Anyone had experience with being Laid Off ?

[C908]

Well I went to work on Mon May 1st and with no warning myself and two other Supervisors were laid off. It just so happens we are the three oldest Supervisors with the most senority at one of the JC Penney stores. We were handed our severence packages and escorted out the side door. Reason for dismissal, reorganization of the company. Our ages were 65,57 and 51 with years of experience 16,12 and 9. We have been instructed to sign a waiver stating we give up our rights against any possible age discrimination claims or if we refuse to sign we forfeit our severence pay. It doesn't feel right so I have an attorney looking over all of the papers. For now I am going to enjoy the time off take care of some projects and get some extra riding in. I think I am also going to attend Inzane since it's just down the road from me here in Sedalia,Mo.

[Jess Tolbirt]

Yep , i have been laid off many times, end of jobs, reorganization,,,do not give up anything,,the lawyer is the best thing you could have done,, all 3 of you should use the same attorney,,,

[santa]

Was laid off as a Supervisor for manufacturing. out 1 week and found work from a temp agency. The pay was great. Work for Goodyear as a Supervisor for a year as a Temp. Then my old job called me back stayed with them 6 months and left for a permanent  position working as a manager for Kroger company.
Santa

[donaldcc]

,,the lawyer is the best thing you could have done,,

 i agree.    not necessarily to have legal conflict, but to know your rights in your situation. 

[cookiedough]

sorry to hear you've been let go with no warning.  Where my wife works they let people go also with no warning.  They have even let go of people who have been there 30+ years and as soon as they sit down, someone from HR comes over and watches you clear out your desk cannot even sign on the computer and they escort you out the door with NO reason.  Doubt you can do much about it since it is very common nowadays, but you can try I guess.  There are jobs out there, but unlike 15 years ago the good ones are few and far between with most jobs, at least for me, being part time at best with no benefits.  Best of luck in finding a decent job because it can be tough, I know, haven't found one yet.

[shooter64]

Well I went to work on Mon May 1st and with no warning myself and two other Supervisors were laid off. It just so happens we are the three oldest Supervisors with the most senority at one of the JC Penney stores. We were handed our severence packages and escorted out the side door. Reason for dismissal, reorganization of the company. Our ages were 65,57 and 51 with years of experience 16,12 and 9. We have been instructed to sign a waiver stating we give up our rights against any possible age discrimination claims or if we refuse to sign we forfeit our severence pay. It doesn't feel right so I have an attorney looking over all of the papers. For now I am going to enjoy the time off take care of some projects and get some extra riding in. I think I am also going to attend Inzane since it's just down the road from me here in Sedalia,Mo.

If you are the 65 year old, no problem. You can get your S.S. started online. If that is not enough money you can still make an extra 14k working part time if you like. After 14k the gov. takes a portion if you are drawing S.S.

[Karen]

I opted for the severance pay; there were just too many people available to do the works we had contracts for. My company also included me in the annual performance bonus, something I was not expecting. I had not kept up on the latest technologies; my job didn't require that; I only needed to continue to do what they needed to have done on the archaic systems and apps being used. I'm back in school again at ITT tech, learning current IT Networking, and hope to be employable in a little more than a year. There were a lot of people younger than myself and more qualified than myself that were let go during the year and a half prior to my layoff. I was on downtime for many many weeks. The layoff was not unexpected, but it still has quite an impact. So much of who we are seem to be tied up  with what we do for a living; I own and operate a Valkyrie, not much else matters...

[solo1]

Yes, I was laid off many times in my younger age.  I worked in manufacturing (Union) and couldn't get enough seniority to stay. I got wise and went for an electronics education. found a good job in non union management, was temp laid off once because of  downturn, came back and was retired as Associate Environmental Engineer.

I was never discriminated against because of age.  I can't speak for today tho.  Things are different.

[Paxton]

Lucky for me, I was never laid off. I do recall getting my ass fired several times.
I once worked at a Porno sound-recording studio in New York City.

There was no nudity or sexual activity. The ladies simply came in and recorded on a 33-1/3 RPM "LP," a "script" depicting the sounds of a "hot" sexual act!

The only job requirement for the ladies was to have a good-sexy voice inflection, and the ability to fake an orgasm!
Needless to elaborate, after a rigorous interview with the owner, everyone of the interviewees got the job!

As for me, I was fired for handling the freakin' merchandize.  

It goes to show how cruel an employer can be!

[Tim H]

I was laid off after nine years in October 2010.  After severance, and unemployment ran thin that got me through the winter and some opportunities started to show.  I worked from May through the end of the year with no "real" job, as I called it, sub-contract work.  Permanent employment came in March of this year.  During my "unemployed year" I made more than I ever did at my pervious job, even including healthcare expenses.  Now I've got a great job that's better than I could have hoped for.  So you may have to wait awhile, but if you keep at it you'll find the spot that's right for you.  Whatever it is, you'll have a story to tell as your own is written out in the coming months.  Keep us informed.

[GreenLantern57]

Even if they made you sign that paper, if the feds find out it was soley based on age, then it is age discrimination and you will be compensated way better than the dollars paid already. Good going on getting a lawyer.

Been there, done that, but they covered thier skins.  But I did get a better job.

[Rowdy]

  Yep 3 yrs 5 months ago 61 yrs old at the time    plant closed 
Never found another job locally  took un-employment as long as it lasted then filed for SS and retired  no wrong doing just poor timing 

Just taking part time jobs as I find them 
Driving a Google street car for the moment 

[Hoser]

I was never discriminated against because of my age, until I got old.     ???   Hoser

[junior]

that aint laid-off.......thats a termination or your position being eliminated. waste managemwnt did this about 10 years agoshortly after thier recent buyout at the time. they eliminated one whole level of middle management. they paid all the acculated vacation time and based the severance pay in years of employment for the indvidual. i am afraid you and your coworkers has no leg to stand on. and might as well face realitity and enjoy your time off while you find a new job.

[MCRIDER]

Many thousands of U.S. auto workers were laid off when the rest of the country started sending their dollars to asia instead of keeping them in the United States.  You're not the only one.  It's terrible.  Good luck to you.

[musclehead]

Lucky for me, I was never laid off. I do recall getting my ass fired several times.
I once worked at a Porno sound-recording studio in New York City.

There was no nudity or sexual activity. The ladies simply came in and recorded on a 33-1/3 RPM "LP," a "script" depicting the sounds of a "hot" sexual act!

The only job requirement for the ladies was to have a good-sexy voice inflection, and the ability to fake an orgasm!
Needless to elaborate, after a rigorous interview with the owner, everyone of the interviewees got the job!

As for me, I was fired for handling the freakin' merchandize.  

It goes to show how cruel an employer can be!

I can think of lots of ladies qualified for that job! 

[bscrive]

My wife's work let her go the day we got back from vacation last march.  Told her that she was not needed anymore.  Oh well, she is working temp work right now and getting employment insurance to make up the balance.

[czuch]

I worked at Ward's auto center. There was a man there who had been with the Co. for 32 years. With retirement in sight he came in late one day and they fired him on the spot. They didnt have to pay his retirement. Poor work habits was the excuse. He was one of the nicest men I ever had the pleasure to know.  I'd probably go to Nebraska or open a pre-1973 auto shop.

[Valkahuna]

Being laid off is one of the worst feelings a man (person) can have!    It makes you question what you did wrong, or could have done differently. When you realize that it had nothing to do with you, you get angry with those that let you go. 

You did the right thing not signing the severance package without someone looking it over.  It's like when an insurance company wants you to sign off on everything to get your settlement.

And yes, I have been laid off. Fortunately not often, and something better came along that made the lay off a positive rather than a bad thing.

[RainMaker]

Yes.  Got laid off from a union job while I was in college, just after a strike had ended.  The next time was when my department was closed at CompUSA.  The next company went bankrupt while I was there.  Then went back to CompUSA just in time for them to be sold to Tiger Direct and everyone that didn't want to move to Florida was told to hit the streets.

Sometimes you see them coming, other times, not.  All you can do is the best you can do and work like it's your company and your money.  And that doesn't work all the time.

As for the bull-rush "sign this or else" I think you are taking the right path in letting a legal beagle take a look.  If the other 2 guys stick with you, there is probably a better settlement available.  It's not worth it for JCP to take  you to court - easier to pay out more up front.

Life does continue afterwards. 

Good luck!

RainMaker