Who gets cut?
@britany_renee (156)
United States
December 1, 2008 9:39am CST
I just posted about jobs in our downed economy, and it got me to thinking....
Here's a scenario, and I would love to know what you would do in this situation:
You and your co-worker have grown to be best friends. You have work at your place of business about the same length of time as you now best friend.
One day, while at work, your boss calls you and your friend into his office and says that the business is struggling and a job has to be cut. You are both equally valuable to the company and he is having a hard time deciding. He gives you both 24 hours and then you must come, individually, back into the office to give your reasons why you should keep your job and your best friend should be laid off.
What would you do?
Would you fight for your job, knowing you have kids at home to feed, and your husband (or wife) alone could not make the bills...or would you let your best friend have the job, knowing that she is a single mother (or father) raising her kids alone?
I want you to be honest. I don't know what I would do. that would be soooo hard!!! I have children, and I know that there isn't a parent out there that wants their child to suffer...but then again, your best friend has children and no one to help her like you have the second income coming in....
what would you do?
3 responses
@marty3888 (2355)
• Acme, Michigan
1 Dec 08
Well, I have been out of a job since April. My experience is in Customer Service. There have been some jobs that I hve not been able to respond to. They require 40 - 45 WPM typing speed. They need you to be proficient in excel. I know a little about it but am not proficient. I don't know Quickbooks. I had been worlong for the company for almost 8 years before being let go, I got many raises. So far, I have been able to pay the mortgage on the unemployment checks. amount of unemployment is based on how much you made. So I would look at both of our situations and experience. If it looked like this other person would not have as hard as a time looking for a job as me, I would fight for my job. If I had skills that are needed that he didn't have, I might let him keep his job, as long as the employer said I can say I was laid off, because if you quit a job, you don't get unemployment. What I don't know what I would do is whether I would tell my wife that I quit. She might not be too happy about that.
@britany_renee (156)
• United States
11 May 09
I am so sorry to hear that, Marty!! I hope things go well for you! Good Luck!
@msmargo (361)
• United States
2 Dec 08
Wow! This is a tough one! Is your boss laying this on the both of you? If so, your boss should be looking at job security. You have no way of knowing if your hubby will lose his job. With his income, the deck is stacked in your favor. Something to think about: you or your co-worker have no guarantee that if one of you goes first, the other will probably be right after the other. Maybe not the same day, but laid off anyway. Have you given any thought to job sharing? You each do half of the job every other day? As one who lost my job in 2006, I was in the first round of layoffs, and several more have come later, along with closing of offices. Good luck to you and your friend.
@missybear (11391)
• United States
2 Dec 08
Times are tough right now, and i think best friend or not
I would try everything to keep my job.
I'm sure she would do the same.
