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[[deleted user]]

That is absolutely terrible Peggy! Can they do that legally? I'm not sure where your parents live or the type of contract your Dad was under but here in the UK you cannot just fire a person without a good reason! Hopefully this will turn out to be a blessing in disguise for your parents but still....

[Travis]

So sad for your dad Peggy. You see it more and more trying to get rid of experience to hire cheap labor

[Stephanie]

Oh no, Peggy! So sorry to hear about your Dad :( can the company just fire people at will? Can your dad take legal action against them?

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm sorry, Peggy... I agree with Travis. There's no respect for the people who has given their lives to make a company grow. That's so wrong! I can't believe they couldn't wait another 5 years, or at least make this and agreed retirement.

[Peggy]

Thanks everyone :)

I also thought it wasn't possible, but apparently they can. They do plan to pay him 70% of his salary for 2 years, and the other 3 years until his retirement he would get 70% through governmental payment (don't know the English name) which is standard for people who lost their job. They are looking into the legal aspect now though, to see if it is indeed allowed like that or whether they are obliged to give my dad is full wages for example.

[Tasha]

Wow, that's shocking Peggy! I can completely understand your feelings on this.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Jeez Peggy. That's pretty horrible news!

If you were in Australia, I'd tell you to get your Dad to contact his union, or one for his industry if he isn't a member. Here in Aus, they are happy to help even if you're not a member, and know the laws around the professions backwards (I am an ex-organiser, so I think unions are pretty useful).

Although in Australia, it sounds like the word we would use is redundant, not fired, as he's getting a pay out. Still sucks, but he's getting something. If you get fired here you are owed nothing. Hope he is okay. Screw all the money stuff, that's the important thing.

[Lisa]

That's horrible news Peggy! I'm sorry to hear it.

It seems that there is so little respect for many hard working people these days. The more you give and put in, the less you seem to get in return.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Besides the economic aspect of this, it's horrible how it seems nobody cares about make the older people feel useless. There's no need of doing this in this way. Not at all.

[Peggy]

Oh yes, maybe it's redundant. The new manager is very young and just enforces his rules without listening to the people who have been working there for years. With the previous manager my dad had arranged that he could have fridays off, but the new guy has taken away his free fridays already 25 times this year. My dad has complained about this and also stood up for colleagues of his who were mistreated. I think they might find him too annoying. It's a shame, it used to be a great company to work for.

Indeed, like you say Sandra, where's the humanity? Rob says it's all about money and I know it is, no matter how I hate that, but you can still treat people normally..

Thanks for all your support :)

[Lynda]

Oh, Peggy, that's terrible. Some managers come in and take over, without having any understanding of what it takes to make a company work. They assume their preconceived ideas are correct, and act as though they're sacrosanct.

In the state I live in, Washington, employment is at will, meaning an employer can let anyone go at anytime, and vice versa, an employee can quit at any time for any reason. Except, there are protected classes: race, gender, age, religion, and sexual preference. You can't fire anyone related to these areas. (This varies state to state, although there are some federal protections for some of those classes...race and religion are protected in the constitution, for instance).

If companies want to develop a younger work force, many people are offered early retirement, or if on contract, a pay-out which is often stipulated in their work agreement. It's a shame, though, because while you can often find a younger, cheaper body to replace someone. You can't replace 46 years of institutional memory, and that is invaluable to a company.

[Berit☀️✨]

Peggy, maybe it is a blessing in disguise's, although when things don't go the way you see planned, it is always very hard!

My dad who was an aeronautical engineer took early retirement, because it was based on interest rate or something, then went back to his company and contracted for over 10 years, they finally did not renew his contract last year, for many reasons, and he ended up moving with my mom out towards me, and is really enjoying all the time he gets to spend with the grandchildren :-) he was a true workaholic, but I think he is really enjoying the time he has now!

[Stephanie]

This was a few years ago but my mom got fired from her job. She worked for them for 11 years and the son of the owner was starting to take over the company. They couldn't prove it, but they wanted younger people there. When they fired her, they told her that she was a good fit for the company and that there were on going performance issues. They never did reviews or anything so we figured it was just a load of crap :( oh well.:she is working with my dad now and is really happy to be doing that. Things always work out :)

[Kandice]

Peggy wrote: "My mom just called to say my dad got fired from his job, quite unexpectedly. He's worked there for 46 years and had expected to stay there until his retirement in 5 years, but now they just fired h..."

I am so sorry! I know finances are very important, but they seem almost the least of the issues in the scenario. Like you said, he's devoted such a huge chunk of life to that job and to be just cut free...horrid.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm really sorry to hear that news, Peggy. How stressful for your father and how betrayed he must feel.

[Joan]

Peggy, sorry to hear that - I hope your Dad can remember that it was probably not about him or the value of his work but more about the new manager's need to assert himself and company politics.

[Travis]

Voted for goodreads choice. I really didn't read many books to vote for this year. A couple I voted were the only book in the category I read yet I feel like they probably weren't the best ib the category but I hadn't read any others

[Peggy]

I'm every year again surprised at myself that I managed to read none of the books. I think I'm always a year behind, reading last year's books, instead of the new ones.

I have 10 of the 15 HF nominations on my TBR already, but none of them read. Well, one actually through Netgalley, but I feel weird voting for that one book when I think I might like others better.

[Tasha]

I know what you mean, Peggy. I have a hard time voting when I haven't read the books, even though they may be on my tbr. I"m always feel behind as well.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm generally behind too, but this year it seems I'm just out... Only voted in 2 categories: mystery and picture books.

BTW Travis, How are you feeling?

[Travis]

Thanks for asking Sandra I am back normal. My nasal spray had been giving me a sinus headache but even that has gone away now. Good thing simce I have to take it for one more week.

[Berit☀️✨]

Oh goody! I get to vote? I've never done this before :-) I haven't even looked yet, TBH

[Lisa]

I'm like you Peggy and Tasha, I always feel behind when it comes to books.

I have only voted in 1 category, mystery and thriller. It was the only category where I had read a couple of the nominated books. I do have several other nominated books on my TBR but I don't like to vote for them unless I have actually read them and rated them fairly highly. The book I voted for was a 5 star read for me.

[Janice, Moderator]

It's interesting that Winter has been nominated when it hasn't even been released yet.

[Berit☀️✨]

I thought the same thing, I absolutely adore that series, and I've already pre-ordered that book, but I can't vote for a book I have never read.

[Kandice]

I only got to vote in a few categories as well and feel I cheated in one. I voted for Carry On which I've only read a bit of, but I have absolutely adored every word I've read of hers so feel it would be my choice even though I've read a few others in that category.

[Travis]

The good reads choice is favortism to authors more than the books. In my opinion.

[Casceil]

Of all the books nominated in all categories, I found that I had only read one. I read a lot, but I guess not that much of what I read is current releases.

[Janice, Moderator]

Berit wrote: "I thought the same thing, I absolutely adore that series, and I've already pre-ordered that book, but I can't vote for a book I have never read."

I think the voting is very subjective and that people vote for books they haven't read. It appears to be encouraged. In the section "Nominees on your shelves", both books listed were on my wishlist and obviously not read.

I did vote in one category for the only book I had read which to me is iffy. I mean, how can I vote for "the best" when I haven't read the others? Perhaps I may have liked other books better if I had read them.

[Bella]

Janice wrote: "Berit wrote: "I thought the same thing, I absolutely adore that series, and I've already pre-ordered that book, but I can't vote for a book I have never read."

I think the voting is very subjectiv..."

I'm actually going to vote for a book I haven't read. I know this sounds snobby, but in the "Debut Author" category they have erotica authors. Really? Side by side with a Booker nominee? I mean, I read cozy mysteries and other kinds of fluff, but as much as I may like them...if they were up in that category I wouldn't vote for them.

[KimeyDiann]

I hadn't read a single book that had been nominated and only had a couple of them on my TBR. But now I have quite a few of them added.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Thanks for asking Sandra I am back normal. My nasal spray had been giving me a sinus headache but even that has gone away now. Good thing simce I have to take it for one more week."

I'm glad to hear that. Lungs/respiratory infections easily move into something worse, specially when you don't have the chance of stay in bed until completely recovering, as it's your case.

[Cherie]

Casceil wrote: "Of all the books nominated in all categories, I found that I had only read one. I read a lot, but I guess not that much of what I read is current releases."

I am in the same category, Casceil. ;)
I only read one and I didn't vote for it. I only saw three books that I have actually added to my TBR list.

[Lynda]

I was wondering if I'd have read any of the books nominated. I just don't ever really pay attention to when a book is published, unless it's something I've been eagerly awaiting...for years and years...*cough*GRMM*cough*.

Update: I totally only voted for four books, which is actually two more than what GR thinks I read, so there's that.

[Peggy]

The weirdest thing just happened! My sister left for a holiday on Bali on Monday, but she's stuck in Singapore because of the vulcanic activity and the closing of Denpasar airport (she's not complaining, they're staying in 5 star resort where the cheapest room is 228 euros per night, paid for by KLM).

I was reading the online news about it and there were pictures of people stranded at the airport, and I thought 'Ha! It would be so funny if my sister was on a picture!' And I open the pictures, and there she is, and I'm all excited sending messages to her. Then she tells me that it can't be her, because the pictures were taken on Bali airport, and she was not wearing shorts and a white top. But wow. Identical!! (in another picture there's a close-up of the girl and it's definitely not my sister, but in that shot from a bit further away, I can't believe it's not her)

[Sarah]

Sorry I've been AWOL - I have ran out of data on the boat internet. We've been going stir crazy. Clearly I downloaded way too many films this month. But it was worth it for The Labyrinth! And my t-shirt arrived too although not until the day after. I might have to do a rewatch with the t-shirt on ;-) I'm at the cafe at the moment checking in but I should have more data by this evening then everything should be back to normal. I have severe GR withdrawals now but I did manage to read much more of my books.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Urgh, sorry to hear your sister is caught up in that mess Peggy. It's been happening every couple of months at the moment with all Bali airports closed. Different volcanos each time i heard today, which I think concerns me more...

Singapore is great, although I'm not sure I would want to be there at the moment with the volcanic ash and all the smog from the bushfires in Indonesia running rampant like they do every year. But paid for accommodation is great, and there is so much to explore (and EAT!!!)

[Lisa]

Sorry to hear about your sister Peggy. At least they are staying in a nice hotel that's all been paid for by the airline. I guess they just have to play the waiting game now. Hopefully the volcanic activity on Bali will stop soon.

This brings back memories of the travel chaos that was caused back in 2010 when that volcano in Iceland erupted and European airspace was closed. It was so weird not seeing any planes flying for several days.

[Sarah]

Just had a look at the Goodreads Choice nominees. I've not read many of them at all. I've voted on a couple - mainly the ones I've read but I did also vote on one I didn't which was in the fantasy category (The Skull Throne) as the series is my favourite, I own this book and I just know it will be amazing.

Sounds like your sister has fallen on her feet Peggy. I hadn't heard about what was happening over there so I will have to go check out the news.

[Lynda]

That's (kind of) a bummer about your sister, Peggy, but glad she got some choice accommodation out of the inconvenience. I love nice hotels!

Oh, man, Sarah, I haven't watched Labyrinth is so, so long! That's totally worth using all your data on. I think I could still probably recite the whole movie by heart. I might have to go pull out my deluxe edition DVD set and rewatch that someday soon.

[Anne (Booklady)]

My brother in Law passed away suddenly yesterday afternoon. My sister tried to revive him, but to no avail. Please keep Patrice and the rest of my family in your thoughts and prayers. We are still in a state of shock. Pat was only 57.

[Janice, Moderator]

Aww, Anne! I'm very sorry to hear your news. You and your family will be in my thoughts.

[Peggy]

I'm so sorry to hear that Anne.

[Lisa]

I'm so sorry to hear that Anne. You will all be in my thoughts.

[Canadian Dragon]

I am so sorry to hear that Anne, your family will be in my thoughts

[Sarah]

Just catching up on the posts and I seem to have missed a few when I was on yesterday.

@Peggy - Sorry to hear about your dad Peggy. Very frustrating. My dad has been made redundant many times over the years and it always surprises me as he is one of the hardest workers I know. Perhaps it's a blessing in disguise though - I'm sure your dad will be less stressed not having to deal with that environment and gets to do all the things he never has time to do now.

@Lynda - definitely get that DVD out! After we watched it at the weekend, my partner described it as a short film - lasts an hour and 30 minutes and an hour of that is close up of Bowie's balls! That made me laugh.

@Anne - Sorry to hear about your brother in law Anne. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts.

[Travis]

Sorry about your brother in law Anne. So young.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

So sorry to hear Anne. Thinking of you and your family, especially your sister, lots and lots.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm very sorry, Anne. Your brother in law, your sister and your family is in my prayers.

[Stephanie]

So so sorry for your loss, Anne :( keeping you and your family in my prayers.