Key People

[Tranimatronic]

Hey all.
So my work has just "temporarily laid off" 30 people (me included). They also owe me for the last 2 weeks pay - and dont have the money to pay anyone. Because its temporary this means they dont have to pay severance, holiday pay OR banked overtime.

They have 60 days to come up with something until the 'temporaryness' wears off and then I am able to seek new work. Until then I have to sit on my behind and contemplate my navel, as I have been informed I am still under contract. Great.
At any time they can ask me to come back and my decision then will influence my eligibility for unemployment insurance. Even better.

The good news is that I am considered a "key member of staff" as, according to the managing director, without me they could not produce anything, and they will contact me soon, and I will be the first one they bring back. If I hadnt been so good at my job they would have just let me go right now.

How that news lifted a weight off my mind ! Ill tell that one to the bank manager when im explaing why my mortgage payment is late.

Weve all been here - (once before for me) the thing that bothers me is why these people refuse to admit they are beaten. Why I must wait 60 days without pay but still under 'contract' before the government steps in, because I am good at my job and they dont want to let me go. Its like a chicken running around after its head has been cut off. It doesnt know its dead.

Anyhow for the next couple of weeks I have NOTHING to do - my resume is complete and Im just waiting to hear back from anyone interested.

So if anyone is looking for help drop me a line. For the nex few weeks Ill pitch in for free, as long as I can add it to my showreel. Preference given to anyone interested in hiring me after my 60 days are up.

Ive been a LW user since v4.5 im also a programmer specialising in asset management. Ive also spent 2 years doing stereographic 3d.

Cheers

tr at tranimatronic dot co dot uk

ps dont let the email address fool you - im in Canada

[CC Rider]

That's a bit confusing isn't it??
Isn't there something in the 'contract' about getting paid?
Sorry you have to deal with that man! That really stinks!

Good luck to you whenever you get your feet back!

by the way...your avatar looks like he craps bigger than my avatar!

:D

[Tranimatronic]

the contract is a bit odd. Im having someone look at it right now.
I just wish they would tell the truth rather than just have people sitting around waiting for them to call.

My avatar is Lilly. She wasnt very happy that day. She used to hoard breadsticks in her bed and I had just cleaned them out & threw them away. She was an utter coward. Rabbits frightened her. Like most women you KNEW when she wasnt pleased with you ;)

Thanks for the good wishes !

Trevor

[Matt]

I tell ya, this global financial meltdown is affecting everything and everyone. Where I work we have been very light on work, there's a few projects running, but nowhere near the usual level.

I fear that if it continues like this for another few months we'll be having the "we've run out of money so we're letting you all go" conversation.

Personally I've never been out of work, so the prospect of being back on the market with the way things are (no jobs and LOTS of people looking for one) is a very daunting prospect.

I just hope we can hang in there enough to see this through.

It really is an awful time for everyone, apart from maybe the greedy bankers who created this mess who still have a ton of spare cash from their lovely fat bonuses.

I'll be glad when this year (and possibly the next) is over.

All you can do is make sure you're the absolute best you can be at whatever it is you do, so as to beat any competition to any rare jobs that are out there.

Either that or train yourself up in new skills that make you a more promising asset.

[probiner]

I'll be glad when this year (and possibly the next) is over.


We never know if what is comming is worst afterall... Altough broken it is the same world we knew. Sometimes what changes the world are the decisions taken after bad times. For good or bad.

Having faith helps :) But thats personal.

Good luck everyone (me included, eheh)

[Andyjaggy]

Times suck for sure. The medical field is a good place to be. We are actually trying to hire people, though we can't find anyone around here who is very good.

[JamesCurtis]

Hey Andy, are you refering to artists and animators/modelers or are you refering to medically trained individuals?

[adamredwoods]

Times suck for sure. The medical field is a good place to be. We are actually trying to hire people, though we can't find anyone around here who is very good.

This is true. Couple biomarketing places around here are soaking up 3D artists and compositors.

iPhone games are big around here too.

Times are a changing. Keep our ears to the ground, keep networking.

[Tranimatronic]

kay now it has gotten more bizarre.
I got the call to go back in.

The 'job that might save the company' has come in and the bosses have no clue how to go about doing it. They want me to put them on the right track.

Afterwards im not sure what will happen.
They still owe me for last paycheck. If I refuse to go in I am refusing work and they can make it very difficult for me claiming unemployment insurance. If I do go in im doing it for nothing.

Im contacting a lawyer

So Andy - what would you want to see in a showreel for the medical field ? When you say good do you mean nice looking or medically accurate ?

[accom]

Has anyone consider photostock sites, the ones that sell pictures on-line? Whenever I have some time to play around with LW, I try to produce something that would sell there... Part of my job is also designing some printed materials (a monthly magazine, some POS stuff, sales folders etc. for merchendisers and advertising) and I buy aproximatly 40-60 pictures monthly, quite a few of them are renders. Maybe that could be a nice pocket money, in the long run even more.

I realise it doesn't solve the short term financial problems, but it's just my five pence in the debate. :)