Getting the "Pink Slip"

Welcome Back Bloggers,

Well, the rumors flying around at work were somewhat confirmed today.
The Parts/Service Director came in and sat down with the managers for a little pow wow.... My manager,Al came back and informed me that the owners are in fact closing the store. September 30,2008 is the last day of business as "Dodge".

The owners have already started the buying process to obtain a Kia franchise. They will find a place for as many employees as they can, the rest will be given a "pink slip" and will be able to collect unemployment. I suspect that the Managers will be harder to place. However, everything still has to be sent back to Chrysler, and the setting up for Kia has to be done... That should be interesting to say the least.

We were asked to go about business as usual and the employees will be told "officially" next week.

As tempting as sitting home and collecting unemployment sounds it's really not as good for me as I keep hearing about. I did some research and found how to calculate what I'd be getting paid/week through unemployment... Looks like I'd get about 50% of my normal weeks pay....Not Cool... Then it could take up to 4 weeks to see my first check, Oh sure, it will be retro active, but still... it's having enough money saved to not fall behind for 1 month.

I am fortunate enough to at least get some sort of heads up... I'm thinking that I have a few options here...

* I get offered to work back at the other Dodge Store, same pay, same benefits, same schedule, same drama... just a different location.

* I take this opportunity to get out of the Automotive Business... From what I heard the other day, Chrysler is going down hill and fast... So much in fact that they asked for a loan and were denied, but given a lesser amount just to stay in business 1 more year. Yikes... I could be looking at another lay off in 12 months....

Technically I can work a part time job and still collect unemployment as long as I don't make more than I'm collecting... So, Before the store closes... I could try to find a part time job at a Bakery or in the Bakery Dept at one of the local grocery stores and finally do something I'm passionate about. If the part time thing works out and I'm offered full time, then bonus... Otherwise I find something else before my 30 weeks are up.

* Worse case scenario.... I collect unemployment, work a part time job to make up for the difference, try to enjoy the extra time off and wait for a call back once the Kia Store is ready for business... The company being the way it is... Will want "their" employees there and would rather keep the hiring of "new" employees too as little as possible... So even IF I went back to the other Dodge store, I think my time there would be short lived, and I'd be transfered back to the old location...

So there you have it.... That's what I've come up with so far... I'm trying to think of all of the possible situations and wanting a solution.to each. If anything it's really opened my eyes to the fact that I need to be a bit more conservative and save as much as I can whenever possible... When life throws you a curve ball, I want to be ready to hit it out of the park

Not that I'm a shop-aholic... Good god no. When I'm not working, I'm home... I do get out once a week for laundry and grocery shopping, I don't even shop online.. No No, I tend to spend my extra money in a virtual world I just have to be a little more frugal, and stop dumping in $50-$100/month... That $10 here $30 there oh wait!! $20 here sure does add up.

I know that this next comment is one of the more popular cliche's... so bear with me...

But we all come to a cross road in life... maybe a few times in fact.... And you see yourself standing there and each road is marked but you still are unsure which way to go But really, all you are thinking about is being able to look back on this moment and NOT regret the choice you made.

Do you take the easy road, the more popular path...

Do you take the more difficult road, full of ups & downs with twists & turns...

Do you venture off and create your own path and hope that it's not a Dead End...

That about sums up how I'm feeling right now... I'll be sure to keep you posted...
It's getting late, I still have to get up and work a lame Saturday shift in the morning...

To Be Continued...........