My week - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MS Fowler · #1 12-22-2012, 02:44 PM

Some of you may have noticed I have been posting with a little less frequency this week. It has not been because you all bested my arguments and I was hiding.

Monday, I got an email from my employer of over 11 years that the Contract work I was doing had been terminated by the client--not for cause, but to give their employees work, and that Friday ( yesterday) would be my last day.
So I researched unemployment in MD--they pay max $400 a week. The COBRA insurance would be $1000 a month! That won't work.
I called the office manager for an Engineer that I worked with some 20-25 years ago, and who has expressed interest in hiring me in the past. He has 2 well-earned reputations-1) He is a genuinely GOOD guy. 2) He is CHEAP. But, right now insurance coverage drives employment. The office manager remembered me instantly and heard the purpose of my call, and the Engineer called me back that day, and the next day. We had a 2 hour meeting yesterday, and he will make a formal offer the day after Christmas. It will be for less money than I am currently making, but the work is exactly what I hoped--Getting his lab certified, and filling in on all manner of Civil Engineering field work. I know the range of pay he pays. I know I will be at the top end. I know I will accept that offer, but he doesn't know that. ( I have to make him sweat just a little.) I will supplement income with 401 payouts, or SS payments--even though SS really hammers you if you earn over $14460 a year.
My current (former) employer has no idea. He thinks it will be a 4-6 month layoff, and I will come back. If he really valued my services ( as he has said), he would have made some provision--He could have kept me on at reduced hours, he could have found some accommodation, but since completing his MBA a few years ago, he has become less of the nice guy he used to be.

All the research to SS and 401 stuff has taken away a lot of my "free" time, but its all behind me know.

Merry Christmas.

t walgamuth · #2 12-22-2012, 05:36 PM

Good luck with your new job!

kerry · #3 12-22-2012, 05:51 PM

Sorry to hear that. Getting laid off nowadays is serious business. My neighbor works and collects SS but he says you have to give back a percentage if you earn over that $14k number. The healthcare situation is terrible at the moment. I'd be considering early retirement were it not for the outrageous costs of health care. Obamacare may help when it kicks in in 2014. Did you check that calculator I posted a month or so ago?

The Clk Man · #4 12-22-2012, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Some of you may have noticed I have been posting with a little less frequency this week. It has not been because you all bested my arguments and I was hiding.

Monday, I got an email from my employer of over 11 years that the Contract work I was doing had been terminated by the client--not for cause, but to give their employees work, and that Friday ( yesterday) would be my last day.
So I researched unemployment in MD--they pay max $400 a week. The COBRA insurance would be $1000 a month! That won't work.
I called the office manager for an Engineer that I worked with some 20-25 years ago, and who has expressed interest in hiring me in the past. He has 2 well-earned reputations-1) He is a genuinely GOOD guy. 2) He is CHEAP. But, right now insurance coverage drives employment. The office manager remembered me instantly and heard the purpose of my call, and the Engineer called me back that day, and the next day. We had a 2 hour meeting yesterday, and he will make a formal offer the day after Christmas. It will be for less money than I am currently making, but the work is exactly what I hoped--Getting his lab certified, and filling in on all manner of Civil Engineering field work. I know the range of pay he pays. I know I will be at the top end. I know I will accept that offer, but he doesn't know that. ( I have to make him sweat just a little.) I will supplement income with 401 payouts, or SS payments--even though SS really hammers you if you earn over $14460 a year.
My current (former) employer has no idea. He thinks it will be a 4-6 month layoff, and I will come back. If he really valued my services ( as he has said), he would have made some provision--He could have kept me on at reduced hours, he could have found some accommodation, but since completing his MBA a few years ago, he has become less of the nice guy he used to be.

All the research to SS and 401 stuff has taken away a lot of my "free" time, but its all behind me know.

Merry Christmas.

I told you that the Lord would provide.

Skid Row Joe · #5 12-22-2012, 07:53 PM

A health insurance premium of $1K a month sounds reasonable to me, based on your advancing age, since you also mentioned SS benefits. Your job sounds like it's played out for any number of reasons - some you may not be aware. It's a shame it's come down to the health insurance premium amount driving your employment focus, but you're certainly not alone in that boat. You've got a lot of company in that pursuit right now.

cmbdiesel · #6 12-22-2012, 08:45 PM

Sorry to hear it MS.... Real crappy time of year to be laid off.

Sounds like your new employment may be better suited to you, and maybe it will involve some bonuses or pay hikes for merit which will get you back to where you were.

Best of luck, and Merry Christmas!

MS Fowler · #7 12-23-2012, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Sorry to hear that. Getting laid off nowadays is serious business. My neighbor works and collects SS but he says you have to give back a percentage if you earn over that $14k number. The healthcare situation is terrible at the moment. I'd be considering early retirement were it not for the outrageous costs of health care. Obamacare may help when it kicks in in 2014. Did you check that calculator I posted a month or so ago?

No, never looked at the calculator. 2014 is a long way away.
The percentage you "give back" is $1 SS benefit for every $2 you earn over the limit. $14K is not much money. So by April/ May or so the SS is gone for the year. At least that is how I understand it.

Thanks for all your thoughts.

God is good, all the time.

Stoney · #8 12-23-2012, 10:27 AM

Been There...7 years ago after working 6 years for a firm that decided that Employees relatives and original low number alcoholic/subtance abusing employees were the ones who got the raises, I walked out on 7 days notice for a better package at a top 5 firm. I was doing my job plus my drunken bosses job and training new hires as Field Inspectors. Promises of my bosses job were made time and time again and every time it was "well we can't fire Pete! He's been here so long!".

I handled an investigation of a huge issue at a major project where the Garage floors(200,000 sq ft) were deflecting 3 1/2" and created a report that encompassed 10,000 pachometer readings and included a 3D Cad diagram. When we presented it my boss was too smashed to handle the presentation so I took over and blew the guilty firm off the map.

Two of the people in the room was a PE who I had worked for 6 years previously and her boss who was one of the creators of the modern High Strength concrete high rises in NYC.

2 weeks later when I got back from vacation my email and voice mail were full and every 2nd call/email was from her/him. We met for coffee at a Dunkin Donuts and wrote my contract on a napkin and I had a signed deal PDF by email by 5PM. It hasn't been easy, we lost our founder and reduced in force by 60% but we turned the corner this year on the serious debt we inherited from the founder ($5 million) and I have been one of the people who have been the difference, (really feels DAMN GOOD).

Since then I have watched my pervious employer get investigated for everything from Bid Rigging to ICE violations while I have built a good crew that is known for quality work and customer service. My former boss is known as Capt. Prozac (an upgrade from Jack Daniels), and I have helped all the good guys get out to other good firms. Other than my ace CAD guy who did the report with me, I never poached my previous firm, all I do is write a letter of reference and that gets them thru the door at good places.

I never looked back...and neither should you.

elchivito · #9 12-23-2012, 10:48 AM

Best of luck. We are in a similar situation with my wife's employment. She worked for a large hotel corporation for 10 years and had stellar benefits. Two weeks ago the bean counters called her and the employees she supervises in and said "Merry Christmas, we're shutting down the spa as of Dec. 29th."
I am scrambling now shopping insurance. I can go back on the plan offered through my state retirement system, but adding her and my son makes the premium skyrocket. We are very light users of benefits. A couple of cheap prescriptions for my son and I and annual physicals and bloodwork are the norm. I'm leaning towards a major medical plan for all three of us. Humana One has quoted me about 700 bucks a month for all three of us with a 2K dollar deductible, 500 deductible on meds and of course, thanks to the AHCA, all preventative doc visits and blood panels paid with zero copay and deductible waived.
Vision and dental I guess we'll pay out of pocket. Most of those private plans I'm finding are so costly they're really just a sort of prepay deal anyhow.
Good luck. When one door closes, and all that sappy crap.

cmbdiesel · #10 12-23-2012, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoney

Been There...7 years ago after working 6 years for a firm that decided that Employees relatives and original low number alcoholic/subtance abusing employees were the ones who got the raises, I walked out on 7 days notice for a better package at a top 5 firm. I was doing my job plus my drunken bosses job and training new hires as Field Inspectors. Promises of my bosses job were made time and time again and every time it was "well we can't fire Pete! He's been here so long!".

I handled an investigation of a huge issue at a major project where the Garage floors(200,000 sq ft) were deflecting 3 1/2" and created a report that encompassed 10,000 pachometer readings and included a 3D Cad diagram. When we presented it my boss was too smashed to handle the presentation so I took over and blew the guilty firm off the map.

Two of the people in the room was a PE who I had worked for 6 years previously and her boss who was one of the creators of the modern High Strength concrete high rises in NYC.

2 weeks later when I got back from vacation my email and voice mail were full and every 2nd call/email was from her/him. We met for coffee at a Dunkin Donuts and wrote my contract on a napkin and I had a signed deal PDF by email by 5PM. It hasn't been easy, we lost our founder and reduced in force by 60% but we turned the corner this year on the serious debt we inherited from the founder ($5 million) and I have been one of the people who have been the difference, (really feels DAMN GOOD).

Since then I have watched my pervious employer get investigated for everything from Bid Rigging to ICE violations while I have built a good crew that is known for quality work and customer service. My former boss is known as Capt. Prozac (an upgrade from Jack Daniels), and I have helped all the good guys get out to other good firms. Other than my ace CAD guy who did the report with me, I never poached my previous firm, all I do is write a letter of reference and that gets them thru the door at good places.

I never looked back...and neither should you.

An American Success Story! Good on ya Stoney. It is heartening to hear about a motivated and conscientious person shaping their own destiny. (I'm guessing that you reside in USA...)

I expect MS will have a similar story to share in a few years.

MS Fowler · #11 12-23-2012, 03:04 PM

Thanks all.
The fact that my new employer wants me to get his lab certified is a real rush--as well as a substantial commitment on his part in both time and $$$. I spent 3 hours on the internet this morning looking at stuff for the project. Can't wait to get going.

chilcutt · #12 12-24-2012, 03:40 AM

You can either be afraid of the future...or excited by the unknown opportunitys.

I witnessed the bottom fall out back in '08...next week will be flown to Hong Kong to discuss a new project with a very rich client.

Never give up..never give in.

oldsinner111 · #13 12-24-2012, 04:48 AM

I don't go to church because there reuplicans,but I do pray,get as many that you can to pray for you.I will be one.

MS Fowler · #14 12-24-2012, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsinner111

I don't go to church because there reuplicans,but I do pray,get as many that you can to pray for you.I will be one.

Thanks,
I hope the first part about not going to church because there are Republicans there is tongue-in-cheek. You might as well stay away because there are so many sinners there---or sick people at the hospital--or dirty cars at the car wash.
Prayers are always appreciated. ( and not for "getting" things-- but to experience the connectedness )

Stoney · #15 12-24-2012, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Thanks all.
The fact that my new employer wants me to get his lab certified is a real rush--as well as a substantial commitment on his part in both time and $$$. I spent 3 hours on the internet this morning looking at stuff for the project. Can't wait to get going.

Any help or advice needed just PM me.