Today Jim’s employer announced a layoff (to happen at some point over the next few weeks) of a whopping 350 workers from his site alone. Everyone keeps telling him it’s fine, not to worry, but as an expat there’s a whole extra layer of ‘worry’ that isn’t easily appeased.
I mean, if he’s laid off and we’re here on a work visa, how long till we’re deported? Does he even qualify for the same unemployment benefits & protection as a German citizen? Will we be able to keep the girls in the (employer sponsored) international school until the end of the year, or will they be walked the same day he is if he’s part of the 350 laid off? And the biggie… what the hell are we going to do??
Because I don’t even want to think about moving back to America. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great place and all, but it’s not my home and certainly not where I want to be. And last I checked there was a recession happening, so who knows, finding jobs there might even prove tricky…
As expats I keep coming back to how much extra Jim costs his employer… sponsoring visas, international school for the girls (SO not cheap…), ongoing language courses, residence permits, probably more. It just seems like his neck sticks out a little further; not to mention I’d think the unions would be far more inclined to approve the cut of a foreigner over a German citizen, and I can’t say I blame them for that.
So I guess for the next few weeks I’ll be waiting and worrying and freaking the fuck out. If you don’t hear much from me, just know I’m off pacing somewhere…
On this day..
- Oh, Happy Day! - 2006
Yikes…you guys will be in my thoughts and I hope all goes well!
CN Heidelbergs last blog post..Observations from the States
I am hoping all goes well for Jim and you and also am curious as to the answers. My husband says that although he was always required to pay UI in the States, if he had lost his sponsor he would have had three months to find another before needing to leave (the 3 month free pass to Germans).
We have just decided that we will extend another two years (from 2 to 4) here, so I understand how you feel. It’s a very calm way of life here.
Gs last blog post..Things I didn’t do this weekend…
Damn, that majorly sucks B, I’ll have you both in my thoughts as it all plays out, I hope to a good conclusion for you both
Oy, indeed. That’s rough, especially the not knowing one way or the other. I guess all you can do is try to remain as calm as possible until they give you a definite decision. Crossing my fingers for ya!
christinas last blog post..yes, the stretch marks were worth it
How stressful. However since the company has already invested so much in Jim maybe they consider him a good long term investment. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Hexes last blog post..Still Here
Okay…after a self-imposed blogging hiatus due to (in part, my own lack of job security) stress…you win. This sucked to read. I really really REALLY hope everything rolls in your favor, and that Jim proves to be SO invaluable to the workforce that he is safe safe SAFE! I’ve got my fingers AND toes crossed for ya girl!
Keeping you all in my thoughts! Even when I am complaining about Germany, I know I’m not ready to go back. I know how much it suits you here and hoping it works out.
Thinking of you (and some of those things on the list aren’t costing the company, so try not to worry too much).
a
I agree with previous commenters, it really sucks. If I lived in Germany I’d be loathe to give it up also. Try not to worry too much though, that causes lots of health problems , just trust that things will work out the way they are meant too…ciao
s last blog post..Mount Indefatigable
Ack! I can totally relate. Kevin got cut for no reason in October and had to leave the country (Turkey). It was not cool. You’re on my mind…
Yikes. That is scary. Especially as an expat.
Gardners last blog post..Nurnberg
A big thank you to everyone who’s posted here offering support. I really do appreciate it. The layoffs haven’t hit yet but the numbers keep climbing… now they’re up to 600+ employees to be cut. In one group of 25, they announced 6 people would go (but not who yet… how’s that for keeping you up at night??). In Jim’s group no word as to how many will go, just that there will definitely be cuts.
Since the announcement I’ve organized & reorganized the flat twice, and yesterday I went out for a walk and ended up logging about 6 miles. Things I’m not good at right now - sleeping and being funny/entertaining. So until I can be semi-enjoyable to be around, I probably won’t be blogging much.
And the worst part is… even if Jim doesn’t lose his job, 600+ people who also desperately want to stay employed will. It’s a complicated time, and burning too many calories wishing things work out for us leaves me feeling guilty & selfish. Sigh.
B, you’re so right about the worst part–that 600+ people could all be out of work. I realize companies have to make a profit, but whatever happened to companies that rode out the storm WITH their employees instead of cutting them loose at the first hint of a downturn? It sure would be nice if companies would set aside a little of their obscene profits for each of their “good years” to balance out the “bad years.” I don’t have an MBA, but I do have a conscious and that conscious tells me that employees deserve better treatment than they’re getting. It’s no wonder so many people have become “free agents.” They know that if they don’t look out for themselves, no one else will. How can companies expect loyalty and dedication from their employees when they don’t reward that loyalty? I sure hope things turn out for the best, for you and the other 599 families!
Absolutely Tokyos last blog post..What a tough life!
I’ve been quiet (because of my own damn job), but I want you to know that I’ve been thinking about you — and definitely crossing my fingers for you!
Carol
Carols last blog post..Waiting for Waiting-List Wonder
Damn, B., that sucks royally. I get how you’re feeling - when Cliff’s company was going through merger (okay, takeover) motions, we were pretty squirrelly about his job security. The fact that half of his department jumped ship before any decisions were made didn’t help. We were also absolutely not ready to go back to the US if his job dried up. I so feel you - try to keep your freaking out productive and I hope you get a resolution soon!
You’ve been on my mind, even as I have been silent.
My thumbs are pressed though…
Adam / TQEs last blog post..What’s Wrong in ‘79?
I hope everything works out for you. Fingers crossed it turns out how you want it to.
kats last blog post..Memorial day
Oh, that’s awful. I really hope it works out well for you guys.
The way that the German benifits work…if he is on them….he gets potentially up to 12 months of unemployment comp (roughly 90 percent of current pay). The international school deal probably falls completely though. If a guy is a engineer or part of a developmental project…..he usually gets kept on….generally as German companies go. The med benefits…..if under the company plan….continues on under the arbeitsamt group…..but if you were in the high pay scale and had your own private policy, then that cost comes back to you. I’ve sat and watched numerous companies in my region come up with problems. The general picture is that once a company starts to have problems….they rarely work them out….so if you do make it through this episode….you can expect another one in twelve months.
roys last blog post..My Bud
Any updates yet?
Disenchanteds last blog post..The Life Cycle of Restaurants
oo, my thoughts go out to you. had a very similar experience with my own job recently, with the equivalent visa panic. always brings me back to the question of why it is exactly that a piece of paper should be able to define what i may or may not call home. best of luck.
Hope you are hanging in and using this stressful time to write; whereas I would instead be eating lots of chocolate and worrying as I have been doing here for months
i love your blog! and i really really hope you don’t have to come back to the states…though of course, when i got back to the states from heidelberg, germany, 3 years ago, we had just re-voted in george w. bush. at least you can come back to (hopefully) a better political atmosphere (if you must).
while i was taking german lessons in stuttgart, i met another expat who was working there, and who had bought book on expat life. she said that though the culture shocks of living in a foreign country can be incredibly difficult in expat life, coming back “home” is even harder. because this was at the beginning of my stay in deutschland, i didn’t get it until i came home 3 years later.
hope you’ll check out my blog here: http://wander-the-world.blogspot.com/
Wanderlusts last blog post..oops, almost forgot…
Hi B. So sorry to hear that things are so uncertain for you and your family. I imagine this situation would be hard enough if you were in the States, but now a multitude worse because you’re in a different country. I sincerely hope that everything works out for the best.
If worst does come to worst, you can always come to Australia! There’s a severe worker shortage, and someone in Jim’s position would have no trouble getting a job.
Gaijin Girls last blog post..I Hope I’m Old Before I Die
I know you wrote this back in May but I just found your site and think it’s cool. I’m also an American expat but living in Switzerland. We are going through something similar so it is nice to know we are not alone.
Lily Bamboos last blog post..What’s up with me?