I have spent the past couple months agonizing "why me" as I am sure many of the other 550 people let go thought the same way. It does no good getting frustrated or angry about it although at times when I am sitting alone trying to make sense of what happened it is hard to do. It isn't worth it. What is done is done and none of us can do anything about it. Someday those that choose our names will have a reckoning either during this life or during the next. 550 lives were forever changed on 9/15. Some of us are at a stage that we can retire, others are scrambling trying to find a job in this horrible job market. Lets not forget unemployment, something until now I have never considered in my 60 years on this planet. I then decided that I put into this system so I might as well get whatever is available to me. Good luck to everyone.
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I hope those needing a job find one. I suspect I am one of the lucky ones that was always planning for the worst so I was ready for this. It's a dirty shame RJ did this especially with their billions of reserves and record earnings. I guess Paul is working on his bonus and stock options. Someday he will be rewarded.
Just a thought - Guys - start looking for 100% remote jobs. They are out there. No one is going back to work in an office anytime soon. Connect on LinkedIn with HR folks in specific companies you may want to work for and once connected, write them a personal message, attach your resume.
Best of luck!
I agree with the posts. I did not expect RJ to lay off so many good people, people with several years of service. So many companies are laying off employees and the Covid-19 is making things difficult. The money we will get will help and I am thankful for that but in my case I still have moments of some anxiety because I don't see many jobs for my expertise. Things should improve but in the meantime trying to stay positive.
For sure among us there are people that already found a job, many of us still looking, some maybe not looking and maybe some decided to retire. Some with good updated skills, some with rusty skills competing with younger people, etc. My skills are not up to date after working for so many years at RJ, my fault but I feel I am not the only one in this situation.
Stay safe with the storm!
I can find zero jobs within my skills area in the Tampa area. Who in the right mind would consider relocation during these uncertain times. Remote work only can go so far. Paul Reilly has hurt so many people by doing this. But he doesn't care, he has his bonus, stock options and monster salary. Go Paul...
As far as I can tell there are no jobs of the same caliber in the Tampa area. I am lucky enough and have saved enough to keep me until I can collect social security and unfortunately will need to do some type of obamacare once cobra is up. Not looking forward to that but until I get to 65 it will have to do. RJ really screwed up a lot of lives on 9/15
I am also trying to put RJ behind me and I think it will be easier once I get a job. There are nights when I wish I could still have my job, I liked it. Regarding the job search, it has not been easy, these are not easy times to have no job, so many people applying for jobs.
I couldn't agree more with this post. I unfortunately want to stay in touch with a few former co-workers simply to hear about all the issues RJ is having in IT. They are telling me that currently there have been so many issues with changes that it has come down from above (think Bella and Vin) that all changes now need approval from the departments VP. Talk about micromanaging... They get what they deserve. Nobody is putting in any extra effort and all the various IT teams are stressed to the extreme. My friends tell me that they have given up on doing anything "above and beyond" simply for the reason that there is no reward for that only more work.