As I sit here trying to figure out how we’re going to afford things and what we can scale back and what we can’t my heart goes out to all of the displaced workers all across America who won’t be having a very Merry Christmas this year.
I’m almost afraid to turn on the news because I don’t want to hear about what new company has filed for bankruptcy or what company is “scaling back” on it’s workforce. This is truly NOT going to be a happy holiday for millions of Americans across the county.
Yahoo is laying off 1,500 employees. NBC/Universal is laying off 500 employees.
Washington Mutual is slashing 1,600 jobs. New York City is cutting 3,000 city jobs. American Express will be laying off 7,000 workers. California governor Arnold Schwartzenegger says that 10,000 layoffs and 200,000 pay cuts are necessary because of the state’s dire financial straits. Continental Airlines is going to cut three thousand jobs and scaling back flights.
And as if the lay offs are not bad enough it’s heart breaking to hear of the latest company to file for bankruptcy. Just the other day my husband and I were in Circuit City. Our local store is closing and all that remains are the shelves which are available for purchase. Other companies that are closing (or in the process of closing many of it’s stores) include Bennigans, Linens ‘n Things, Bombay Company, Dillards, Disney Store, Eddie Bauer, Foot Locker, K-Bee Toys, and Sharper Image.
We have two malls local to where we live and one of the malls is literally a ghost town. There are only a small handful of stores that remain. How they survive I don’t know.
My heart goes out to everyone whose lives have been changed forever due to all the lay offs and closings. I know that this holiday season is going to be very difficult. I just hope and pray that 2009 brings a lot of changes, for the better! And that our economy will start getting better and there won’t be such massive lay offs and closings.
I’m sorry for such a “down” post. I just wanted everyone to know how much my heart breaks for everyone who is going to struggle this holiday season.