I'm listening to some talking heads right now, and one of the issues they're discussing is job loss.

So, how secure is your job?

I'm a sales rep for a large US manufacturer. My pay is pretty commensurate with my job performance; I put forth great effort to increase revenue and dealer growth. As a result, my employer is quite pleased having me onboard, and pays me a salary which proves that to me.

A former sales rep, who had been with the company for seven years, serviced a territory that was experiencing some financial difficulties. As a result, his dealers bought less of our product, and his numbers were down for the year. He was summarily dismissed and replaced. His replacement actually started at a higher salary, and is performing well. The territory is still hurting some, but the replacement brought a fresh set of eyes to the situation, and has been a bit more creative in terms of stock selections, financing, etc.

As long as I continue to do my job effectively, I'm confident in the belief that my job is secure. It's pretty evident, though, that business is business (which I understand), and non-performers will need to be dealt with.

Should that day ever come, I'm pretty sure I'm prepared for it. Investments have allowed me to be in a position to not have to work if it came to that although, at 46, I want to work. The job I have is one I absolutely love (I don't really consider it "work"), so I've no problem staying put.

So, how about you? Is your job secure? If it's not, and you were let go, what would you do?

I'm told that there are more jobs for veterinary pathologists out there than there are qualified poeple to fill them. Given that I've gotten recruiting letters already, and I'm not even board eligible for another year, I'm inclined to believe that.
I do have to work; I've got over 100,000$ in student loans, but since we've got diagnostic labs and pharmeceutical companies competing to hire us I'm not too worried.

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"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

Anyone who thinks that any job is secure is only fooling themselves.

Really?

When's the last time the IRS did a layoff?


Prison guards seem to be doing pretty well, too.

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Unless you are employed by some government systems such as the Postal Service, IRS, Law Enforcement etc. - NO job is secure.
Especially if you are working for a publicly held company, with a single meeting your whole line of work can be eliminated to try and bolster stock prices.

In 20 plus years of business, and as a bloke who runs a company - I can safely say the VAST majority of employees at all levels know very little about the true financial shape of the company they work for, and have no idea of long term ideas and changes that will affect their job - until right up to when the changes are made.

2004
IRS announces major overhaul, layoffs (1/7/04) -- www.GovernmentExecutive.com

2006
http://www.sfbg.com/printable_entry.php?entry_id=1354

possibly 2009
Tsongas calls on IRS to postpone Andover layoffs - EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

At my company, we actually do know those things.

We know what our annual budget is, we know what the cost to produce our products is, we know what the cost to pay the roughly 450 employees is.

Last year, for the first time in the comany's history (30+ years at that point), employees didn't get Christmas bonuses, and some 40 people were shown the door, including some long-time employees.

We had a bit of a management shake up, and the first two quarters of this year have been, by far, the most profitable Q1 and Q2 the company has ever seen...

I do the same, every month I release both revenue and margin numbers.
I think it is unfortunate that all companies do not do so.
However what you may not be seeing is how your line performs across the whole...meaning your particular area may be doing fine...but as a market, is it in decline - this is how some people are blind-sided - they see that their area is making good money, but do not know that the product as a whole is suffering - and they get a rude awakening when the company shifts priorities. (not saying of course yours in particular)

I tell people to look out for any of the below that are beside obvious signs.....

1) Capital spending is down
2) Much needed equipment is not being replaced
3) Changes are occurring that seem to defy logic (what you don't know can always hurt you)
4) Outside consultants appear
5) A Senior management member suddenly "retires"
6) Inventory is down, and their seems to be no urgent action to replace it.
7) You are being told "there are no planned layoffs right now" when there seems like there should be.

After 9/11, we expected that spending would slow down.

As it turned out, though, people actually spent more on our products, and products like ours made by other companies. We produce what would be considered a luxury item; people don't need it to live. From what we could tell, while many industries suffered in the wake of 9/11, people weren't afraid to buy products like ours, with money they may have spent on airfares and vacations, and stay closer to home...

I'm not going to jinx anything by saying a thing. One never knows.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

well...the obvious question is...what is your product?

I'd prefer not to say (although it's totally legal ).

I'll PM you, though...

If I lose my job I think the economy would have to be in such a bad shape that it wouldn't matter anymore. Relatively secure, but as it has been said, a single meeting can change that.

Tenured faculty jobs are secure. It would take close to a nuclear war to get fired or laid off (there are reasons for losing a tenured position, but I have also seen a case where there was blatant violation of moral turpitude and nothing was done, and it was blatant).

__________________
I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Ward Churchill