Do you expect to keep your job?

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 17 Dec 2008, 11:58

I don't want to answer as I don't want to tempt fate!

peakprepper · Post by **peakprepper** » 17 Dec 2008, 19:01

I have four jobs, all self-employment, so hopefully yes.

One thing for sure: I would rather be self-employed than employed. Waiting for the axe to fall at any time must be most unpleasant, and that feeling is going to be there for a lot of people for quite a while.

welshgreen · Post by **welshgreen** » 17 Dec 2008, 19:34

yes, Im half way through my apprenticeship, and apprentices cannot be paid off. However chevron doesnt seem to be in any trouble (yet).

OrraLoon · Post by **OrraLoon** » 17 Dec 2008, 19:46

welshgreen wrote:yes, Im half way through my apprenticeship, and apprentices cannot be paid off. However chevron doesnt seem to be in any trouble (yet).

Document delivery is a job I know I'll keep. It sure was hard to find.

Bedrock Barney · Post by **Bedrock Barney** » 17 Dec 2008, 20:23

Despite working in the same industry as Ballard I've voted yes (gulp!)

Saying that we are a small (husband and wife) professional business with enough projects underway (contracts signed!) to provide us with decent fees for 18 months.

However I recognise that we are lucky (or maybe have created some of our own luck, and more importantly resisted the urge to expand a couple of years ago). The construction industry seems to be going to hell in a hand basket at the moment. Lots of anecdotal evidence of hugely declining workloads, builders going bust etc etc.

Ask me again in 6 months!

Cabrone · Post by **Cabrone** » 17 Dec 2008, 20:32

I'm self employed and a fair chunk of my work comes from the city so probably yes although I'm used to the ebb and flow of work availability.

Also being energy aware means that made large cuts to living costs for several years now so I'll be OK (wish I didn't have a mortgage though).

Kentucky Fried Panda · Post by **Kentucky Fried Panda** » 17 Dec 2008, 21:01

I did expect to lose my job, so I quit. Currently looking for another one, is it cheeky to ask for more money than I'm on at present job?

J. R. Ewing · Post by **J. R. Ewing** » 17 Dec 2008, 22:14

I'll still be working, probably be getting a promotion too.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 18 Dec 2008, 08:28

I'm self employed in a niche corner of buildings repair, for which I guess there will be demand for as long as we need shelter.

From the global warming/saving the planet point of view the worse the global recession the better. It's clear that humanity are incapable of voluntarily leaving all the black stuff underground so the destruction of industry has to be the next best.

Our attention ought now to focus on how we can share the pain. It's just not good enough for the folk who are forced into unemployment to bear the burden of saving humanity.

We need to find ways of re-employing people in sustainable forms of economic acivity and taxing those who are still earning in the unsustainable sector to pay for the transition.

Andy_K · Post by **Andy_K** » 18 Dec 2008, 09:45

So... either powerswitchers are expecting 30% unemployment by this time next year, or we've all chosen jobs which are extremely vulnerable in any economic setback. One of those suggests we're very pessimistic, the other that we're very stupid

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 18 Dec 2008, 09:56

Outside government, 30% might be optimistic.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 18 Dec 2008, 11:28

I need to find or create a source of income in 2009. Maybe a proper job, but as I haven't had one of those for over 20 years that's not my preferred option. I'm still self employed, even though my business isn't trading at the moment, so it may be going back to doing accounts for small businesses. Providing businesses with the information they need to survive should be important to them, but I really need to be based somewhere to attract work.

Doing lots of volunteering and WWOOFing is another option. Free parking and food would take a massive chunk out of my living costs, and the interest on my capital should cover van maintenance, diesel and a bit of travel.

Ideally I would buy (on my own or as part of a group) a place where I can live, generate income from letting accommodation and land to people who can't afford to buy, growing and making stuff instead of working to buy it, finding other sources of income that can be generated from the site, and maybe doing some accounts or IT stuff to make up the difference. This is what I'm wandering around searching for.

Having spent nearly 2/3 of my working life not sitting in someone else's office from 9-5, I think the rest of my sanity would go if I had to do it again!

So I haven't got work to lose, but need to find a way to live sustainably that involves generating some income.

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 18 Dec 2008, 12:11

JohnB wrote:generate income from letting accommodation and land to people who can't afford to buy

Evil capitalist - exploiting those who can't afford their own land!

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 18 Dec 2008, 12:34

Tess wrote:Evil capitalist - exploiting those who can't afford their own land!

They can live in cardboard boxes on the street, or in grotty overpriced, uninsulated, rat infested BTL hovels instead

stumuz · Post by **stumuz** » 18 Dec 2008, 14:03

JohnB wrote: grotty overpriced, uninsulated, rat infested BTL hovels instead

So you would be 'Buying' this place 'To' 'Let' it out to people who could not afford to buy.

No, no contradiction there!

Do you expect to keep your job?

Do you expect to keep your job until Xmas 2009?