Gambling With Your Job

I was reading this article about Best Buy offering buyout packages to most of their corporate employees. It sounds like they are going to see how many people take the buyout then restructure and lay off people if necessary. The way the economy is right now, I don't think I would take a buyout if my company offered it. I would take my chances on being necessary to the company and avoiding layoff during the restructuring. It would be very difficult for me to find a new job in my industry. My company is in better shape than most local companies in the same industry and even we have a hiring freeze.

Comments

[jo]

It would really depend on the buyout package. How long would I be able to be unemployed on the package would determine whether or not I take it. I'm lucky in that I can work in a lot of industrties, however it is enough of a niche that job seeking can be difficult. So probably not because in reality I'm risk averse. :)

[Piglet]

i too, like jo am risk averse when it comes to areas of employment.

[blaugra]

I've gambled with my livelihood before so I'd do it again and take the buyout. If I couldn't get another job with an employer I'd start my own business.

[Peeved Michelle]

I've gambled with my job before, too, and it is one of the main reasons I am where I am now. If the buyout came right now, though, I'd have to say no, primarily so that I could keep getting benefits for as long as possible since I am pregnant. If I weren't pregnant, though, it would be a tough decision. I think I would ultimately say no but, given the interaction I had today with a major jackass, I couldn't say for sure.

[DaMonkeyCode]

Well, being as I just completed my MBA and my company has a wage freeze and hiring freeze in effect in addition to 3 rounds of "layoffs" in the last 3 months I think the buy out would actually be my best bet at the moment.