Losing Your Job: A New Beginning?

In my short lifespan, I have done some "not so great things". Among all I have given the golden handshake to 216 good men and women, of which 8 were "executed this year 2010". All this is done in the name of the infamous "right sizing exercise"

.

I stumble upon this blog some few months back: http://taxidiary.blogspot.com/. This blog is the recollection of probably the only taxi driver in the world who has a PhD from Stanford University. Dr Cai (his actual name + a well deserved salutation) got a string of scientific accomplishments, a good family life but lost his job due to unexplainable circumstances. Because of his unique qualification, he is unable to find another job. So, like all the other good Singaporean, Dr Cai turned to the last job on the list - to become a taxi driver.

.

He blogs for fun ...well actually to make his dull job more interesting. But, he decided to compile into a book when his site hits becomes unusually high from readers all over the world. And he makes quite good money of it!

.

If you have the chance to buy the buy, please do so as its a good book for collection. Its available via amazon.com. Nevertheless, if you dont then just read his blog. Only recently he stopped blogging because he has found a new job - after being the honorable taxi man for about 2 years!

.

In another perspective, Russia has announced that they are going to cut 100,000 bureucratics jobs by 2013. This right sizing exercise is highly criticised because of the lagging world economy today, but much needed in order to reduce cost and modernize the country. Its was reported that Russia will be able to save USD$1.4 billion dollars by the 3rd year of this exercise. You can read this in http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1082319/1/.html

.

A savings of USD1.4b a good number to boast, but what will happen to:-

1) the man/woman who lost their jobs?

2) the family of the man who lost their jobs?

3) the overall spending power of the city of the man who lost their jobs?

4) the banks that give loans to the man who lost their jobs?

.

Then comes to the economic and social questions:-

1) will there be a probable increase in crime?

2) will there be an increase of homeless people?

3) will the private sector able to create more new jobs?

4) will these people ever be employed again?

5) how long can they survive without a job?

6) will there be suicides?

7) will there be mental disorder?

.

My number of 216 is very small if compared to the 100,000 planned job slash by the Russian government. I got a few friends in Moscow who sometimes write emails to me complaining that they are still jobless while having the pressure to cope with the high living cost there. I wonder what will happen to them in the next few months.

.

When I did the right sizing exercise I make sure that they can survive at least 12 months without working. Whenever possible, I try to find alternative jobs to them. Well... that the least that I can do. But, I dont know how they plan to execute that in Russia.

.

If these people are not job selective, probably we can see more scholars with PhD driving taxis in Russia. This could be an interesting change, right?

.

But above all, it is never a good feeling to lose your job. I did 216, and I am not proud of it!