Just as sunsets mark the end of a day they are also carry the promise of a new one to come. Yesterday was my last day at BAE Systems, I was in a major pissing contest with my boss and lost. Before you start thinking condolences think congratulations. That job was killing me on many levels and I'm most assuredly better off without it. My bumber sticker for the last year has been, love my job, hate my boss (the clueless Nazi).

Now the quest starts to find a new one in this tough economy. Hey, we all need our challenges. So if anyone know of openings in Microwave Engineering and/or Visual Basic programming let me know. Also please note the change in e-mail address.

Now back to the regularly scheduled wiggle your toes programming.

Wow Cecil, some changes are in the making for you! There is nothing worse than a stressful job. I had a job I loved for 13 years, and had a clueless Nazi boss also. Luckily, I found a similar job for more money, with a great boss and co-workers. I wish you luck. You have to fund your trips to Bonaire.

Cecil - I'm with you a hundred percent. I left my job - my dream job - as museum Aquarist in 1991 thanks to The Boss From Hell. After seven years of his temper tantrums (akin to a two-year-old) and his tendency to take credit for my ideas/work - it was my sanity or my job. I walked out on Earth Day after he shrieked at me and chased me into the Ladies Room in front of a crowd of co-workers. Jeez. Candidate for electroshock therapy/lobotomy.



Best of luck in the search. If I hear anything on the grapevine, I'll let you know. Til then, enjoy the time you have to yourself.

Hé Cecil, I hope you can find something new real soon. Like Kelly said, you have to be able to return to Bonaire. I don't think you lost your virginity in a one night stand...

Hi Cecil,
Pity for not having a job! But I think congrats for not having to fight with your boss again. Hope you find another job with a better boss, soon.

Rusty, it's called harassment, and it's illegal in this country. More people need to set up these evil morons to take a fall.

Oh Cecil Congratulations! You are too good and they don't deserve you anyway! What a perfect time of year to leave a job! Take the rest of the summer off! A new and better position will come up soon enough....you said you needed more time for your trip report.....

I was told by the museum director that if it wasn't sexual they wouldn't pursue it - even with all those witnesses. I got the position in the first place because the previous aquarist walked out - for the same reason. He warned me.

With my boss and me in the same union - there was nothing they would do either. Jeez. I just went home and spent an entire summer sitting in the backyard staring at my toes. LOL Then I got over it and moved on.

Meryl you're right about the trip report. I also have wedding pictures from this past weekend to do. The only problem with taking the rest of the summer off is the "M" word. Being the primary bread winner does not help. Sue's pittance from nursing will barely pay the mortgage. I'm open for grants (don't want any loans they have to be paid back).

I could go diving till I use up my present fill card, but with all the rain lately it would not be much fun.

Can you get unemployment? You can file on line now.....if you quit a job I think you have to wait 6weeks...but it is worth looking into...

Cecil ,

there's work to be done out there: just make it find YOU.

I've got a question for Rusty and you , isn't: "going postal" an american expression?

Sjosss

Cecil, congratulations for getting rid of the noose around your neck, and condolences on the "m." When Michael was laid off last December, he was relieved in a way, as the company he was working for was extremely cheap and didn't treat their employees with ANY respect...it was just a tough road for him finding work, and then work that he likes...Good luck with the job search, and enjoy your time off!

Seb, the only time I have been "let go" was when I tried to file charges against my boss...guess they valued him more than they valued me...I don't understand companies that ignore the abuse, and keep the abuser...

Cecil, I'm with you. Out with the bad, in with the good... (that is from some really old loony toons cartoon, right?)

Enjoy the feeling! Good luck, too.. :-)

I'm glad for ya Cecil. I hope you find work soon. Have you looked on MonsterJobs? I think they help you for free... maybe its just an AL thing though...anyway, have fun in your time off..

Cecil, You willing to move to Maryland? Take a federal government job? Will email you job info.
Yanagirl

Thanks Yana, I checked it out. Maryland's the tough part, but one thing just occurred to me. If I took this job I would be the customer of the job at BAE that I was working until recently. In other words I would be my ex-boss's boss, can you say what goes around comes around. Although I prefer, you reap what you sow.

Cecil , I am not going to say : I told you so , but , ....I told you so!!

Wouldn't you just love to pick up your tents an give it a go for , lets say 2 months ?

Just to give your ex boss a hard time?
( evil side coming out to the pale eiry daylight shimmering between the tumbstones under my desk )

sjoske

appropriate previous message for that "post number"

Yikes. Di'dn't even notice it then, '...

happy thoughts , happy thoughts, happy thougts, ...


jos

RTOFLMAO Jos!

That is seriously funny. Still giggling.

Oh but we all do have an evil side.

Cecil,
Ya know Air Jamaica has gateways to get to Bonaire.....Baltimore MD and Washington DC would be at your backdoor.
This could be a start to move south.......to Bonaire !!!
Yanagirl

Cecil, with every cloud there is a silver lining. Good Things will be on your way! How about working in Bonaire? We would all visit! Good Luck with everything!

Cecil, Sorry to hear the news and I wish you the best in your job search. When one one door closes, another one always opens!!

Cecil, congratulations on your new "freedom from hell" and the best of luck on your search for a new and better life. I can relate to what you went thru. I am documenting tons of things happening to me at my position...have been for a while now. Not a healthy way to work or live, is it? It's sort of like going through a nasty marriage....you want it to work and you try to make it work out, but sometimes you are just beating your head against a very solid, hard wall. Stress kills.

Keep us posted on your search and hang in there! We're out here to support you emotionally and psychologically. Unfortunately, we don't have enuff $$ to support you financially, however! LOL. Carole

Cecil, we've recently begun posting jobs again! Just a few out there, check out
Alcatel USA jobs. There may even be microwave jobs there. If you find one you are interested in, let me know, I'll drop your name downstairs.
c.

Thank you everyone for your support, I would never expect less from this group.

Cheryl nice lead I did find one job in Chelmsford, Ma. Not a perfect fit but I sent a resume anyway, you never know. Thanks again.

Hi Cheryl, What do you do for Alcatel? I just finished ordering some DS3 cards for one of our Alcatel OC48's. I'm an engineer for Sprint in the Transmission group! Gail

Well Cecil yesterday while you were quitting we were being . The company that I work for decided that it was time to and cut 10% of the IT workforce. There has been a definite decrease in business after 9-11 and it doesn't look like call volume will explode soon. With the open positions that were (chopped) 18 people were let go.

Hi Gail!
I'm a web developer, for internal and external sites.
c.

Clint, were you one that was let go?

No. I've been here a little to long. They took the easy way out, grouped all job descriptions together and cut by company seniority. For the most part it was acceptable, but now some people (with the same job title) are going to be swapped around with NO IDEA of what the new position entails. We have one support assistant that will now have to go through 6-8 weeks of TANDEM mainframe training to be able to do her new job. She is a Nice lady (planning on retiring and moving to Arizona in the next couple years) but I don't think she has the analytical personality to be able to succeed. I give here 3 weeks before , and we have to rehire the gal we just layed off.
It is a shame that the lawsuits have tied employers hands when it comes to using performance or job knowlege as a criteria in such matters.

Clint , we are suffering from idioterie like that since 2 years now.
"they" resize te firm by offering outplacement and early retirement and don't have a clue of the knowledge drain they opened!!

The often take the voluntary leave because they can get other jobs and the end up staying.

when i lose the "pissing contest" i'm currently involved in i'm coming to bonaire for about 3 months;)

well, lots of diving time there cecil?

;)

good luck!

Jeez - survival of the fittest leaves a whole planet of a**holes eventually? Sad. LOL Who wants to find a kinder, gentler place to live?

It comes in 3's!

Cecil, Clint, and now.... ME!

It happened a few days ago:
My B2B e-commerce employer, still not breaking even but but kept alive on a life support drip of cash from a clutch of vulture capitalists, was forced by its vampiric investors to cut 20%... so the CIO/COO, all marketing folk, 1/2 the salesmen, and me were jetisoned. 12 out of 60 gone.

At least I went out on a high note... settling a potential $90k liability for a mere $2k the day I got my furlough letter. So, as a thank you for saving the company over half my salary in the morning, I was given the "opportunity" to better my career prospects starting that afternoon.

Anyone need a really good lawyer?

My wife thinks that there might be a market for a U.S.A. experienced lawyer/ attorney/ counsel/ solicitor/ barrister to provide all sorts of legal services to ex-pats and tourists on the ABC's, with Bonaire as home base. Is this just a fantasy or should I be seriously considering a major change of venue?

Clarification, 1st Cecil, then Clint's "close call"... and not to forget Cynde's Michael back in December...

Leif, condolences and/or congratulations whichever is appropriate.

As far as my battle, no progress although many people have contacted me with offers of help and support but not a job. It's still very early in the battle. One major indicator that I did the right thing is my daily afternoon headaches are no more after a year or more. Your body really knows.

Welcome to the Take This Job And Shove It! BT Chapter

It stinks that when you have the time to travel - you don't have the money to travel and vice versa. LOL

All together now! takethisjob2.mid (32.8 k)

Leif, great negotiating! Hell of a job. I know I would have been grateful for that end result. I used to be a Liability claims negotiator and know what you must have gone through to get that settlement. Maybe it will fall through....perhaps the releases are just "right" and then they can get slammed again! LOL.

I do wish you luck. I know what you are going through. After being downsized three times I chose government work. (One job after 16 years, one after 8 years and one after a medical disability). Government work does not pay as well, but a little more stable.

I hope it all works out for you in the end. Hang in there. Carole

Leif, my condolences too...boy, and after saving the company that much money, what a way to slap you on the back and say "good job." Phhttt!

I will keep good thoughts going both yours and Cecil's way. I hope it just doesn't take as long for you as it did for Michael to find a permanent job...6 months is a LONG time to be without a needed income! Thank goodness we have a strong relationship