Thread regarding Thomson Reuters layoffs

Agree with much of what's been posted here. The problem is that TR never encouraged skill development or training (software development, web or mobile application, Agile methodology, etc.) and kept everything job-specific and in silos. So, when you're thrown into the new employment landscape, your experience doesn't match your abilities, which fall far short of what companies expect now.

And, before someone says something, I acknowledge that I was equally complicit by becoming too complacent in my TR role -- no matter how well I did it. Hopefully, those still at TR can learn from our errors and prepare themselves...

No, I have no pension--just my 401(k)--and I'm not old enough to apply for Social Security yet. And sorry, but I'm not ready to look at retail just yet. I got a good severance that lasts until the end of May, so I'm applying and trying (and am looking for volunteer opportunities, too). Luckily I look about 10 years younger, (thank you, Mom and Dad, for the good genes), and I have scrubbed my resume of any dates or jobs that go back further than 20 years. It may be stupid and futile, but I don't want to just roll over and give up--which would be all too easy to do, believe me.

You could do some volunteering while looking for a new role. In my experience doing so can lead onto a new job!

I don’t know anybody who is laid off who thinks that they were lucky. However, if you are north of 60 nobody guarantees you any employment past 65 or 66 so look at this way; you had a nice long career, you worked in a company that used to be great, and you can collect social security and hopefully you have a pension from TR, and you no longer have to worry about being laid off. As far as work goes - look for a retail job.