Recession Lexicon: Canniversary

Recession Lexicon: Canniversary

A year from the date when you got canned from your job.

This term, especially popular in the UK, takes a celebratory stance towards what could otherwise be a downer (shout out to our friend London Jack for the suggestion). If your canniversary is coming up, we suggest rewarding yourself for surviving with a night on the town. If you were laid off in a group, why not get the whole gang together for festivities? You’ve earned it.

Ex. Should we do our canniversary at Raoul’s?

Screwed: 278 at MeadWestvaco Corporation

A daily review of the employment fallout around the country and the world.

MeadWestvaco Corporation will close plants in Virginia and Puerto Rico, terminating the jobs of 278 employees… Knapheide Manufacturing, a Quincy, Illinois employer, is rumored to layoff 158 workers starting March 30… Katten Muchin Rosenman gives 69 employees, 23 lawyers and 46 staffers, the axe… Timken Co., a specialty steel manufacturer, will lay off 65 employees by the end of March…

Recession Briefing 3.20

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are being affected harder than other workers by the recession: 11.2% of them are now unemployed. That’s significantly higher than the corresponding 8.8% rate for non-veterans in the same age group. (USA Today)

Seeking to quell populist anger over AIG’s bonuses, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a 90% tax on bonuses paid this year to employees of firms that accepted large amounts of federal bailout money. (New York Times)

Love in the Time of Layoff: Of Uncertain Times

Last week marked the two-month anniversary since my dear husband got the axe. A lot can happen in two months’ time. We canceled a family pilgrimage to Puerto Rico and put the apartment up for sale. Marco quit the gym. Our cat died. We both have gained some weight, but other than that, we’re actually doing okay. Fat but happy, I like to say, with a roof over our heads (for now). We’ve got our love to keep us warm.

The other day, Marco came home from a day of freelancing feeling blue. I tried the usual—kissing it away—but no go. “You don’t like it when I’m moody,” he said. “I’m going to be moody sometimes.”

Clear Fear from Your Career and More

There’s more fear than usual floating around these days. Fear about savings, spending, housing, but most of all fear about work—and that holds true whether you’re unemployed or looking, employed and scared about losing your job, or just plain stuck.

On March 31, motivational speaker Gabrielle Bernstein will give a lecture for women, Clear Fear from Your Career, with step-by-step advice on how to remove the psychological blocks that hold you back. Full disclosure: She’s a friend. But that also means we’ve experienced her workshops. Aimed mostly at women in their 20s and early 30s, they’re positive, practical, and have a strong spiritual element.

If it sounds too heady for you, you can’t make it, or you’re a man, there are plenty of other career events coming up in New York:

Traveling Tight: Swap Your Pad

Money’s tight. So every penny counts when you’re on the road…

Maybe the Recession has given you more time to travel, but less cash. How does a rent-free vacay sound? Swap your pad for another in a destination you want to visit and enjoy potentially unlimited savings. Home swapping allows you to travel further and longer than you ever thought possible: We’re talking Italian villas, mountain retreats, and beach bungalows. Plus, you get more space than a hotel could ever offer. It’s even possible to swap vehicles and pet care. The best part is that you get to live like a local and receive tips on what to do and see from your “host”. For a $100 annual membership fee, HomeExchange.com will guarantee you a swap partner, or you get a year for free…

Recession Briefing: 3.19

What you need to know to survive and thrive in the recession.

The Federal Reserve said yesterday that it would pump $1 trillion more into the economy by buying Treasury bonds and mortgage securities. The move runs the risk of spurring inflation. (New York Times)

AIG chief Edward Liddy was grilled by lawmakers on Capitol Hill yesterday over the $165 million that was recently paid out in bonuses. He said he has asked bonus recipients to give back half. (New York Times)

Screwed: 600 at Infosys BPO

A daily review of the employment fallout around the country and the world.

Infosys BPO, the business process outsourcing department of Infosys Technologies, has fired more than 600 staff… Road Home, the Baton Rouge hurricane housing program will be cutting 500 jobs in the coming months… Crain Communications, a business trade publisher, gives 150 employees the boot, along with a 10 percent salary cut…

9 iPhone Apps for the Recession

We think the iPhone’s as handy a little smartphone as there is — the cool factor is way high — but in the time of the Recession, it’s missing a few app options. Here are nine we’d like to see…

Recovery Applies to AIG Stock, Too

The top executives of embattled insurance giant AIG are getting grilled this morning in Washington. And apparently, the market thinks that’s a good thing. U.S. stocks opened down this morning—at last check the Dow had declined 1.3 percent. But at last check (11:45) AIG’s stock had bounced up nearly 44 percent.

What gives? We know Barney Frank is planning to ask for the names of employees who received $165 million in bonuses…