these past 2 months have been agonizing. I've worked hard my entire career including the past 10+ years at RJ. I went above and beyond, worked weekends, worked nights, did on call, did disaster tests. Never recovered the time I spent outside of normal hours but this was "expected" and the thanks I got was a 2 minute Zoom meeting and then instantly locked out of everything. So much for being a "loyal" employee. I hope that those still at RJ that might be reading this post realize this. Don't help, don't empower yourself to look at things, wait to be told. It does no good to be a model employee or to go above and beyond. All that does is make you a larger target. I have never hurt this much.
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Just read the original posting and like all of you I also went worked many times those additional hours, even a few times I thought that if a day came when there were lay offs that hopefully I would be okay because management would see I put the extra effort. At the end it did not help. After 15 years of service it has been sad for me.
Yes it can be agonizing at times and the job situation is not too good, that's agonizing for me too.
I hear you, we always gave that extra effort. I even had to work some hours on the Sunday before the lay offs.
I believe the lay off were not necessary, as I remember there were none during the 08/09 financial crisis.
I agree with the other posters. RJ doesn't deserve a second thought. I don't wish ill on anyone but Paul Reilly and his "executive team" are still making their millions, RJ had record earnings and we are filing for unemployment. Someday they will get to answer.
Yes after several weeks there are days when it still feels agonizing. Some months ago I felt good working at RJ, I was even glad to work for a company that I thought would take care of its employees during these difficult times, we were family after all. That was until I had that quick Zoom meeting. I would like to think that many of us have this feeling.
You are not the only one, I relate to you because I did the same things as you and got the same, not fair but as someone commented, that is corporate America today, it's sad. Also, what worries me is that there are almost no jobs locally for my skills and expertise. I just want to get one more job that takes me until I am able to retire.
We will get over this but in the meantime I sent you some good wishes!
You will survive and heal from this. It s—s but this is the way it is in corporate America. Large and small companies it makes no difference.
They behave like they own you mind, body and soul. The evolution of pc, cell phone eliminates secretaries first and then made everyone available 24/7 to work emergencies. The problem is management has been trained to make everything an emergency by not planning correctly.
That is a phenomena of group think PPT and endless Pre-meetings
Hey, don't let what RJ did to you get to you. Consider it a lesson learned. Hopefully those still working at RJ use this layoff as a lesson and realize nobody is looking out for them. I remember so many meeting where we are told "we are family". Would family do this to you. I even remember the old Tom James adage of "work, work, play" the new adage is "work, work, work and get laid off" RJ is no better than any other corporation. For those still working there, take what you can and give back as little as possible.