Must be the day for HR changes.

...found out they will be letting my co-worker go. I'm told my job is safe. Now where's my raise?

got done talking to my 53rd employee in the last 10 days. We did a 15% pay cut to save some branches and to keep from laying more people off. I've had one on one meeting with 53 people since last Tuesday talking them down off ledges and helping them understand their job is still here.

it's emotionally taxing and I'm really tired of talking to people and being understanding.

alanzona wrote: I'm really tired of talking to people and being understanding.

:clap:

Its hard to fake empathy sometimes

:)=) Hey, I took a 15% pay cut too, PLUS the elemination of all bonus for this year. The bonus portion alone was a hit that you don't just "cut back on eating out" to adjust for... I'm empathetic, but I'm also apreciative that I still have a job. I'm grateful that it's a good job, and I'm grateful the Lord has blessed Jennifer and I. I'm just saying that I get tired being that "open" because it takes a lot of energy to be empathetic and to be a good listener.

Carry on. I'll take my emotional side elsewhere. :rockon:

alanzona wrote::)=) Hey, I took a 15% pay cut too, PLUS the elemination of all bonus for this year. The bonus portion alone was a hit that you don't just "cut back on eating out" to adjust for... I'm empathetic, but I'm also apreciative that I still have a job. I'm grateful that it's a good job, and I'm grateful the Lord has blessed Jennifer and I. I'm just saying that I get tired being that "open" because it takes a lot of energy to be empathetic and to be a good listener.

Carry on. I'll take my emotional side elsewhere. :rockon:

Alan, I agree with you. However I sometimes question whether across the board pay cuts just to save some physical locations/jobs etc... is not the best way to go about it (not saying it was your decision). I say this because for a decent sized organization the brick and motar costs along with employee costs are significant and while no one ever wants to close part of their business it can be an effective way of strengthening the brand in the future. Plus when you cut everyone's pay then you get them all pissed at you and then have to spend the time talking with all of them. :lol:

I agree with you, Jack. We'd already cut $4.7M in spending, not rehiring into positions, and layoff. We've gone from 341 employees a year ago, to 219 now. To cut the work force any more would significantly hinder our ability to actually deliver our product. The market drop the past year has resulting in $15M worth of revenue just "gone", since 60% of our revenue is derived from assets under management and we are a fee only advisor service.

Also, we did create and release a whole new serive offering, which is built on a renewable subscription model, instead of episodic consulting that's hard to forecast. With this renewal, scalable model, we'll have $9M in revenue from existing clients in 2010, allowing us to lift the pay cuts and continue to grow our business and insulate ourselves from the market having such a tremendous impact on our business.

We have 9 branch offices accross the country, and the Houston branch was the only one with a lease up this year, so closing branches wouldn't help the bottom line and was the wrong message for the market place.

I've been so incredibly impressed with the character, integrity, and sense of family that those still with our organization have shown in accepting the temporary paycuts as a means to bridge into next year. I work with some really classy people.

Sorry to bring so much work into the forum, but it's heavy on my mind, my heart, and my soul. I know when you see news reports it's just numbers and percentages, but when you are donig it, it's people, families, mortgages, and dreams. That's what makes us human and I'd be worried about people that don't stay awake at night when times are like this.

Thanks for letting me rant.

alanzona wrote:

Also, we did create and release a whole new serive offering, which is built on a renewable subscription model, instead of episodic consulting that's hard to forecast.

Cool most of the IT companies I deal with have their consulting and support setup on a subscription model too. I know for our Stratus servers we have here in Phoenix we pay out over 100k a month to the company for consulting. In addition to the 100k a month we pay them an on site consulting fee if they have to make the trip here

Are you going to charge extra for in person consulting too?

offroadaz wrote:Are you going to charge extra for in person consulting too?

Yes. We're calling them "strategic consutling modules" and they are $10K for four days onsite, plus travel expenses.

found out Michael Jackson and Farrah died

Yeah Alan I know what you mean. Unfortunately most mid sized companies don't do the homework that yours has done first and just use across the board paycuts that actually tend to be a negating factor to resurrection of service levels and therefore revenue. Your company seems to have done a nice job of reading the market place and resolving yourselves to the necessary changes in structure and product offering to survive. Too many companies now days try to survive on existing product offering by only reducing costs. Cost reduction as a form of revenue gains is such a sorry way for a company to progress.

And I just heard that Micheal Jackson died of a Heart Attack.

Dozzer wrote:Cost reduction as a form of revenue gains is such a sorry way for a company to progress.

Well said, Jack. Wish you worked with me. :)=)

alanzona wrote:Well said, Jack. Wish you worked with me. :)=)

Well hook it up Mr. VP. :lol:

I worked for a company the past 11 years that used that song and dance to appease the street. Bringing on new products in a half scale model without the full weight of the organization behind them and at the same time continually announcing 150 million cost savings initiatives. We never once beat the street based on revenue projections in the last 4 years I was there.

I found a new avatar for Bob on the site that banned him for his avatar:

just made this sticker



And printed out some large and laminated foam board mounted Canyon de Chelly pics

made a payment on the jeep:eyeroll:

Skatchkins wrote:just made this sticker



And printed out some large and laminated foam board mounted Canyon de Chelly pics

Me likey. Is this going to be a new thing?

Jonathan just... met J Ennis at my niece's softball game. He pulled up in his rig and knew it was him from the pics online.

I just got home and found a case of red bull and a note from randy and paula. Thanks!

I just met Jonathan over at Washington Park. Just happened to be drivin by after work and noticed that wonderful yellow jeep parked on the street. pulled up and he came walkin up.

fatbob309 wrote:I just got home and found a case of red bull and a note from randy and paula. Thanks!

:clap: