#personalstory

. I was grossly underpaid but being single w/no kids and having that leven of comfort knowing your job inside out, I decided to stay and never seek opportunites elsewhere. Sadly my mother got sick w/dementia around 2019 and I was forced to step away from the my career (did get 1 yr od severance) to take care of her along with my father who is also up there in age. She eventually passed from covid, so it was just me left with my father (who was early 80s at the time).

I decided to give up my apt and move back to the family home (wasn't far anyway...long island, ny) to watch over my dad. I also decided that I wasn't going to stress about working again as a hack for some thankless corporation and decided to just drive Uber. I'll tell ya what, the last 5 years have been the most stress free and happiest of my adult working life! I'm eventually going to inherit the family home (valued at 1.2M), and along with making about $1200 a week (while only paying about 5% on taxes since we're considered "gig" workers...I've realized that happiness isn't about banking big check every week...it's about using what time you have left on this planet to enjoy yourself and do the things in life you love. I can easily cover my monthly nut, which isn't much.

Sure, I live frugaly and I'm able to pull this off because I don't have kids but nevertheless I don't think I'll ever work for a major corp. again stressing everyday and hating life. Doing uber allows me to go hang out on a whim with my 7yr old nephew, take him to soccer practice or maybe an afternoon movie on the weekends, etc, etc, etc.

I was a former D1 college soccer player and I even took up coaching my old high school team. Life is great. Most of us ki-l ourselves working to our early 60s only to then have maybe 5 good healthy years left.

Fk that.

Took “only” eight months. I really hope it goes well; I don’t want to go through the wringer in December. The company I’m talking to seems better in every possible way. There are still some jobs out there, but it’s tough. Don’t wait for these a--holes here to cut you without at least a few real options lined up. Keep looking and stay persistent.

I was a "lifer" (almost thirty years) who was severed September 2024, and all the wind had left my sails in the turmoil throughout the year or so previous to that. In all my time there, there had never been a worse problem with either leadership (including the Dauman fiasco) or morale (including after the Freston firing).

It was still an emotional blow when it happened, but I had been expecting it and had already mapped out some personal projects I wanted to pursue in order to cleanse my palat.

After just a couple of weeks, I found that I was sleeping better, getting up earlier, laughing more, feeling more spry, and had lots of creative energy that I was excited to put to use.

In short, I felt about ten years younger -- which made me realize that this wreck of a company had been making me feel ten years OLDER.

The financial concerns that I face now now come nowhere near the stresses of being inside the ever-worsening toxic behemoth. My brain is in a far better place now.

This post is not mine, just sharing what "Been There, Glad To Be Done With That " posted earlier today - here is the link Post ID: @cy+1k8s4d0wm

I’ve lost jobs before, but this time it felt particularly offensive and infuriating. I was dedicated, consistently a top performer, and I genuinely liked what I did. I was also lucky to have a great team. For the company to throw away valuable contributors like so many of us, and strip us of the chance to keep doing what we love really highlights how empty and pointless the corporate world has become.

I’m not saying this layoff is the end of the world, but it’s hard not to feel how disappointing, futile, and ugly it all is. In any case, good luck to all of us, both those who were let go and those who remain. Here’s hoping things start making a bit more sense again someday.

We all know the bs as we see it daily and has been happening for years but I have never been so shocked as I am now. A few years ago I was smart and resigned to go back to school. Except now the industry I went back to school for is suffering so I was hard up for work... I was able to get my job back via a contract company with hopes i would get hired on perm by wf or find a better job before the contract was up..... I came in everyday with a good attitude, i volunteered to read when no one else would, i was back to my desk before break was up, i didn't leave my desk to use the bathroom between breaks because the boss said they don't want to see people doing that and i left my phone an arms length away so I wouldn't violate the cell phone policy... Well I was fired 8 days into the contract because "it wasn't a good fit" or at least that was the reason they gave the contract company... Hmm so I did this exact job you hired me for 4 years and resigned on good terms but now it's not a good fit? Yet everyone in the training group is crocheting on live cam, have their heads down, are having inter office romances via text message (between sites and making drama over it), being blatantly rude to the trainer- but I am the problem? This supervisor just sc--wed me out of being able to get an other wf job because in my 15 years of working for the company and 20 years in working as a whole I have never once been fired but NOW I have to check that freaking box. Thanks bish. Thanks. now im stuck in a year lease i cant get out of after moving back to a small town to take this contract. my job options are now extremely limited and i am completely sc--wed. what a wonderful company to work for- glad i wasted my entire life for them. I am so sick to my stomach and heart broken, and completely alone here. If I didn't have my dog to look after I would walk out into a field and never come back.

This shouldn’t be something to feel good about but it makes me happy.
My engineering manager from about 21 years ago made me work my a-s off with the promise is a promotion and then he told me I didn’t have what it takes. Anyway I left and got promoted a few times at the new company. This man was a total sc-m in every aspect of his dealings with employees.
Anyway, once a month I would transport food stuff for the food pantry and I saw this guy at the counter.
He got laid off in 2015 and never found another white job. He got divorced a few years ago and lost everything.
I should feel sorry for him but I don’t. This man never learned that his few years at a corporate job wouldn’t last forever.

I was laid off within the last 2 years. My experience thus far, has been one of immense relief. If you're lucky to have a good cultural pocket at Nike, I envy you. I was unfortunate enough to be in a toxic one for several years, and it weighed on me heavily. Very glad to be out for that reason alone. The job market is sh-t, and I don't have a ton of leads but I have been trying like he-l. And it's really baffling, because everyone on the inside was so friendly with the "we all have each other's back" sport team analogy vibes....except we really didn't.

The lack of any outward communication from 99% of people I used to work with has been validating, disappointing, and consistent with what everyone's saying on this site.

Nike's culture is so phoney baloney in this regard. It's not a good sign for your company's culture when you rave on and on about people's performance on the job (e.g., "this person's a rock star!", "they're so great", etc.), spend time over countless lunch outings, barbecues, and happy hours outside work, have spent years of hearing about each other's personal lives, families, and weekends, only to completely ghost the ones at work you supposedly "care" about now you don't see them anymore.

If you read the above, and scoff at it for being too "naive", or "soft"....you're part of the problem. We all gave/are giving the company so much of our time and mental energy. For what? To treat each other like Nike treats us all? Aren't we better than that? Despite what Mitt Romney once said, corporations aren't people. We can do better than treating each other the way Nike treats us.

To people who reach out - please continue to do so. Your words have been so helpful. To those who don't / haven't reached out....consider your team members who are now in isolation. They could use a familiar face or a check in from time to time.

I'd love to hear from people who have left and learn more about any tips you have for navigating the post-Cengage career journey.

What do you miss? What do you not miss? What have you carried forward? What have you left behind? What did you learn from your transition? How would you approach it differently if you had to do it all over again?

We have had cuts after cuts after cuts in the last few years. Nobody can convince me any of it is necessary. It's all about greed and we're the ones paying the price. I'm already looking for another job at a company that has actual job security - something we used to have once upon a time.

I left without any sense of guilt, because I knew I needed a job that didn’t consume my evenings and weekends. At first, I worried about letting my team down, but honestly, no one wins when you’re burned out and running on fumes. Moving to a role with a healthier balance has reminded me how much better life feels when work isn’t draining every ounce of energy you have.

Dear colleagues,

I never imagined I’d be writing an email like this. After almost 20 years with Edward Jones, I’ve been told I no longer have a place here. While I was encouraged to accept the narrative that our leadership team “cares” and that none of this should come as a surprise, I cannot leave without speaking my truth.

This firm is not what it once was. I remember sharing coffee with Jim Weddle and even his predecessor—leaders who embodied stability, integrity, and care for associates. What I’ve experienced in recent months is the exact opposite: a process that has been dehumanizing, disheartening, and nothing short of a debacle.

On more than one occasion, I was thrown under the bus to “save face” for our department, taking the heat for situations that were not mine to own. Work that should have been properly regulated by others was instead pushed onto me, leaving me to answer for nonsense that should never have been allowed in the first place. Carrying those burdens silently was one of the most demoralizing parts of my time here.

And then, with less than an hour’s notice, I was pulled into a meeting with a general partner—someone who had already announced her own exit from the firm—and an HR representative. In that moment, after nearly two decades of loyalty, I was told my job was gone. No warning, no dignity, no appreciation for the years of sacrifice. Just a cold, abrupt ending.

To add insult to injury, my most recent leader—the best leader I have ever had in almost two decades at this firm—was demoted. Make it fu--ing make sense. I am so angry, and I will never understand why this happened.

Meanwhile, we’ve watched Penny take home almost $30 million in bonuses in the last year. We’ve watched ALT members hired who don’t even live anywhere near St. Louis—the supposed heartbeat of the firm. We’ve watched David move to BACA and his New York high-rise. And months ago, we were already told we should just be “thankful we have jobs.” How tone deaf can you get?

Even worse, I literally trained someone who came in with no relevant background — a former shoe store manager — and watched as she was fast-tracked into senior leadership. Today, she’s untouchable as a general partner. That’s the kind of favoritism and politics that has replaced merit, hard work, and decades of dedication.

To those who think their jobs are safe, I urge you to think again. I was targeted long before this outcome, despite years of service and dedication. I’ve had colleagues tell me my communications were authentic, my work was valued, and that my exit is a mistake. Yet I’ve learned firsthand how quickly perceptions can be twisted, and how little “receipts” matter when people in power decide otherwise.

I’ve poured my heart and soul into this place. When my mom was dying of cancer, I worked 65 hours a week—balancing the phones, managing 14 contractors and interns, and carrying the responsibilities of multiple roles—all while being her sole caregiver. I gave everything I had to this firm. To now be told I wasn’t “good enough” is something I cannot accept as truth.

What pains me most is knowing Ted would be heartbroken by what’s happening. His vision was one of partnership, people-first values, and building something greater together. That spirit feels lost.

I know many of you have seen what’s happening on places like layoffs.com. I won’t hide behind an anonymous username or light up threads online. This is my story, and it’s just one example of the human cost behind these decisions.

To those who reached out with genuine kindness—thank you. Your words reminded me that my worth isn’t defined by a firm that has lost its way.

I leave not bitter, but resolved: to speak my peace, to hold my head high, and to remind you that no one is immune.

— A fellow associate

This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with 49-year-old Damon Duncan, who is based in Atlanta. His identity and salary have been verified by Business Insider. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

• Damon Duncan, a 49-year-old former sales engineer, took a drastic pay cut after he was laid off.
• Duncan's salary dropped from $148,000 to $52,000, impacting his family's lifestyle.
• Despite applying to hundreds of jobs, Duncan is struggling to re-enter the technical sales field.

Damon Duncan, a 49-year-old former sales engineer, took a drastic pay cut after he was laid off.

Duncan was laid off in 2023 and again in 2024. Since then, he has taken an entry-level position with significantly less pay.

Duncan’s salary dropped from $148,000 to $52,000, a change that has deeply impacted his family’s lifestyle. Despite applying to hundreds of jobs, he continues to struggle to re-enter the technical sales field.

This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with 49-year-old Damon Duncan, who is based in Atlanta. His identity and salary have been verified by Business Insider. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I was laid off from my job as a sales engineer in April 2023. That was the last job I had in my career field.

It has now been more than two years since I worked in technical sales. I took a couple of related roles after my company went through a merger, but I was laid off for a second time in August 2024. I remained unemployed until I finally took a drastic step back — both in position and in pay.

I went from being a sales engineer, an architect, and an account executive to working at a consulting firm in an entry-level cold-calling job.

The majority of the people I work with are fresh out of college. When I sit with them in the common room, they’ll say things like, "This is my first big boy job fresh out of college," while I’m sitting there, almost 50 years old, with a child about to go to college myself.

It came with a massive pay cut

I now make about one-third of what I earned at my sales engineering job. At my former role, my base salary was $148,000, but now it is $52,000.

The layoff cost us a lot of money, and because of it, we don’t travel anymore. Our credit also took a massive hit, and we weren’t able to cosign on a loan for our daughter to attend college. She decided to take a gap year and start at a local tech school instead, building savings and credit so she can eventually take out loans and transfer.

We’ve had to cancel a lot of services we used to rely on. Typically, we could hire people to handle big tasks, but now I take them on myself during weekends.

Instead of spending my weekends with my family, I spend them fixing things around the house — rebuilding a staircase, working on cars, painting rooms, replacing light fixtures, AC plugs, light switches, and other projects.

We couldn’t afford to repair my daughter’s car, so we had to get rid of it. Now we’re down to two cars instead of three. We often have to carpool, which isn’t the end of the world, but it’s inconvenient at times. My company also required employees to return to the office, which means I now spend two hours a day commuting — one hour each way.

All of this has affected my family immensely.

I no longer understand the market

I’m trying to get back into the field that supported me for most of my 20-year career, but nobody is hiring me or even interviewing me seriously.

Since being laid off in 2023, I’ve applied to hundreds of jobs. I did receive one offer last year, but it was rescinded because of company changes. Other than that, I’ve had some interviews, but I’ve never made it to the acceptance stage.

I still apply to anywhere between two and five jobs a day.

No matter how I update my résumé or how much outreach I do, it feels pointless. I’ve followed every piece of advice — networking, customizing applications, everything. But it feels like throwing darts at paper, hoping one lands. I don’t understand the market anymore. It doesn’t make sense.

I’m doing this current job because I have bills to pay and a family to provide for. I’m stuck where I am until I can hopefully find another opportunity.

I have a feeling people assume I’m too expensive because of my experience, or that I’ll immediately leave once I find something better. But they don’t realize that I’m applying to these jobs not only because they’re in my field, but also because I view them as possible careers.

I don’t need just a job. I’m not 20 anymore. I need a career. I have three kids — one about to go to college, and two more following. I’ve got weddings to pay for in the future. Realistically, I’ll be working until I’m 80. What I need is stability.

Ageism may also be at play

I suspect some of this difficulty comes down to ageism. But older workers bring wisdom and experience. We’re not flashy, but we’re reliable.

People like me, Gen Xers, know how to be scrappy. I’m working an entry-level job right now despite having 24 years of experience. If that doesn’t prove my willingness to work hard and adapt, I don’t know what does.

Have you struggled to find a job?
Reach out to the reporter via email at aaltchek@insider.com
or through the secure messaging app Signal at aalt.19.

But I feel relieved. What truly hurts is when companies don’t have a backbone to take the accountability on themselves and put the blame on you. Well, such companies are not a place to work for anyways.

I got comfortable during the good years, then just kept adapting as the crises piled up. Now I realize I’m completely fed up. And of course, it hits me at the worst possible time, when the options out there are practically nonexistent. I have no one to blame but myself for waiting this long, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. It feels like I’ve wasted years hanging on, and now I’m stuck in a place that does me no good whatsoever, and will most likely only get worse. I’m just ranting here, but I suspect the vast majority of us feel the same.

Feel lost and deflated. The office hours are not good. Listening to talking points from the leaders makes me want to hurt myself. Delusional.

They told me my role is no longer needed, with my last day in mid October. Two of us are affected, I do not think this is systemic or a part of a larger plan - it's just that they are tweaking things how the group (~20 folks) works - two of us are affected.

Yet, surprisingly, I feel relief more than shock... The signs were there... mornings felt heavy, mgrs went quiet, and even teammates I thought had my back started to drift away - it felt bad... The energy was 100% off I knew the call was coming.

It stings. At the same time I’d rather be out than stuck in a job that drained me. Theres a strange peace in knowing it’s official.

Anyone else ever feel like the final cut is easier than the slow buildup?

im gonna go in tomorrow. I’ve got people counting on me, and there’s no room for self-pity right now, i'll finish this chapter with dignity and will do a good job... Time to chase the next chapter, onward & upward.

Yes, I'm worried about layoffs, but if I'm still here when it's done, I know we'll be facing major changes in how things are done, and I seriously doubt any of them will benefit the employees. I think our work is about to become much harder and increase dramatically with no reward whatsoever and probably a "be happy to have a job" tagline.

It'd be good if she was to pack up and go back to Livonia. Wishful thinking, it was actually me who is being sent back to Lansing. Nothing more to add aside from wishing every one the best in hope that you all will have better luck than I had. This used to be a great place to work at and with time that shiny aura has morphed into something much darker.

I have been with the company for 3 years and was forced into a role I didn’t want after only a year. Then I finally interviewed and moved to a new area in April only to get canned yesterday. What a waste of 3 years.

After reading these posts and the moral crushing from leadership, I am so glad I retired when I did. Besides a great severance and now being richer than sn-t, I no longer have to put up with endless layoffs and outsourcing to other countries. Best decision I ever made.