Today I joined the ranks of the unemployed. The boss came over and said "I need to put you on furlough". I guess he couldn't bring himself to say the words "layoff". To tell you the truth I am actually happy he laid me off. I have been working for a company that has been on the brink of going out of business for about 8 months now. It started last February. One payday the boss called a meeting. He told what was left of the workforce "I am very sorry but the firm does not have enough money to meet payroll this week". I knew it was coming. Each pay period for the last several months when the boss did hand me my check he would say "This will be good to cash tomorrow". Having heard that phrase for a couple of months was disheartening.

I was laid off from a previous job in July of 2008. I was sitting at my desk one Wednesday afternoon when the phone rang in my cubicle. "Can you come to the conference room and meet with Anne and myself?" I knew right away I was going to be laid off. Anne was the head of human resources. My boss said nothing and let Anne do all the talking. "We are cutting back on staff due to a reduced workload". She was looking right at me. We were friends. She knew I was in the middle of a nasty divorce. She also knew that I had a divorce status hearing the very next week. I had been talking with the people of human resources over the last several months. My divorce was getting very expensive and I had taken out a loan against my 401k account in order to give my divorce lawyer a huge some of money for a retainer. I did not want divorce but that's a whole different hub that was written weeks ago. Anne told me that she had a list of companies that may be hiring. I looked at the list and saw a former employer at the top of the page. I thought to myself "I will call them". When I had left that company I was told that if things didn't work out at the new job they would hire me back most definitely. As the meeting wound down I was asked "Would you like to take a walk through the office and say goodbye to anyone?" I knew they wanted me to say no. I knew what was next too. I was escorted out of the office. Not through the reception area however. I was escorted to the back stairway and out the door. "We will ship the items in your cubicle to you via UPS over the next day or two". They did keep their promise. Two huge boxes arrived in my driveway the next afternoon. The boxes were packed sloppily. Some precious items had been broken. One of the broken items was a coffee mug with a picture of my son when he was less than a year old. It's at my new job...the one I got laid off from today. I glued it back together. I wonder if it will get broken again when UPS drops it off in a box again tomorrow.

As I sat in that conference room my eyes just kept staring forward. I didn't look at either of the two people in the room with me. She started shuffling through paperwork and pulled out the form for continuing my family medical insurance plan. COBRA, can anyone afford that after they get laid off? She told me that if I elected to continue with their COBRA plan it would cost me over $1,000 a month. I continued to stare at the wall. The next few pieces of paper that she pulled out were letters stating that I was let go due to a lack of work in the office. "You can give these to potential employers" Anne said. My mind was already racing ahead. "How can I make my mortgage payment next month and pay COBRA?" I said it outloud, although I knew she wouldn't respond. I then said "you know that next week I have a status hearing in divorce." The boss never said a word. I finally looked at him and he stayed mum. "Maybe you'll have a job by next week" Anne said. "Yeah, right", I replied. "I could lose custody of my kids next week if I don't have a job". I did know one thing. I have been in the same line of work for 25 years. I have worked hard every where I have worked and made a good name for myself. I was going to contact previous employers and see it I could get a job. I knew that either I was going to get a job real fast or I was going to be unemployed for an extended stretch.

That evening I sat by my pool and had a few beers. A couple of friends came over and we sat and we talked. I couldn't take my mind off the events of the day. Thoughts raced through my head. "What if I can't get a job?" I thought to myself. How long before they foreclose on the house. Am I facing bankruptcy now? Will I lose the 50 percent custody of the kids that I have? Will I end up living in my Mother's basement? Divorce is not a pleasant experience. Doesn't the good Lord ever stop piling the weight on my shoulders? I knew that in the real scope of the worlds problems that losing your job is not the worst thing in the world. I have heard over the years "God only burdens you with as much as you can bear". I looked at the sky, isn't this enough now God? There was not a lot of sleep that night.

The next morning I awoke to the thought "I need a job, I'm out of work". I got out of bed and made some coffee. I thought of companies I had worked for and friends I had worked with. I made a list and then picked up the phone. The first phone call went to the name of the firm on the top of the list. NOT INTERESTED. I called another company that I had interviewed with two years earlier. I left a message with the president of the company. Then I made the third phone call. It was 9:40 am. "Hello Steve". I had worked for this company two years earlier. "I got laid off yesterday, are you guys looking for any people at the moment"? "Yes, we are, indeed we are". When can you start? It was Thursday, I had been laid off for less than 24 hours. "I can start Monday, Steve". He replied "we could use a good production guy" Then he asked what I was looking for moneywise. "Same amount I made when I left?" was my response. "Done. I will have the human resources lady send you the offer today". I had a job. Less than 18 hours after I had been laid off I had another job. My divorce status hearing was now not going to be a problem. I was not going to get foreclosed on. I was not going to lose custody of the kids. I was not going to go bankrupt. I was not going to be living in my Mother's basement.

Having known that work had been slow for the last 6 months and having missed several paychecks over that period. Seven weeks to be exact, I had sent out resumes. I had posted resumes on the internet. I had called friends and former employers looking for a job with a steady paycheck. Not a single response in months.

Last week as I sat at my desk a friend and associate slunked over. He bent over and whispered in my ear and pressed a yellow post it note into my hand. "They are hiring". I called immediately. Today I had an interview. The interview went great and I actually believe that I will be getting an offer over the next couple of days. Only a year ago I had gotten laid off and had another job less than 24 hours later. Could this happen again? Will I have a job offer before the end of the day tomorrow? Could one of the burdens on my shoulders be removed almost immediately? I certainly hope so. At least I know if I have to file for unemployment benefits I will get a check every other week. Over the last 3 months I have gotten a total of 3 paychecks. It's made life very stressful. The mortgage company doesn't care that my boss is not paying me. The credit card company doesn't care. Discover card is getting rich off people like me. They have jacked my interest rate to 29.9%. They tack on another $50 every time I am late with a payment.

Still, I count my blessings. I live in the greatest country on earth. My kids are healthy. I have most of my hair still. I know things are rough but at least I don't live in a war torn country. When Monday comes I may be sitting at a new desk. I will work hard. I will get paid. I will be able to do things with my boys again. It's been a rough summer. "Dad can we go to a water park?". Sorry not this week kids. I am owed 7 weeks salary. We need to cut corners.

Next week maybe I will be able to treat them to a well deserved treat. School starts. I can't afford to buy them new clothes this week. Maybe next week we can go school shopping.

I need a job, I'm out of work.