Friday Uh Oh

Well....there's no easy way to say this.....so I'll just put it out there.

One week into a six month lease, H. was laid off yesterday.  Not sure how/why - who knows?  They have been downsizing for some time - they support retail stores and as someone who worked in retail for a long time, January through March are notoriously the least busy months of any year - without fail.  So, it isn't really unexpected....though it was for H..  He had no indication there would be any layoffs that would reach him - he's been there 8 full months and has been performing jobs that are pretty 'skilled'.  But never say never, right?

He called us to let us know as soon as he knew - when they left work yesterday, they were all told to leave their badges.  That's happened dozens of times before - only this time, the staffing agency that places workers at the logistics firm phoned H. around 8:30 to let him know he was on the layoff list.

Poor kid.  He feels blindsided - and shocked.  And that's never a great way to feel.  We are trying to reassure him - 'cuz seriously, you never really know all the possible 'whys' and it's pointless to waste a lot of energy and time attempting to figure it out.  We've reassured him that we'll figure it out - and he totally knows that he needs to find another job pronto.  They told him it's likely he will be called back - but who knows when?  And with rent now a huge factor in his budget, he can't afford to sit around and wait to be called back.

He will update his resume this weekend; apply for unemployment (which they told him to do when they called); and start applying for forklift driver jobs ASAP.  There are several warehouses in town (Costco, Safeway, Orchard Supply, Best Buy and Frito Lay all have warehouses near here) and we'll map out where he's willing to commute to and go from there.

Life lessons abound from this:  had he been saving weekly from the time the job started, he'd have enough in savings to be fine for a few months....but he didn't.  So he's broke and has monthly outflow that he has no way of paying.

We are blessed we can help him - so he won't have to put his roommate in a bind and can still live in the apartment.  Wish we weren't having to help him - but oh well.

And who knows....maybe come Tuesday, another 'boss' at the firm will say 'hey, where's H.?' and they will call him and tell him it was all a mistake....I know that's not likely and certainly not something to count on - but you never know.  It's a fickle business with many people managing folks who come and go frequently - so it's possible.

This morning's board meeting was very quick and productive.  I had planned to stay for a chunk of the day working on stuff - but I just wasn't motivated to work.  It's cold but clear and sunny - too nice to be hanging out inside.  So I headed home.  J. is running to Costco for a couple things we need...nothing planned today but chilling at home.

Plenty of time for busy later this weekend -