Conference quark::human_relations-v1

    I have faith in GOD and it helps me immensely.  You cannot foresee the
    future, and you cannot resolve anything by worrying... I know that
    there are lots of people in your same situation, but... what can be
    done? 
    
    I wish I had an answer to your question. I do not. I find lots of
    subjects to worry about, work being one of them, but there is nothing I
    can do about it so I do not worry for things that are out of my
    control... I am catholic and was taught to believe and have faith. I
    have, and it does help me a lot. I don't know what others do, just know
    what I do and what it works for me... I am ready to deal with future
    and whatever it brings... either good or bad. (I've had both) and
    remain a very optimist person.
    
    Your worries are very valid, but there's nothing you can do to change
    things because they're out of your control... so don't put extra weight
    on your shoulders, stop worrying and ready yourself for the best way of
    dealing with everyday chores... future will come soo enough!
    
    Best wishes,  Ana
    

    I agree with .2, take the Boy Scout motto to heart and "Be Prepared". 
    Check the want ads every so often to see what the job market is like,
    keep your resume' up to date (which is a good thing to do even in a
    stable job because you'll never remember that work you did back in
    '82), and keep in touch with contacts outside the company so that you
    have a "network" to use if something does happen.
                                                    
    Best of luck and hang in there,
        Larry

    re:.0
    
    I increased my marketability by taking some internal courses and by
    teaching myself other things that are in common demand in my chosen
    career, software engineering.
    
    Being laid off is still a concern, but I'm pretty sure that I've built
    myself a skill set that will make finding a job in my field simple and
    fast.
    
    Also, since I've been here a while, the package would be many tens of
    thousands of dollars, so that also makes a layoff easier to take.

    re: .0 (insurance)
    
    If you are terminated (at least this time) your health insurance will
    be continued for the number of weeks you receive in severence pay. 
    After that period ends you are entitled to continue the coverage, at
    your own expense, for a certain period of time under a federal law
    known as COBRA.
    
    The group insurance contracts for many large companies, such as
    Digital, often waive the usual pre-existing condition exclusions.
    If this is a major issue you may wish to target your job search towards
    larger corporations.

    Make vacation plans. I did was all set to leave at 9:00 am the day
    after the word on the last TFSO was to be out. IF I got the package
    I got to go on a real nice vacation if I diden't I had to get up and go
    to work instead. As it turned out I diden't get the package and
    although I was very relieved to still have a job I was somewhat
    bummed that I diden't get to go on holiday afterall.
    
    NOw with new rumors all about I am busy planning my trip where to go
    what to do, etc. It dosen't make the worry go away but it does keep
    me busy and gives me a bit of silver lining to look for in that
    big black TFSO cloud hanging over all our heads.
    
    Myself I wish we could just get this over with and move on with 
    business I know my mind isen't totaly on my job when I am worried
    and I suspect that I am not alone.
    
    FWIW- during the last TFSO I pre-accepted the fact that I would
    get laid off. My reasoning is/was that if it actually happened
    I had already started dealing with it mentaly and emotionaly
    if it diden't I was pleasantly surprised(sorta). OF the people
    I know that did get TFSO'd last time thru the one that took it
    the worst was one that firmly believed it woulden't happen to him
    and it did like a ton of bricks.
    
    I guess what I'm trying to say above is that by being prepared for the
    worst I was able to better deal with the possibility of the worst
    happening and the worry that went/goes with it.
    
    -j
    

    
    	Re .0 -
    
    	Well, first off, you did one good thing by making a posting
    in here - you talked about it. If you have a support group of friends,
    a suggestion I'd make is to share your concerns with them also.
    
    	Worry has been thought of as an "intellectual addiction". When
    it gets to the point where you've got an entrenched pathological
    relationship going with it, where it's actually manefesting life
    damaging consequences, then you might say you've got an *addiction*
    on your hands. Professional therapy might be in order, in this case.
    
    	An example of a pathological relationship that carries with it life
    damaging consequences? You "worry" so much about everything that you
    _cant get out of your own way_; you're life has become suspended in 
    worry and you're emotionally impaired from doing something constructive 
    for yourself (like Mike Z. did) - cause you're so locked into being
    worried all the time. 
    
    	Talking about it gets your concerns "out of you" and frees up
    your brain to operate on more constructive activities. If you dont
    have a circle of friends who're willing to listen to you, try writing
    these things down in detail, as you did in your .0 - any effort
    that will translate how you feel outward will help you some.

    	Hope this helps,
    
    	Joe

    
    1.  get your resume together.  If anyone's interested I have a VAX
    Document resume template I can send to you.
    
    2.  get the names of some good headhunters, or connect with friends
    outside of DEC that are in your career area, or one you want to move
    into.
    
    3.  do your job to the best of your ability.  don't be paralyzed by bad
    morale or fear.
    
    4.  when things get too crazy, just turn it over to God or some higher
    power to worry about.  you can't control it, but you can do what you do
    as well as humanly possible.
    
    5.  if you think about job hunting, think about it this way:  if you
    get laid off, make job hunting your job, 40 hours a week pounding
    pavements, sending out coverletters and resumes, interviewing, until
    you get a job you can love.  Don't settle.  
    
    
    We've had downsizing meetings in our group too and it is scary.  Have
    faith, have confidence that your skills are useful and will take you
    far in life, keep learning new things (as Mike said), and be prepared
    for the worst.
    
    -Jody
    

    I've accepted internally that I'm going to be laid off.  I have
    tentative plans for what I'm going to do.  
    
    Three years ago I left a company where I worked for 7 years, took a
    $600 a month pay cut and worked temp.  I survived.  I actually was in
    better financial shape then than I am now.  After working temp for 9
    months I was hired by Digital.  
    
    Am I concerned now?  Yes, because of the economy.  But I have really
    good skills and I know DEC, IBM and Mac computer systems so that makes
    me really marketable.  One of the other replies talked about faith.  I
    remember praying 3 years ago and telling God "Ok, I'm going to do the
    footwork down here, go to every temp job I'm offered, but I'm going to
    leave the financial stuff up to you."  I not only survived, but I
    prospered.  I'm working on building that internal faith before the
    layoff happens.  I plan on applying for outside jobs now and if I don't
    have something by the time I get laid off I'll do temp work for awhile. 
    I'll be ok, I just *know* it.
    
    Karen

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				Steve





    I have read the base note with great sympathy as probably all of us
    DECCIES have.  Having survived a double layoff, both my husband and I
    were layed off within four months of each other, I when six months
    pregnant with our daughter and he four months after her birth.  We were
    both out of work for a period of about three months.  We survived.  I
    worked as a temporary before and after the birth of our daughter, and
    as a result of the temporary positions landed a pretty good job.  He
    managed to find something as well and we met our bills.  As a result of
    that experience, we both feel more capable of handling the possibility
    a layoff.
    
    My advise, don't worry.  If a layoff is going to happen, worrying won't
    change it.  If you worry too much, it could start to affect your job
    performance and then you may cause yourself to get laid off.  Keep the
    bills down, and your confidence up.  The worst thing anyone can do is
    to think that their current job is the only job they can do.  Be
    flexible!
    
    Also, try to figure out what is the worst thing that could happen to
    you as a result of being laid off.  Is it losing your house?  Having
    just sold my beautiful home that I thought I could never live without
    and moving into temporary "rental" housing, it was not so bad having
    freedom from a mortgage.
    
    Be honest with yourself, face your fears and you may find out that
    things are not as bleak as they seem.  
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    

    I really sympathize with you.  I worry about *everything*, and
    I worry about this a lot.  One thing I find helpful is that,
    whatever happens, this job doesn't represent *me*.  It isn't
    every facet of my personality.  This could be an opportunity
    to change your life, to change your career.  Granted,
    having a family and medical concerns makes things more difficult.
    I have asthma, I worry about the medical insurance a lot.  I
    don't know how I will afford my medicine if I have to pay for
    it every month.  The suggestions about keeping your resume
    up to date are good ones.  Knowing a headhunter and keeping in
    touch with them is good too.  Have confidence in your skills
    and abilities.  Visualize yourself being successful and 
    landing on your feet.  Maybe you might want to think about
    starting a small home-based business.  It's real easy to do,
    doesn't require a huge investment a lot of the time, and 
    can help keep the wolf from the door in the event of a problem.
    It may also qualify your for small business insurance benefits, 
    which can include medical plans.  We're all worried. I don't
    think it's possible not to worry, but you can manage your
    worries and be prepared.  I always feel that if I expect the
    worst I am never disappointed -- but I am often pleasantly
    surprised... :-)
    
    Mary-Michael