Just found out I may not be loosing my Job (long)

[kcollins1 at socal.rr.com (Kevin Collins)]

Jeff Toomasson wrote:

> Hell - in this economic climate, being jobless is no fun. Hopefully, your
> new arragement will work out and things won't end up being as aggressive as
> you anticipate.

Gotta chime in.  2 weeks ago today the CEO & VP of sales of my company 
flew into California from Greenville SC for a "stealth" meeting that was 
set up in advance but never announced.  We found out they were coming 
and could come up with NO good reason for their visit since we were all 
going back to Greenville a week later for our annual sales meeting - no 
logical reason to fly all the way out here a week earlier since we'd be 
in front of them right afterwards.  In the days leading up to the visit, 
I hit on the only logical reason - closing the California office.  It's 
just a sales office with about 15-18 employees but causes all kinds of 
cost headaches for the company, the latest being a full-on Jesse 
Jackson-style shakedown by the California franchise tax board, demanding 
we pay sales tax on a bunch of shit sold out of state and drop-shipped 
into California.

I turned out to be right.  We shut down March 31.  Everyone was offered 
to relocate to our existing office in Phoenix, with full expenses plus a 
substantial relocation incentive (enough to buy about 10 very nice west 
coast Sciroccos) offered for making the move.  Those not able or willing 
to go are receiving 6 months severance + job placement assistance.  I 
immediately chose to make the move.  I was in Phoenix looking for a 
house by that weekend, found one, and my offer was accepted yesterday so 
I'm charging in full steam ahead.  $140k is buying me a 4-year-old house 
in Chandler that would cost me $450k+ here where I'm at in SoCal.  My 
incentive is more than covering the down payment & other expenses, and 
the moving expense is 100% covered on top of that.  It's great to work 
for an awesome company that truly gives a shit about its employees.

I like Phoenix and I think I'll handle the heat out there just fine. 
And for all intents and purposes, I just effectively received a huge 
raise.  Anyone on the list in the area, drop me a note offline, let's 
hook up.

-- 
Kevin Collins
Huntington Beach, CA
'86.5 16v 2.0
'02 GTI 337