Bombs Away!
When I got to work this morning, I was told by a fellow employee that there was a meeting in our conference room. I changed my shoes and grabbed my safety gear, clocked in, and walked into the large conference room where all our meetings are held. The room was packed with employees - several guys from the previous shift, a small group from the facility next door, and a few salary people.
After a few minutes, the side door of the conference room opened and a small procession of the "corporate elite" slowly lumbered through the door. It was very quiet; the expressions on the faces of these men were set and somber.
One of the corporate guys, an HR rep from company headquarters, stood at the front of the conference room and told us how great of a job our facility has done over the years. However, in spite of our excellent workmanship, the company has decided to close the doors on our facility in order to save money. The first round of layoffs begin in May, and the doors are expected to finally close in November.
What a way to start 2008 . . .
- Wes
After a few minutes, the side door of the conference room opened and a small procession of the "corporate elite" slowly lumbered through the door. It was very quiet; the expressions on the faces of these men were set and somber.
One of the corporate guys, an HR rep from company headquarters, stood at the front of the conference room and told us how great of a job our facility has done over the years. However, in spite of our excellent workmanship, the company has decided to close the doors on our facility in order to save money. The first round of layoffs begin in May, and the doors are expected to finally close in November.
What a way to start 2008 . . .
- Wes
Labels: Randomness
posted by Wes at 4:08 PM
23 Comments:
SUCK IT FINE PAPER!
4:44 PMI'll probably have to eventually phase Murray out of the comic strip, now!
5:05 PMThat sucks!
- Wes
You don't have to phase Murray out, he can get a new job at the same place as Andy.
5:32 PMOh, and I forgot to say, that sucks about your job. Good Luck in finding a replacement day job, and here's hoping you don't have to "Keep your day Job" too much longer anyway.
5:34 PMSorry about your job. That sucks hard, man. Like Steve commented just before me, hopefully your cartooning gig will kick in a bit more this year and you won't have to worry about a "day job" too much longer anyway.
5:37 PMThat really blows, man. Like the others have said, though, maybe this will help you transition into a cartooning career.
6:05 PMWell, crap, brudda.
6:33 PMYa know, I have to agree with Steve, Nick, and Jack: You'll bounce back, I'm sure. This gives you more time to contemplate how you'll adjust when my Chipotle Army takes control of society.
You COULD move to Texas, dude. We've got a massive cartoon circuit down here. ^_-
Thanks for the encouragment guys! It's definitely a sucky time, but Trish and I will get through it. I doubt that the comic strip will really take off (though it'd be nice if it did), but that doesn't mean I'm gonna stop producing them. It's times like these that I'm glad I've got the strip to distract from the real world.
8:16 PM- Wes
sorry to hear that dude - I hope things work out for you in the future.
8:47 PMWes, sorry to hear your caught in the mess at NP. I had hoped you were at the big G. This is going to hurt alot of good people in the hometown yourself included.
9:30 PMAll the more encouragement for futhering your education, huh? Look at it this way you should qualify for more financial aid now--just trying to lighten the mood ;)
You said above you didn't see the strip taking off. I wouldn't be too quick to discount the strip. You have a quality product in YHT. Maybe now is the time to figure out a new way to market it.
Good luck with everything. I think I can speak for just about eveyone who visits this site in hoping the best for you.
Keep looking for the Big new door that is about to open for you. Think of all the 'Good times' He has given you. We will be praying for all you MC2 folks.
9:30 PMJer. 29:10
The best of luck to you. ]: They sure mean business, acting on it as fast as they are. But, one door closes and another one opens.
10:42 PMBest of luck Wes. Just know that there are fans of yours anxiously awaiting the 3rd book :) It's not much I guess, but I figure it's a good way to support! Hang in there!
12:00 AMI got laid off from an insurance firm (where I met my darling wife) right as I was graduating from university, found a better-paying technical job I hated (but learned a great deal), which elevated me to a new job where I make 2x more. Just showing you that you are where you are for a reason, you leave for new grasses for a reason. I am hella happier now than before, and I scored a wife and valuable otj training from two scrub jobs. Boom goes the dynamite.
11:12 AMA wise man once said, "Don't stop believin'." I think it was Steve Perry. And, y'know, New Testament John. And both rocked.
Wes, this obviously sucks to high heaven. The nice thing is that you do have time to figure things out, but it still blows. I think YHT has terrific potential with the syndicates. I'm honestly surprised you don't already have a deal. It just seems perfect for it. However it goes with YHT, I have no doubt you'll land back on your feet.
12:39 PMMan, you guys are, like, TOTALLY AWESOME! I really appreciate all the words of encouragement! You don't know how much they mean to me!
3:53 PMTrish and I are gonna be alright. God totally hooked me up by altering her brain waves so she'd marry me.
I'm glad some of you are anxiously awaiting YHT Vol. 3, but that book is limbo right now. The first two books haven't sold very well, and I think that Viper is reluctant to publish another book. Time will tell, though.
And, Brock, maybe I SHOULD try to submit to syndicates again. Just to see what happens . . .
- Wes
I freely advertise for you on my blog and other places. Not because we have communicated, or because you have a good fasion sense, but because I like your comic strip.
7:38 PMIf it was pitched right it'd make a great sitcom.
I have and will always support you Wes Molbash...to the END.
This is madness...
Madness? This IS MOLBASH!!!
Hey,
12:14 AMDon't think of this as a lost job, but more of a gained opportunity. At least you have tons of time to plan!
-Andrew
Grr. Blogger decided to eat the overly long comment that I was trying to leave. Figures.
7:16 AMAnyway, Wes, definitely try to shop your strip around for syndication; the worst that they can tell you is that they're not currently interested, and what do you lose in that case, exactly? I'd assume that it isn't much.
In the meantime (especially up until whenever you do finally get hit with the lay offs), scour the classifieds, Craigslist, Monster, the jobs page in your local paper online, etc. You might very well come up with a new job before they let you go (or shortly thereafter). You should also get some kind of severance package, and you should be able to collect unemployment, for what that's worth. I'd try to look at it as an opportunity, because you very well could meet with success with your comic in the meantime, and you may very well find a better job. Speaking from experience: I've worked in at least a few places where only apathy and inertia kept me there, and sometimes being forced to get a new job can be a great thing. I know lots of people who have been in the same spot before, and the change has done wonders for them. As trite as it is, try to look on the bright side.
Also, should you need to, especially after the lay offs come, you may want to consider supplementing your income by offering sketches on eBay and/or offering a donation wallpaper here.
Based on the responses so far, you've got a number of fans who care about your well-being and the success of your strip.
Good luck!
m0ri
Tough break!
9:51 AMI was laid off on December 10th - Merry Freakin' Christmas to me, eh? Bah!
I'm enjoying the sleeping till noon part of unemployment, though. :)
Wes:
10:20 AMI highly suggest trying the syndicates. As an addict of the strip, it's been very much fun watching the characters grow and deepen. I find it interesting that you were concerned with Murray at the beginning of this thread. As much as that writing is based in reality, there is also a level of imagination required. Just as with the Cat cartoons you did a while ago this may be a chance to see where the characters go when imagination takes over for reality as the driving force in creating their lives. One thing I've learned (or am learning) over the past 4 months is that the possibilities really are endless, the limits that exist are only there to guide us in the path of life.
Wes,
10:25 AMSorry to hear about the job situation. Look at it not as a door closing, but as a new door opening. Hope everything works out for you and yours.
It's been touch and go at that facility since Mead sold out. This may very well be the death knell of the town. Kenworth alone can not sustain the economy.
It's sad really, Chilli is a great little burg.
Well, I feel your pain, for what it's worth. My shop just started cutbacks, as well. We've only gone to a shorter work week so far, but our union contract is only going to let that go on for so long, and I can definitely see the layoffs in the near future, as well…
8:48 PMRest assured, though, that things *do* get better.
Save me a place in the bread line, wouldja? ;)
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