Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Anyone else worried about jobs

102 replies

Lacey2019 · 31/07/2020 11:34

Hello everyone,

Is anyone else worried about jobs? I have such anxiety for my friends and family who have lost jobs. Some have lost very high paid jobs in the city, which was something no one ever expected to happen. Big houses, mortgages, cars on finance. I want to help, but I don’t feel I can. I am lucky to be a teacher, but I need to also ensure I’m okay.

I have looked at moving to Dubai with a friend, as he’s always wanted to and we thought he’d get a job. He has no degree, but lots of great experience in retail fit outs in the UK. He can’t live with me I believe, but I’m also not sure he’d get work.

How is everyone else coping/getting on?. I do worry and think of everyone on here too. I’ve done some free open university course which I recommend for anyone.

OP posts:
DebLou47 · 31/07/2020 22:01

We have been told no job losses this year but next year? Who knows so yes I am worried
I think the world is shot now all economy's broken there will be people losing their houses left right and centre I never ever thought it would be this bad

onemouseplace · 31/07/2020 22:06

@SomeWateryTart

Yes, I'm worried. I'm a SAHM and have been for years. This was my year to get back to work and I just don't see how it's going to happen. But, you never know. I think the thing to remember is that everyone has to adapt. This is true of pretty much any period in history. Stuff happens and we have to find a way to adapt and carry on somehow Sad.
Same here. I was going back to uni in the autumn to retrain, but DH has been put on a 4 day week and there is no money for my course now. Terrified to be honest, especially as DH's job is uncertain.
PumpkinPie2016 · 31/07/2020 22:08

Yes, very worriedSad I feel for anyone whose job has been/is affected by this. It's not just one industry either, it's many. There will be few jobs available to those looking.

I think a lot of businesses have done what they can to diversify e.g. cafes doing takeaway, pubs setting up food shops etc. but it's unlikely to be enough.

As a teacher, I am very fortunate that my job is pretty secure but I worry for school admin staff/teaching assistants, cleaners etc. They generally get hit when budgets are stretched Sad

RubyWow · 31/07/2020 22:09

I work in the public sector and have been busier than ever (workload has been through the roof since March) so not currently worried for my own job, but I am very worried for some friends and family. If the last recession is anything to go by, the redundancies and cuts will come for us a little bit later. It only feels like a couple of years ago that I was interviewing for my own job on an annual basis as they made cuts, but it was nearly a decade.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 31/07/2020 22:12

I'm very worried. I work for a cruise line and my industry seems to have become a focal point for worry about travel, even though actual cases of Covid on ships was very low as a % of people at sea when the pandemic took hold. I've been assured my job is safe until at least Christmas and that there are no plans for redundancies but I'm realistic about how long that can go on without income.

Cheesecakejar · 31/07/2020 22:13

My role is 'at risk' and I'm currently in a consultation period, a man in the same role as me has just handed his notice in so it might just save me from the chop. Should find out on Monday, maybe Tuesday 🤞 i feel awful for anyone job hunting in these uncertain times 😔

Ilikewinter · 31/07/2020 22:17

Going through redundacy now and im safe...had to go through a competency based scoring system. Not sure what will happen over the next 12 months though...retail role

HerRoyalNotness · 31/07/2020 22:19

I got and job and lost it in the same month but someone on here told me they didn’t think my life was about to implode. They must think they know me in real life. We lived month to month and my job was going to provide some living. Now DH is on 50% pay so yeah it’s shit. He’s looking for something else. I haven’t been able to until we know what he’s doing and what the schools are doing (first 6/9weeks for mine will be virtual now). Who knows how long they’ll keep him like that, the way they’ve done it means he can’t claim any help for the loss of hours, still have the same bills though

Babs709 · 31/07/2020 22:19

DH lost his job back in April. We don’t think he’ll find another job on his career path until next year at least, but he’s found enough bits and pieces to keep the bills paid for the moment.

Life feels like it’s on hold, and I’m terrified of what could happen, but hanging in there.

Good luck to anyone at risk etc. There is support out there in different places.

The80sweregreat · 31/07/2020 22:20

Ds2 was made redundant before Christmas last year and it took him 7 weeks to find another job : then covid hit and his been wfh ever since. His one of the lucky ones . but someone he works with was made redundant the other day so who knows if he'll be job hunting again this year ?
It's awful all the uncertainty for people and how long it takes to get a job too.

Original poster
Lacey2019 · 31/07/2020 22:24

I’m thinking of you all xx

OP posts:
Miljea · 31/07/2020 22:27

'Yes, I'm worried for the DC and what sort of prospects they will have after leaving university.'

In itself, an indictment of some Uni courses today. Given that we all know unis are now businesses, so the students themselves have to have done the cost/benefit analysis.

I am in the same boat with a uni starting DC in Sept, on a course that absolutely shouldn't need to be a degree (Graphic Design), but the unis have promoted it, the government loves its uni stats, the design companies are more than happy for their new employees to have funded their training themselves... and so it self-perpetuates.

Miljea · 31/07/2020 22:41

A tiny light through the gloom.

I am a Band 6 HCP, in a posh city 1hr from London by train.

Since I have been here, 15 years, the struggle we have to recruit good Operational staff! I mean porters, HCAs etc. Somewhat obviously because none of them can afford to live near the hospital to make it worth their while, when Tesco is just up the road; and the shit-storm that is now NHS HR (3 months from interview to start date?? For a B2 Porter?)....

Suddenly, we have a rash of great candidates! Instead of 6 interviewees, of whom 3 show, and one is almost okay, we have fifty. Ex-flight attendants, as an example.

This bodes well for the NHS. These people work as HCAs, see precisely what our job entails, then decide to go for it.

I'm a bit 🧐 about the access courses, as I've mentioned elsewhere. A small part of me wonders why 'Sophie' needed 3 A levels to do the degree; whereas Abbie can sit her failed Eng and Maths GCSEs alongside her one year Access Course... But that is a different OP, I know.

But, the NHS gets these new recruits, from other industries, ones that required the recruitment and training of, say, air crew, who have now gotten other people's body fluids under their nails, but still want to do it!

StatisticalSense · 31/07/2020 22:49

The most worrying thing on this site is that large numbers of posters are willing to sacrifice allowing many businesses the opportunity to trade if it would allow schools to reopen, and one of the main arguments for such being that it will be the only way that many parents can work. The reality is that unless businesses are allowed to return to something resembling normal pretty quickly and customers are willing to return a lot of these people won't have jobs to return to in any case. Considering whatever happens there is going to be a lot of redundancies and prioritising schools over businesses will exacerbate this from an economic stand point it almost certainly makes sense to consider schools a relatively low priority and accepting that some people won't be able to work, or will have to work fewer hours, as a consequence both as this will protect the greatest number of jobs (as there will be enough people who can work to fill the available jobs).

SomeWateryTart · 31/07/2020 22:56

@Miljea

A tiny light through the gloom.

I am a Band 6 HCP, in a posh city 1hr from London by train.

Since I have been here, 15 years, the struggle we have to recruit good Operational staff! I mean porters, HCAs etc. Somewhat obviously because none of them can afford to live near the hospital to make it worth their while, when Tesco is just up the road; and the shit-storm that is now NHS HR (3 months from interview to start date?? For a B2 Porter?)....

Suddenly, we have a rash of great candidates! Instead of 6 interviewees, of whom 3 show, and one is almost okay, we have fifty. Ex-flight attendants, as an example.

This bodes well for the NHS. These people work as HCAs, see precisely what our job entails, then decide to go for it.

I'm a bit 🧐 about the access courses, as I've mentioned elsewhere. A small part of me wonders why 'Sophie' needed 3 A levels to do the degree; whereas Abbie can sit her failed Eng and Maths GCSEs alongside her one year Access Course... But that is a different OP, I know.

But, the NHS gets these new recruits, from other industries, ones that required the recruitment and training of, say, air crew, who have now gotten other people's body fluids under their nails, but still want to do it!

While that's great from the recruiters' perspective, can you imagine being someone who has just left school with decent a levels but no experience and finding this is what you're up against? 49 other candidates for entry level roles, some of whom have years of experience? This is exactly the worry for many people. If they lose their job, what are they going to do? Even entry level HCA / porter jobs have 50ish candidates per role! I actually find this quite terrifying, not reassuring at all, sorry.
Staplemaple · 31/07/2020 23:01

I'm a bit 🧐 about the access courses, as I've mentioned elsewhere. A small part of me wonders why 'Sophie' needed 3 A levels to do the degree; whereas Abbie can sit her failed Eng and Maths GCSEs alongside her one year Access Course... But that is a different OP, I know

Why? The access courses are great, and I don't think there's a correlation in failure or drop out rates and doing the access course or a levels, so it obviously works. People fail to get the qualifications 'first time round' for all sorts of reasons, and an access course is challenging and demonstrates the required level of aptitude for learning.

LemonTT · 31/07/2020 23:10

@StatisticalSense

The most worrying thing on this site is that large numbers of posters are willing to sacrifice allowing many businesses the opportunity to trade if it would allow schools to reopen, and one of the main arguments for such being that it will be the only way that many parents can work. The reality is that unless businesses are allowed to return to something resembling normal pretty quickly and customers are willing to return a lot of these people won't have jobs to return to in any case. Considering whatever happens there is going to be a lot of redundancies and prioritising schools over businesses will exacerbate this from an economic stand point it almost certainly makes sense to consider schools a relatively low priority and accepting that some people won't be able to work, or will have to work fewer hours, as a consequence both as this will protect the greatest number of jobs (as there will be enough people who can work to fill the available jobs).
Yes there is a certain irony. I think they don’t think this will apply to their sector, they are public sector (a lot are teachers) or SAHP. It’s very thoughtless given the disaster this is having and will have for most people. Including safe public sector staff, the cuts will follow the stimulus.

We are only going to get through this if we balance off risks and make long term sacrifices. At the moment it’s bad dieting at a national scale. One mishap and we may as well eat the whole cake, every day for a week.

YewHedge · 31/07/2020 23:16

Yes OP but I am more worried about lives.
The rates of infection are going up quickly, at the moment mainly in young people but it's only a matter of time until it gets to elderly and underlying health conditions and then the deaths will start going up again.

SengaStrawberry · 31/07/2020 23:18

Yes OP but I am more worried about lives.

Jobs ARE lives.

Catspaw123 · 31/07/2020 23:20

Our firm has just had 30 redundancies there is more to come just bracing for it really.

Cloudyroom · 31/07/2020 23:25

I think I’ll be ok but you never know and in my industry, It only takes a complete crash of the financial system for me to be out of a job.

Miljea · 31/07/2020 23:46

Somewaterytart what else, today, other than uni, did these A level students think they were heading for? A serious, genuine question!

Even in 1980 (me!), the 'A' level students were pretty much all heading for uni/poly. Otherwise it was teacher training/ nursing /HCP/banking/military officer training, and the like.

That was it.

Worstyear2020 · 31/07/2020 23:54

Yes, my job ends in oct due to redundancy, i am almost certain i won't be employed again. One of saddest day in my life.

SengaStrawberry · 31/07/2020 23:55

So sorry to hear that @Worstyear2020 x I was in the same position and also really worried about securing something else as I am getting on a bit x

DaisyDoo1919 · 31/07/2020 23:59

Found out today that I've lost my job...and that I'm expecting a baby. One very strange day but absolutely agree with OP the worry over income, job etc who will hire me if I'm pregnant...its a worry.