So Long and Thanks For all the Fish

[cs]

Today, Friday Jun 17, 2022, I leave a job that I started in May of 1995. Wow! How do you put in words a 27 year ride? It is not like the next page or the next chapter, it is more like a whole new book. I've had my ups and downs here, learned a lot and hopefully brought a lot the company. I helped this company come into the AutoCad Drafting age and was the driving force behind moving from the "floppy disk network" to our modern high speed network of the day. I've maintained the truck fleet, built our new office, kept the grass cut, and provided the IT and computer support for the entire time I've been here. I literally wrote the CAD detailing standards. Grown with the company from a simple draftsman to estimating and lead project manager. I've been with the company longer than I have been on this forum and my first user number here was in the double digits.

But the time has come and the bell has rung, time to move onward and upward. The President (retired) of the company told me that I was the company's most loyal employee, always putting the company first. He is retired though and the current ownership was given the chance to make an offer. This offer was not forthcoming so to that end...


So Long and Thanks for all the Fish!

Chad

[Peerie Maa]

All the best for the rest of your life.

[Breakaway]

Go, Chad!

Kevin


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[CWSmith]

So, what is next?

[cs]

So, what is next?

I start work at another construction company doing just Project Management although they are hoping I can bring some of the design/build experience in with me

Chad

[bob winter]

Good luck!

[Breakaway]

Chad , dont be shy! Tell CW how you were hired away for gobs more money!


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[Norman Bernstein]

I know how you feel, Chad. I left a company that I dearly loved after 18 years, during which I did manage to pioneer a few new technologies, and was largely self-directed, working on products that were my own concepts, proposed by me and accepted by the higher-ups. The reason: the company wanted me to transition to integrated circuit design, as well as commute a long distance, and I didn’t want to do that kind of work.

So, I became an independent contractor/consultant… and the next 28 years were every bit as satisfying and rewarding, in many different ways.

Perhaps you’ll be just as lucky… and whatever it is you end up doing, I’m betting it will be a positive change. I wish you luck!

[CWSmith]

I start work at another construction company doing just Project Management although they are hoping I can bring some of the design/build experience in with me

Chad

Chad , dont be shy! Tell CW how you were hired away for gobs more money!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Gobs or not, it sounds like you did better than just land on your feet! Congratulations and I hope the new job is as satisfying as the old, or more so.

[Paul Pless]

how's comw the moment that you put your notice in you were 't escorted from the premises by security?

[cs]

how's comw the moment that you put your notice in you were 't escorted from the premises by security?

I know I often wonder that myself. But they keep telling me I will be back. But of course they should have thought of that when they had a chance to counter

Chad

[bluedog225]

Glad you have a new gig. Employment can be more fluid at a certain age/experience level.

[cs]

Glad you have a new gig. Employment can be more fluid at a certain age/experience level.

In this case they have indicated to me that they are wanting me for my experience and what I bring that they don't have currently

Chad

[SchoonerRat]

Good grief man! 27 years at the same job???

My brain simply cannot even imagine that such a thing is possible. I once made it to 10. There may be a handful of times that I made it to 3 or 4. Most of my employments can be measured in days; sometimes months. 99.37% of those jobs began with the intent of my doing something else in a matter of days.

I hope that your current employers are...may you be...I think that...

I'd like to be here when you come back in the future to relate how happy you are to be celebrating your 28th anniversary with you current employer.

[cs]

Jeez in 28 more years I should be well beyond retirement and living the good life, maybe in Belize

Chad

[SchoonerRat]

Yeah, I see that now. I was a math major, but the numbers sometimes get away from me. I can get to 20 if I take my shoes off. 22 means topless. Nobody wants me to try for 23.

I was well beyond retirement age at 18, so I just retired when I graduated. Once again, I can't possibly relate.

Can I assume that I can congratulate you on your new position? If so, I congratulate you on your new position. If not...just forget that I ever typed what I just typed.

[sandtown]

Good luck with the new gig !!

You are lucky that your old company did not saddle you with a non-compete.

People who count on fair treatment from companies in modern capitalism are almost always disappointed.

Sorry if I come off as a Debbie Downer, but it is the truth.

[Joe (SoCal)]

Good grief man! 27 years at the same job???

My brain simply cannot even imagine that such a thing is possible. I once made it to 10. There may be a handful of times that I made it to 3 or 4. Most of my employments can be measured in days; sometimes months. 99.37% of those jobs began with the intent of my doing something else in a matter of days.

Yea I think one year I got like 10 W-2's
I think Groom Service has been the longest job I've ever had going on 12 years. Although thats technically not working FOR someone.

I think about now I'm completely and utterly unhirable.

Hey but congrats Chad always know yer worth and act upon it. Best of luck my friend onward and upward.

[ShorelineJohn]

Good Luck!
Sounds like you have landed on your feet, or doing your best to.
I hope they took care of you, I have found smallerish companies sense of obligation to their long term employee's to be absurd. And like stated before it's not like you will ever work 27 years for anybody else! Sounds like you put your blood into both the company and your position while doing what it takes to keep thing going. I don't think I have ever heard of the IT guy mowing the lawn. Make no mistake about it you deserved a piece of that company!
I don't want to go on about my bitterness when a similar thing happen to me, but I will say it's like ending a long term relationship, the best thing is to move on and upward, and support any legislation the requires employers to live up to their obligations.
GOOD LUCK!

POWER TO THE WORKERS!

[Paul Pless]

Yea I think one year I got like 10 W-2's

i've never gotten one

[cs]

and here it is. Everyone just left. They came in from the field and even the retired guys came by. The farewells have been said and I hope to never loose the guys. I sit her amongst the mess of my office thinking about that next step and wondering if ever I will get this mess cleaned up and out the door.

It has been good and I hope for better but to be honest I ain't going to cut the grass at the next place.

Chad

[Paul Pless]

I sit her amongst the mess of my office thinking about that next step and wondering if ever I will get this mess cleaned up and out the door

you could leave it

[bluedog225]

Indiscriminately box it. Stick it somewhere. It’s there if you need it. Burn in 3 years.

[bobbys]

I worked for 40 years for a construction/ roofing company, the boss was a jerk, made me work in the rain, snow, heat, no breaks, no coffee, i had to do the most menial chores, had to drive old dump trucks, had to pay my own taxes, there was no one to complain to, no HR, all my co workers were drunks, druggies, ex cons, none had a drivers lic and i had to go pick them up, the bosses wife just made me a thermos and a PPand J for years, not even a twinkie..

Only good thing was i slept with the bosses wife, total babe!

[John B]

Sounds great Chad, big move, I trust it works out really well for you.

[Stiletto]

Best wishes for your new gig Chad!

[Joe (SoCal)]

I worked for 40 years for a construction/ roofing company, the boss was a jerk, made me work in the rain, snow, heat, no breaks, no coffee, i had to do the most menial chores, had to drive old dump trucks, had to pay my own taxes, there was no one to complain to, no HR, all my co workers were drunks, druggies, ex cons, none had a drivers lic and i had to go pick them up, the bosses wife just made me a thermos and a PPand J for years, not even a twinkie..

Only good thing was i slept with the bosses wife, total babe!

So you are an adulterer ?
The more I learn about you the more I despise you.

[Paul Pless]

bs scores a rare bilge win
hope he savors it

[bluedog225]

….

[Robbie 2]

Best wishes Chad on your new adventure.

[john welsford]

Good luck with the new gig !!

You are lucky that your old company did not saddle you with a non-compete.

People who count on fair treatment from companies in modern capitalism are almost always disappointed.

Sorry if I come off as a Debbie Downer, but it is the truth.

Non compete is not legal here, other than when someone sells a business, and that generally has distance or time criteria as part of it.
There is no way a company should ever be able to prevent someone from using their skills or training to earn a living.

John Welsford

[john welsford]

So you are an adulterer ?
The more I learn about you the more I despise you.

If you didnt get it Joe, he's telling us that he's been self employed all this time.

I know the feeling, my boss is much like the one he's talking about, its Sunday tomorrow, mid winter and a lousy weather forecast, and Iv'e got to load a trailer up, tarp it securely and tow it 80 miles then unload it into a storage unit.
Being self employed means you have a really demanding boss, I'm sure you'll know the feeling too.

John Welsford

[ron ll]

And the dolphins have left the planet. Good luck on your next stop in the galaxy Chad.

[Paul Pless]

don't forget your towel

[The Q]

Good luck for your future ,

Never made it that far any where ..27 years that is.
Job 1, 1 year, redundant, too many trainees for the amount of posts available.
2, 12 years medically down graded booted out of the RAF,
3, 13, years going to all the places the RAF couldn't support me but as a civilian. Left when company moved its base.
4, 1 year, redundant, along with everyone else when we were taken over.
5, 4 years, chose to leave.. not a good job..
6, current job. Won't quite make 16years as I retire at the end of the year. There are better jobs, but when you are 50+ and two thirds of your possible area is north sea there aren't a lot of possibilities without moving..