So my husband will probably get back doored from his design firm sometime in the coming weeks. He found the posting for his job online...and accidentally stumbled upon an email today, it was someone inquiring about his job. This has happened before, this is how the place he works for gets rid of people.

Have you seen the design market right now? It sucks...wait...was it ever great? *half assed attempt at some humour*

So lucky for us I have a job. But its not enough to get us out of the in-laws.

How freakin ironic it is, that we actually go out and buy a new car with our savings and then he is about to lose his job. Lucky my job can pay for it but still...why do we need two cars when only one of us will be working? grrr.


His boss is such a catty prick, and I am no miss cleo, but I predicted this would happen to him a few months ago and I said it was going to happen in the spring. It was just a feeling I had. These people will give him no reason, no notice...well you don't need to give reason or notice when firing someone. But it just couldn't come at a worse time. Our wedding, our trip, our car, our wanting to move out. God.



So now he's looking for another job. He's even lookiing back in Canada because at this point we're willing to try anything.

This is the way our lives have been though, very dramatic highs and lows....its how we roll.

Okay, maybe it's just in Canada, but unless he's a probationary employee, been there less than 3 months, I thought that they had to give you a good reason and reasonable notice before they could fire you. Don't they usually need to have warned you, and in writing, before they fire you? Am I naive?

That sucks so bad Sprailenes! It's terrible that it's happening, but maybe this is just the opening into something much better for you and your husband! Try to be positive. If you aree you'll get something great out of it!

I wish you both the best of luck.

Sending you hugs from here
I'm so sorry babe!
You'll work through this!!! Maybe this is just the break you need to break free from Jersey!!!
LOVE YOU!

it'll be fine. best wishes to you.

No, most employment is considered 'at will' in that you don't necessarily have to have cause to fire someone. An employee can quit anytime they like and employer can replace you anytime they like. You just cannot fire someone for age, race, religion, etc.

My symapthies, regardless. Searching for a new job is never a picnic.

Nope he's been there for over a year, given it is ALL. His boss just back doors people. Tomorrow he is going to tell him he has found the email and ask about it. GO HIM!

We're looking on the brighter side, this job was what allowed me to move here, if he didn't have this job we would have needed a co-sponsor.
At least now I have a job...sheesh, how lucky is that!?

Its just today I was looking at apartments and I was really excited about it. And now this happens.

Thank you all. He is actually so sad though, and its hard to watch him go through this, because like I have said before in other threads, this was his dream, a centre city job. He loved it. But his boss is an a-hole.

And i just got an email for a preliminary interview at an events planning firm.



See what I mean?? YOU SEE??

Up and down. Down and up.

Lets hope this goes good, I love the hotel, but it just doesn't pay me well enough and at this point...I need something that will help us all.

Oh wow, Sprailenes, that sucks. Is there any chance it was a mistake, a posting for another similar job there but not necessarily his? Is it a big company where he can get HR involved?

Good luck to you both You will survive this .... even though it will suck in the meantime.

well, since he's been there that long, he should be able to draw unemployment from them

*big hugs* I hope it works out for you both.

So sorry to hear about this Sprailenes. You're right, this type of crap seems to happen to you. Hopefully his being fired is not the case, but good things can still be around the corner for you! I agree with Laura and Nick...this might be your chance to get away from New Jersey!

You ARE sounding really healthy though about this whole thing...it sure helps that you're working.

I'm thinking positive thoughts!

Yea last night we were being really unrealistic and thought Arizona would be a great place to move to. I have bad luck, always have...but I think its now passing to him. Poor guy.

Its not a big company, theres no HR, this has happened to other employees. I told him months ago to watch his back. But he always felt secure in his job...he had no reason not to he did a good job. Its a 6 person design firm in Centre city, apparently they get enough work for a 20 people design firm though...so you can imagine, the staff there is overworked.

He's going to confront his boss today about it. I don't think its a mistake, its how they got rid of some of the other designers. Its always just before they hit their 2 year mark too. Odd.

what happens at 2 years that is significant to an employee?

They get 1000's of dollars put into their 401k's by the company.

Thats what happens at two years.

But there's no way to prove it. Its what I think is going on, because his boss cans all but two of the employees every two years...or just under that.

Okay here's what my husband said about what his co-worker told him...I did a ctrl+v so its his own words:

He said that he was told by Tom to look for someone now as a precaution in case i decided to leave in the next 6 months to a year. It was their back up plan based on the feeling i was going to quit. He said there is no plans to let me go now. there may be 4 web people if we get busy but i should start doing better.



Tom is his boss.


I smell bullshit. I told my husband to keep looking for another job.

I guess I should explain...there are two web designers Dave and my husband. Dave is like the leader of the web team...which consists of two people. Dave is friends with my husband, so I bet this was an awkward conversation. Dave is the one interviewing for a new web person, but it all still sounds odd to me. His boss Tom, is away in Brazil on vacation.

I dont know why they'd think my husband would quit. This. Job. Is. His. Dream.

He loves it.

Crummy news Sprailenes.
There are too many employers that use such shady "techniques": to let go of employees before they have to pay benefits or to work them at part-time and varying schedules just because. A friend that worked at Home Depot and another that worked at London Drugs (in B.C.) told me horror stories about over-worked employees and the treatment when they simply asked for a more steady schedule.

I hate it when employers feel it is right to treat people like that.
As if to say, "Remember, we own your assss"... so to speak.
Keeping employees unstable and insecure certainly does not help productivity.
It astounds me that keeping morale low is a general tactic practiced by many companies.


I have been in the design and print industry since the dinosaur age.
It has (almost) never been a great place to work: always too much work, deadlines too tight, and clients want everything yesterday and for free (practically).
Inspiration suffers, and burn out is commonplace.

I prefer to freelance, and that life is not for the feint of heart.

I hope your man (and you) finds something good quick.

But the reasoning just didn't sound right. My husband now thinks things are okay because his co-worker told him that...but I don't believe that. Why would you put an ad out to look for someone as a "back up" whats gonna happen when someone applies??

"Oh well we'll hire you...but only if this other guy quits on us"

Please. I wasn't born yesterday.

ah so that's the deal. thanks for the reply.

Hey sprailenes,

I think you are probably right, any employer who does that can't be trusted and the explanation sounds weak at best.

My Husband worked for Shaw Cable here in Calgary, for 2 years, he didn't like the job - but it was a job. They laid off hundreds of people at one point, including him - strangely many of the newer employees were the ones that kept their jobs. It's money saving and pathetic.

Anyway, I hope that isn't the case, but as has been mentioned, maybe this is the opportunity for you guys to move

Sister Sprailenes,

It does smell like BS you know
On the bright side, the best moment to look for a job is when you have one. and your husband's skills are on high demand sister. Web peepz are always needed. Perhaps a little freelancing?
Whatever you folks decide, may the gods be with you.

Peace, L.

Thanks a lot people!

We're presently taking this as an opportunity to leave the armpit of the USA.

It just sucks that people can't be honest.

Sounds like he is working for A-holes, to put it mildly. Even if it isn't b.s., getting the frig out of there and into a better position (ie, one with actual human beings running it rather than anal orafices) would be a good thing. Which doesn't make it easy.