Bitterness in me starts growing, but I try to divert my thoughts to looking for a new job. Some of my colleagues took the layoff very personally because they had invested their best in this company for years.
Mix of emotions is to be expected, but we all know how Ford works, and that's why I find it strange when anyone takes the layoff here very personally. We are just numbers here and that is a bitter truth that is better to accept sooner rather than later.
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If you need it give yourself 15 minutes a day to brood, then do something else. I know it sounds silly but it helps my wife. She sets a timer, has herself a pity party then when the timer goes off she stops and works on a hobby, exercises etc. The bad feelings are normal just don’t give your whole day to them. After all Ford deserves zero space in your head.
Take layoffs personally.
Move to competition and put Ford out of business!
It’s called market share!
Motivation can do magic!
You people that have 10-20 years under your belt, I feel for you. You arrived to a place where you found yourself in a groove, work was routine, and you had no reason to doubt whether your job would be there tomorrow.
Allow me to offer a counter experience.
I've worked in the automotive industry for decades. Contract always, where layoffs were typically every few years, longest running stint was 8 years. You learn to become a jack of many trades and skillsets, and you learn the game very well. It wasn't unheard of to get a call on Saturday morning, and don't report to work Monday. Best advice given was if you work for these automakers, set aside a layoff nest egg. It's not if, but when. So, layoffs were a way of life, and you planned for them. It's really the difference of comfort versus always being ready.
My program always was:
- Take the week off and absorb what happened. Relax, unwind, push off the situation, and get your mind right. Lean on family for support if needed, and know next week you have a plan of attack.
- Scale your finances back as much as reasonable.
- After the week is out, get on the ball updating and sending out your resume.
In the end, I think you will find that once that door is closed, one, or more will open. In my last layoff, it went a few months, but suddenly I received three job offers in one week. It was a really good problem to have, and that was a first for me. The one I selected, was a direct salary position, new from my contract life. I equate it to living life as contract, similar to perhaps a used dog. An adopted animal seeking a forever home. Some of the best dogs we've ever owned, are the ones that want a home, and too be loved. Like this salaried position, everything is just great. It's always miles ahead of contract. Almost as if you are taken care of to deliver, but ultimately, you never forget where you came from, and what automotive is. It's cut throat. It might not be there in a decade, or maybe it will, but it's certainly better than contract.
Always, have a plan.
what kind of severance did Ford give? I worked for 20 years at GM. They always seemed to cut the severance package before the layoffs.
15 years is a long time but you'll heal, trust me. I was let go this week after 2 years at Ford. A few years back, I was laid off from Motorola with 12 years so I know how you feel.
Lean on your wife for support, that's what I'm doing right now too. She'll be there for you. I was NOT in Ford Blue and I was in ADAS next generation software development. We had been told repeatedly for the last 3 months that we were untouchable, that no way could they cut any of us. Too much critical work. Yet I got cut and at least one other person that I know of at my salary grade GS8 from the SIRP papers. That's why its a shock when we are told, "work hard, you're safe" then it turns out to be a lie. A cut this big was planned weeks in advance.
My wife said to me today this the worst thing you will ever experience related to a job. Unfortunately I’ll never work for another company for this long or make as many friends again. Had 15+ years, no pension and survived layoff after layoff with high achiever ratings and although blue we were in both EV and ICE. Thought I was safe….
Already called a bunch of friends /co-workers and have solid lead on a new job. Imagine being fired on Monday and getting a higher paying job on Friday!
Haven’t slept more than 2 hrs since Monday night so hopefully that starts to improve soon.
Best of luck to everyone - end of the day no matter how badly this sucks it’s still just a job!
It has only been a few days. It is normal to feel bad about a recent job loss.
Also, you are a terrible writer. You need to go back 7th grade.