a college degree want no part of hiring someone who has one.

My dad just got laid off after 25 years at the same place. He's 60 without a college degree, A.K.A retiring early.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

I just figured it out. I can last eight months on unemployment and drawing from my checking account. After that, it's into our savings. I'm worried, but not — about both getting laid off and surviving if I do get laid off.

 

[Rhody31]

Best of luck man ... just gotta hope for the best

 

[zeke12]

Luck.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Good luck Pete.

 

[EmbassyRow]

Best of luck, Pete. A lot of people here have your back.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Here's an oddity that only keeps people guessing.

I just received today's newsroom budget. Everyone is on it, including the lowest reporter on the seniority list. And she's scheduled to cover something at 7 p.m. tonight.

Layoffs are scheduled to come down sometime in the afternoon.

Weird.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Here's an oddity that only keeps people guessing.

I just received today's newsroom budget. Everyone is on it, including the lowest reporter on the seniority list. And she's scheduled to cover something at 7 p.m. tonight.

Layoffs are scheduled to come down sometime in the afternoon.

Weird.

Unless your shop doesn't want to play its hand. Or maybe they're just really disorganized.