Well, one week left "officially" on RJ's books. Two more paychecks and then severance. There are NO equivalent jobs locally. I have been looking for 3 weeks now. I am so angry at RJ management. It still sticks in my throat how Paul said in the town hall (yes I have friends that told me), how he said they have known for months that they were overstaffed yet he went on and on in these earlier town halls on how everyone will be fine. Why didn't RJ implement an across the board temporary pay cut and keep a job freeze in place for as long as necessary. I know those still at RJ are now hunkered down worried about their jobs, not taking chances and hiding. It will be a long time before anyone trusts anymore. Remember all we are is a target on someone spreadsheet.
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I also want to share my experience so far. I worked at RJ for a little bit more than 2 decades, I am in my early 60s. I knew that my skills were getting rusty and part of that it is or was my fault but maybe some of you can relate that as we get older we start losing some of that "brain power. I have been looking for a job for a couple of weeks and when I read the requirements there are many that I do not have nor I am sure what exactly are those computer applications which we did not used at RJ. Seems to me that some of those skills are not just something that one just gets by taking a one month on-line course and then ready to apply to a demanding job. That's just my feeling now.
Yes I think that eventually I will find something that will carry me a few more years until I can retire but in the meantime I feel somehow scared and at times a little anxious. Anyone else has this feeling?
I am also glad to see some of you have already found work really quick.
It's definitely a surreal feeling and I'm still very bitter. I'd encourage contacting local staffing firms focused in your desired field and working with a recruiter. That's what I did straight out the gate and by the grace of God I landed something that pays more than I made at RJ and I start next week.
I've talked to several of my former colleagues at the firm and I'm almost glad it was me that got the cut (and the severance package). A lot of people seem on edge and feel that the general mood has taken a turn for the worse since last month. Long hours, heightened sense of fear, loss of the "we look out for our own". Good riddance.
We know these are difficult times and I wondered if RJ financial position really requires all those lay-offs . I would have taken a pay cut. Probably it's easier to lay-off someone that makes more money than some one with a similar position making less money. I wonder if some of us became lay-off targets by doing our job well for many years and getting our pay raises. Yes, at times I still wonder why I was laid off.
I started looking for a job last week and seems like for certain jobs/skills there are not that many jobs locally and/or there are lots of people applying. I hope things improve soon. I wish everybody good luck!
I agree. We were told several times that the company was in good shape, especially with travel expenses being cut. Then out of nowhere we get individual meeting requests and are told they our positions are being "eliminated". Bull c-ap. I was in the same position for over 10 years and trained several others that would come and go on the same desk. Now my position has been "eliminated" even though the lat person that I trained still has a job? What a joke. RJ has become a shady, unstable place to work and I am optimistic that the next company that I work for will provide a better environment and more security than I ever had with RJ.