So Sorry....
I haven't posted anything about the Japan Trip yet :-(. I've been dealing with some bad news and trying to get everything together.
I'm not sure if I posted anything here about how slow/bad business has been at The Hive so I'll go over it in case I didn't.
Just before Xmas, business started to slow down. Nothing new, we go through slow times every year. This time it was just a little bit different. Business was so slow they let one of my fellow worker beez go! From my department! Hmmmm.....I thought....so not good...right before Xmas, too! January rolled around and than another two more were let go and my hours were reduced and I was put on part-time status! Right before our trip, too!
Things were going to be tough financially, but nothing the youngest and I couldn't handle. Been there and done that, after all, 6 years ago when there was trouble at The Hive. We'd managed then and we would manage again. Learned a few things the first time around that would make things easier this time. And the Trip was all paid for and everything. "No Problem" I thought even though I felt abit uneasy about the things going down.
While on the Trip find out that another fellow worker bee was leaving. Granted it was of his own accord and I couldn't blame him really. An excellent opportunity came up (Working for Apple...in their Singapore office!!!!!) and he took it. Nothing like making jumping ship look good XD!
Get back from the Trip and find that things have gone from bad to worse. That we are down to 1 contract and 1 subcontract...for everyone! Not even close to enough work! And that not only have they let another fellow bee go but that they were now offering me a choice of temporary layoff or a permanent layoff. What's the difference you ask? And why offer temporary at all?
Well, they have work for me....just not til the end of June. They also anticipate getting a slew of contracts coming in and the resuming of all the other contracts that had to be put on hold due to the government not yet approving a budget (one of the reasons there wasn't any work) .
Hence the temporary layoff...they were going to need me for the graphics that one of my other fellow beez couldn't work on (gov contract and not being a citizen). They also agreed to continue paying my health insurance during this layoff. Permanent means I have to pay my own insurance, no 401K or other benefits and that they will hire me back as a subcontractor when they need me. That also means I'll be responsible for my own taxes and stuff when they do!
Personally, I feel they were pushing to temporary layoff because:
1. I've been with the Hive for so long - 13 years as of April 1st
2. A lot less paperwork
3. Part of a great team that they don't want to lose
4. I'm the only one that can work on the graphics for certain contracts
5. Last animator standing!
Some of my fellow worker beez can do some graphics and animations but that's not what they do. They're programmers....they dabble in my field but their knowledge (and interest) is limited. Good for me, I guess.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...they are now down to 1 person in my department and 5 people in the programming department....3 of whom are being forced to take any leave/vacation time they have saved up because...yep, you guessed it....NO WORK!......*Le Sigh*
And that's what I've been dealing with. I'm taking the rest of my vacation time this week and next and than I'll officially be unemployed...temporarily.........yay?
I'm definitely looking for part-time work and if I can find full-time...wahoo!
This could be good for me. I've been wanting to make a change in my life. I've been stuck in a rut and needing some sort of change. *Seriously considers moving...to a different state*
Anyway...I have uploaded all my Japan Trip photos and now I just need to get the ones the youngest took and upload them and then I'll start adding descriptions. You can view the rest of them here. WARNING: There are over 400 photos in this album...so far....bawhahahahahaha.
That's all for now. Off to search for a job...thank the stars for online applications!
I'm not sure if I posted anything here about how slow/bad business has been at The Hive so I'll go over it in case I didn't.
Just before Xmas, business started to slow down. Nothing new, we go through slow times every year. This time it was just a little bit different. Business was so slow they let one of my fellow worker beez go! From my department! Hmmmm.....I thought....so not good...right before Xmas, too! January rolled around and than another two more were let go and my hours were reduced and I was put on part-time status! Right before our trip, too!
Things were going to be tough financially, but nothing the youngest and I couldn't handle. Been there and done that, after all, 6 years ago when there was trouble at The Hive. We'd managed then and we would manage again. Learned a few things the first time around that would make things easier this time. And the Trip was all paid for and everything. "No Problem" I thought even though I felt abit uneasy about the things going down.
While on the Trip find out that another fellow worker bee was leaving. Granted it was of his own accord and I couldn't blame him really. An excellent opportunity came up (Working for Apple...in their Singapore office!!!!!) and he took it. Nothing like making jumping ship look good XD!
Get back from the Trip and find that things have gone from bad to worse. That we are down to 1 contract and 1 subcontract...for everyone! Not even close to enough work! And that not only have they let another fellow bee go but that they were now offering me a choice of temporary layoff or a permanent layoff. What's the difference you ask? And why offer temporary at all?
Well, they have work for me....just not til the end of June. They also anticipate getting a slew of contracts coming in and the resuming of all the other contracts that had to be put on hold due to the government not yet approving a budget (one of the reasons there wasn't any work) .
Hence the temporary layoff...they were going to need me for the graphics that one of my other fellow beez couldn't work on (gov contract and not being a citizen). They also agreed to continue paying my health insurance during this layoff. Permanent means I have to pay my own insurance, no 401K or other benefits and that they will hire me back as a subcontractor when they need me. That also means I'll be responsible for my own taxes and stuff when they do!
Personally, I feel they were pushing to temporary layoff because:
1. I've been with the Hive for so long - 13 years as of April 1st
2. A lot less paperwork
3. Part of a great team that they don't want to lose
4. I'm the only one that can work on the graphics for certain contracts
5. Last animator standing!
Some of my fellow worker beez can do some graphics and animations but that's not what they do. They're programmers....they dabble in my field but their knowledge (and interest) is limited. Good for me, I guess.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...they are now down to 1 person in my department and 5 people in the programming department....3 of whom are being forced to take any leave/vacation time they have saved up because...yep, you guessed it....NO WORK!......*Le Sigh*
And that's what I've been dealing with. I'm taking the rest of my vacation time this week and next and than I'll officially be unemployed...temporarily.........yay?
I'm definitely looking for part-time work and if I can find full-time...wahoo!
This could be good for me. I've been wanting to make a change in my life. I've been stuck in a rut and needing some sort of change. *Seriously considers moving...to a different state*
Anyway...I have uploaded all my Japan Trip photos and now I just need to get the ones the youngest took and upload them and then I'll start adding descriptions. You can view the rest of them here. WARNING: There are over 400 photos in this album...so far....bawhahahahahaha.
That's all for now. Off to search for a job...thank the stars for online applications!