How many people do you know who've been laid off?

[DC Metro Crab]

Truthfully I don't know many, but I also have a very small social circle that includes no neighbors or relatives. I'm actually surprised because most aquaintances are in finance and high tech. Directly I know 9, 8 of those at my workplace including me. Officially my company laid off in the thousands. Acquaintances, I only know of 3. Random numbers, I've heard many, mostly in the private sector.

[whitestripe]

i don't know anyone that's lost their jobs so far.

[Emily26]

The company I used to work at laid off probably about 15 people while I was there...I also have close friends who have been laid off (some recently, some a couple months ago who have since found new jobs!)

[Coleroo]

90 of us were laid off at the end of 2007 when our company left South Carolina. Over 100 others I knew personally who were part of the same company (but located in a different state) have also since been laid off.

My good friend whom I worked with there has since been laid off again at yet another company just this month. (2 layoffs in less than 2 years has really worn her to the bone!)

My husband works in utilities and knows many construction crews, and is constantly bringing home tales and talks of lay offs of those around him. Over Christmas, his company had a temporary 2 week layoff for all employees except for my husband's crew (Thank God!).

My cousin owns a steel business and has personally laid off many of his own employees just in the last few months.

I also occasionally overhear conversations of "friends of friends" who have been laid off.

[Goldy1]

IT seems there is often a reason for layoffs. There were layoffs after 9-11 also. Nonprofits were laying off. I worked at a private business college that was laying off after 9-11 b/c of a decrease in donations.

Now it is the economy in general. Obviously it has hit hard in Michigan due to automotive losses which trickle down to most everyone here, but new areas of growth are opening up ie. multi million dollar new hospital that aims to be like a spa just went up etc.

[beebop25blue25]

I was laid off from my job a few months ago. I know of others that have been laid off too. It's effecting everyone.

[cschin4]

I know 2 who have been laid off. And, my BIL is being threatened with layoff and/or plant closing. It is getting scary. Seems we all used to take this stuff for granted and I guess we did. And, people don't seem to complain about their jobs as much either as they now know they are expendable. At my work, we have seen a downturn and many of the employees were put on part time status or told to decrease their hours. The workplace even decided to quit buying styrofoam cups for coffee!

[cschin4]

And, they seem to be laying off the wrong people! I see many places with bloated administrations, too many people wearing bosses hats who don't do much of anything and aren't involved in the actual production or generation of revenue. They need to cut from top down, not bottom up if they really want to be effective.
One example is school districts. When I was a kid, our school had ONE principal. My kids go to a school that was the same size I went to and they have multiple principals, assistant principals, superintendent, assistant super, a million administrative assistants, and on and on. It has reached new heights of absurdity.