h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It started just like a usual Friday: I went to work and started by checking the delivery of goods.

The PC beeped when I scanned one product. This indicated it had a different bar code from the one I had ordered. I checked, and indeed: the new product looked nearly exactly like the old one, only that it was now marked 'Bio' (ie: organic). Same cardbox, same price - but only half the content of the former product! Now, there has been a change in law not too long ago, and producers are now allowed to put little content into big boxes. This is called a 'hidden rise in price', or, in my words: a cheat. (My colleagues bought a 'cheap' package of butter the other day and thought she'd made a bargain because she didn't notice that it was only 200g instead of the 250g a package usually has).
I was really annoyed, so I went and called the producers to complain. I don't think anything will happen, but I thought I'd still let them know what I think of such a behaviour.
Well, the rest of the morning went along like any other Friday, until about 30 minutes before I finished, my boss came and said he needed to talk to me. For some odd reason, I knew he was going to give me my notice. Which he did. He'll close the shop where I work, so I'll be without a job from 31st July this year. My contract says I have three months of protection against dismissal, but by law it is six months (probably because I've worked there for more than 15 years now). As I'm not going to sue my boss (which apparently would be my right to do), I'll get redundancy payment. Furthermore, if I should find another job before August, we'll just change the notice I signed today accordingly.

It didn't really come as a surprise, as recession is taking its toll everywhere. It's still said, because I liked my work, and it was very convenient (even if I didn't earn much).
Now I'll have to think of what I'd like to do, and where, and then try to find a job. Not easy at my age.
I may have to work full-time, which would affect my lifestyle quite a lot.
Oh well.

Aaaww, B'El!

That's a shame, Bel. I hope you manage to find something soon.

I may find another job, but not something as convenient, or as well paid (my boss paid much more than I'll get anywhere else in retail).

Oh dear.

Oh no! At least it sounds like you have a reasonable boss who will write you a good recommendation if you need one.

Good luck finding something new!

At least I should get some good credentials.

Oh dear I thought we were coming out of recession! Sorry to hear this, and good luck in finding a new post.

Aww

Thanks.

It would be great if you were right, Bea, but there's no sign of that here in Germany yet.

Oh, poo...

I'm sorry to hear that you lost your job.

That's great that you have some protection. That much advance notice is unheard of in the US. Here, if they lay you off, you leave immediately and get 2 weeks' pay.

I'm still on unemployment and trying to get a freelance life to work.

Do they offer any job search helps where you are? A short course with a job search office where they helped with resumes, etc, was very useful to me back in 2005.

I've not been able to find anything paid, either.

And I can't even get unemployment, not having had a full-time job next to Uni.

The most I could qualify for is social security payments, but not until I've used up all the money I've saved for doing my Master's. (Which wasn't easy to put aside in the first place!)

Let's hope the unemployment people can help you. You live in a sliiightly bigger town, anyway, more chances there

Sorry to hear about this, Bel. I hope you find something suitable soon

I'm really sorry to hear that Bel. I thought you were going to say he was sacking you for telling off that company! This isn't much better, but at least it's not being shouted at...

Thanks all. I know most people are far worse off than me because my wages were so lw, and it's not me who earned the main family income.
But my husband often has to take a few days of his holidays and stay at home because there is no work, so even a little income helps and gives you a feeling of security.

You could try interpretor you have a good skill translating documents and articles from German to English and the other way round would be a start. Some of the product translations I have seen for equipment costing over £100,000 is quite poor.

Just find a piece of poor translation edit it and send it back to the company, with an offer to edit or translate from scratch with an hourly rate.

You never know

Good idea, Bob. I once wondered whether to do that with the digicam I bought a year or so ago. The English manual was indeed poor.

Hoggy, the boss approved of my calling the company. After all, you can't justify an increase in price by nearly 100% just because it now says 'organic'. (Plus they sneakily changed it, so if you don't tell the customers, they'll find out at home and will certainly be angry).

If you want a list of companies just shout