interesting phone call regarding my lay-off

(background: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x486116 )

As I was a bit upset on Friday, I asked the 1 remaining "supervisor" if it would be ok for me to clean out my stuff on Monday. He had no problem with it. So this morning I will go in and pack up my stuff.

last night I received a phone call from him - it suddenly occured to him that he needs me to show/train a few of the remaining employees certain aspects of my job - like pulling device historys, printing drawings, making up the serial number labels, trending etc.

I told him that while I know he had nothing to do with deciding the lay-off list (this was determined by the St. Louis headquarters) - I would be in to clean out my stuff on Monday morning, so in between packing I would show him how to do some of the stuff. However, these particular procedures were not something someone could easily learn in a few minutes. yes, there are very detailed procedures written out, but a hands-on learning session would be more beneficial - and this is something St. Louis should thought about before tossing me out the door

He said he understood, and would feel the same if in my position - he then asked what it would take for me to come in for a few days as a 'consultant' for training. I told him $50/hr. he sort of balked at that, until I mentioned that there was also lots of documentation that had to be brought up to snuff regarding upcoming production inspections for our shipments going to Europe, and if the plant is still around this summer - there's the big ISO recertification

he said he doubted that St. Louis would go along with $50/hr, but would contact them on Monday. I said my price was firm, that I had gone above and beyond my original job duties for 9 years there, never refused taking on more work and even volunteered to do alot of the stuff that is not even related to my position - and the thanks I get is to be tossed out the door like garbage, not even a off-the-record heads-up.

Stay strong! Your behavior was laudable - Gracious but FIRM.

I hope that you will soon find employment where your work ethic and skills are fully appreciated.

Until then, milk that ungrateful organization for all that they're worth. :thumbsup: :hi:

I'm certain they'd pay considerably more to bring an industry "consultant" in to help bring everyone up to speed, it would take this outsider far more hours to do the same work (for first they'd have to bring themselves up to speed on the new office), and if they tried to get by with Staff teaching themselves the cost in time, inefficient procedures, and plain bungled work will cost the Corpos far more than what will seem in retrospect "a measly $50 an hour."

My reaction would probably be...
"Sorry, I will be much much too busy fielding job offers to be able to help you."

They fire you unexpectedly and have no thoughts about how to train the next person doing your job? They ask you to voluntarily come in and pass on years of knowledge and expect to get it cheap or free? Good for you.

This kind of stuff is pretty standard anymore. Frequently they will hold your employment recommendation hostage to force you to train your replacement.

I was laid off three times! Twice in the eighties and once in '92. One employer I worked for, Armco steel, merged with U.S. Steel, and formed a new company. They called me about six years after laying me off and offered me a job, mainly because it was difficult finding someone with my expertise, which was gear manufacturing. Fortunately, I was able to name my price, and helped them with a new start-up that lasted about 7 yrs, when I was laid-off again!

Again, a co-worker and an engineer, who had relocated to an engineering firm, called me up and offered me job. I was able to name my price again, and worked for them another 7 yrs. When an investment I had paid off, I was able to retire. The owner of the engineering company told me I had a job "for life". If I ever needed a job again, it was waiting. So, loyalty does mean something to some employers, but big corporations only know you as a number.

30 yr jobs are just about a thing of the past. You have to make your money when you can.

but I learned through "undisclosed sources" that my immediate supervisor (who was also laid off) had received a "heads-up" and an offer to come back as a "consultant"

not sure if he will or not, nor what the financial arrangements are - but I figure what's good for the goose is good for the gander

even if I'm only there for a couple of days - the fee I'm asking will help to go a long way

i had also told the production manager that I had a job interview lined up, so he would need to get back to me ASAP - the interview is this Wednesday, if I'm offered the job it's conceivable that I could start on Monday 4/3 and would then be unavailable for any consulting. It's shit or get off the pot time for them

That's the way you treat them--like "I'd really like to help you, but it's going to cost you, and I do have possible jobs waiting in the wings, so my time may be limited. I'm sure you'll understand--I have to make a priority of those who want me."

Astounding what these people want us to eat though, isn't it?

My sister in law's husband is with IBM and is already training his Brazilian (the country not the number, haw haw) replacements: his layoff is scheduled for this summer.

I would've asked for more. Hey, your time is limited since you'll be having to find a new job after being screwed over. Good luck to you.

yeah, that's what my partner said - I should have asked for $100/hr

the nature of the call came as a bit of a surprise, he usually just calls me for personal help with his computer as a friend.

If he doesn't like the rate, he doesn't have to pay it. What could be fairer?

the $50 an hour. I do similar documentation and training work billed at $250/hour. With the kind of skills you have, you could do very well in contract consulting. The only potential downside is lots of travel - if you don't like it, that is!

to this myself, I would also advise that you set payment terms for your consultation service in advance. I waited for over a month to be paid because they considered it a subcontract and set it up for their regular 30 day payment cycle.

they'd be nuts not to accept it. I suspect that since you have to pay your own FICA, etc, you should have asked for more.

Good luck with your career!

Let them try and find a properly trained outside consultant/trainer for less than that.

Plus, they would have to fly the person in (if not available in town) put him up in a hotel and probably pay Per Diem.

You undersold yourself...but good for you for sticking to your guns!

Many charge much more than that and companies flock to them.

$50 / hr is dirt cheap for a consultant. They should feel lucky you offered to do it at any price. And seriously, if they don't pay you, give them a free 15 mins, but after that, take off. (My 2 cents) :)

Do you know how much EDS, Accenture, and the Wipros of the world charge their clients?....about 150 to 200 bucks an hour.....of course they pay us peons about $25/hour to work for them.

$50 is cheap...never undersell yourself. Personally I would not have offered my services. I am sick and tired of companies treating people like crap. Screw them.

Possibly worth more than $50 maybe $75. BUT $50 is reasonable.

I'm back home, all my stuff packed up and removed from the premises

Talked to the 1 remaining supervisor before I left - he said St. Louis told him no on bringing me back as a consultant.

This supervisor had nothing to do with the layoffs, he's pretty much in the line of fire for a layoff as is everyone else that is left.

There's some special software that is needed to run serial number labels, which are printed on special material. When we first got the software etc., I wanted to load it up on the main servers so it would accessable to other people should I not be there and labels needed to be run. But St. Louis wouldn't let us do that, and I was told to just keep it on my hard drive.

Well, they got an order for 400 units, which means they will need 400 special labels printed. My computer is turned off, I no longer have access to it, and I'm the only one that knows how to operate the program. There are written procedures, if someone can get access to the computer, they may be able to figure it out. But given who is left working there, and their computer ability - I doubt it.

the 1 remaining supervisor asked if I could run the labels before I left - I told him $50/hr, and I will need a password to get access to my computer. he said "You shut off your computer?" yep, always do when I leave at night, just in case of a power surge or something, don't want the computer fried if we get a big thunderstorm.

then he mumbled something about the company wanting to get leaner - I said getting leaner is one thing, but they've put this little plant into anorexic shock.

I left, told him he has my phone number if St. Louis changes their mind and meanwhile if he has questions about drawings, how to plot them, labels, device histories, documentation procedures etc then he would need to call St. Louis.

"Hang tough!" Don't help these guys for free. They can certainly dig up the money, if they want to.