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This dress reminds me of this Eliza J one a reader wrote in to recommend a week or two ago, but it’s explicitly washable. (To be clear, I will often take my chances in the delicate cycle with clothing marked “dry clean” — not “dry clean only” — but try to avoid posting those items to Washable Wednesday!) I like the work-appropriate hem length, the pull-on styling, and the fact that it comes in regular, petite, tall, and plus sizes. It’s $69 full price at Lands’ End. Lands’ End Ponte Flounce Skirt Dress (L-2)Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
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- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- Zappos – 26,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 40% off everything
- Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
B says
Casual hallway encounter with my supervisor this week: “So, when are you coming back from leave?”
In June, we had a Big Formal Discussion about my leave plans, the department’s needs, etc. I read lots of articles, plus the hive’s advice, and agonized over the discussion for weeks beforehand. It went great and I was really proud of myself. Until now. Now I’m freaking out.
A few ways of looking at this
(a) it was just a variation on “So, when are you due” and I’m making too much of it
(b) it’s unreasonable to expect my supervisor to remember my return-from-leave date; at least he thinks I am coming back
(c) he has NO MEMORY of ever having had the June conversation and thinks I’m flaking out on him
I’m due in two weeks; what do you all think I should do now? I’m thinking a little formal follow-up is needed, at minimum. I’m even wondering if we need to restage the entire June conversation — but then, I’ve already completed the HR paperwork, given my schedule to the dept admin, and made personal & professional plans accordingly, and I don’t want to present him with an opportunity to change my leave plans.
As a little more background, my supervisor and work environment are mostly flexible and supportive, but at the same time, it’s a very male-dominated so that my situation is a little ‘unusual’.
mascot says
I’m going with (a) and (b). He’s probably got 100 other dates in his head and is just trying to get his bearings. Take this in stride like you would “when are you due again” and “when do you go on that fab vacation to France.”
meme says
+1. I would have just told him there in the hallway when the return date is and moved on. No need for any formal follow up or to “restage” anything – that will probably just be annoying. Since you’ve already formalized everything in writing, I’d assume you’re all set.
Random partners in my department keep asking me when I’m due even though I’ve told them a million times and it very much affects their lives. They’re just busy and trying to keep track of everything is hard when they can just ask periodically.
ASmelia Bedelia says
this. definitely. Just restate it (without annoyance, if possible) whenever asked and assume that you are covered by the previous formal conversation. this happened a lot with my first one, and I just took it as “no one remembers the details until confronted”
FVNC says
I agree with (a) and (b). Since your due date is coming up, even if you hadn’t had this interaction, I’d send a short email (i) reminding your supervisor that you will be delivering soon (and noting that you may deliver before your due date), (ii) restating the dates of your leave, and (iii) detailing the status of your current projects so you can hand them off to your backup.
EB0220 says
Did you document the Big Formal Discussion? If so, I would just forward that to your supervisor again and say “Just wanted to remind you of my leave plan. I’ve completed the HR paperwork, etc., so I’m prepared whenever baby decides to come!”
I seriously had to do this with my supervisor 5 times when I was pregnant with my first. And he kept calling it “vacation.” He was just clueless.
POSITA says
Try giving him a landmark for the date–something like “2 weeks after Christmas” or “three weeks before X deadline.” He probably just needs a mile post to help keep track.
NewMomAnon says
Another possibility – he has some big project on the horizon and would like to staff you on it, and wants to remind himself when you come back so he can plan accordingly.
I sent an Outlook invite with my maternity leave return date to some of my work providers with a reminder a week before I was returning, so we could touch bases in advance and they could have work ready for me. Could you try something like that? I bet he would appreciate it.
Legally Brunette says
Have any of you (particularly those who work for the federal government) negotiated a work schedule that allowed you to telework for an hour every day in the evenings? I’d like to work in the office from 9 – 4:30 pm every day. This will give me more time to spend with my kids in the evening. I would then telework at home from 8 – 9 pm, after the kids are in bed.
This stems from feeling like I have no time in the evenings to spend time with my kids and I really miss them. My youngest goes to bed by 6:30 pm and some days I only spend 15 minutes with him at night before he is off to bed.
My office seems to have a good telework policy, and I definitely don’t even have to be in the office most of the time for the work that I do. But I only started this job a few months ago, so I’m hesitant to bring this up as a new employee.
Thoughts?
KJ says
I am a fed and have done this, but only on a temporary basis. My boss actually suggested it when my partner was having a health problem because the alternative was me using 2 hours of leave every day. I will say that I found it to be extremely draining. I need my evening downtime to mentally recharge every day, and this schedule would not have been sustainable for me in the long term. YMMV.
Whether you would be allowed to do this is going to be very office/manager specific. Are you already doing some form of telework? Personally, I would try to establish a track record of successful regular telework (and success in the position in general) before suggesting something like this. You will be able to make a better case if you can show that you are already productive during your telework days.
Claudette says
I am an attorney for a federal agency and would like to do something like this, but our union has bargained work hour restrictions that make it impossible — so you may want to check your CBA (or, more generally, your agency’s policies about core hours, comp time, etc.).
Shayla says
I am an attorney in a federal agency as well and really think this depends on your supervisor. Make sure the arrangement doesn’t violate your agency’s telework policy, then suggest it. Alternatively, if there’s a way to get in at 6am one day each week, work the full 12 hours (I know, I know), you have 3 hours of credit to use to leave early 3 of the other days. But it’s supervisor dependent. Mine would prefer the credit method. Also note when the arrangement would end, likely when bedtimes are pushed back.
Anon says
12 weeks pregnant here and staring down the barrel of maternity clothes. I’m a prosecutor, so wear a lot of suits. Suggestions for best maternity work clothes sources? Also best maternity coat suggestions?
Clementine says
Maternity suits were all kind of…weird and expensive in my experience.
I’ve found that maternity dresses with non-maternity blazers over them have been working really, really well for me any day I would have worn a suit.
I got a few dresses from seraphine, supplemented with some pieces from target and destination maternity and I add scarves and blazers and dressy shoes. I’m wearing a lot of solid black dresses with a scarf and a blazer. I also love my maternity pencil skirt from seraphine. I can fake a suit pretty well with the black pencil skirt, a flowy top or even a tee with a scarf and a non- maternity black blazer thrown over it. Because I leave the shirt untucked, it’s harder to tell that the blazer and skirt don’t match perfectly.
Now, if I can just find good maternity tights!!
Anonymous says
Prosecutor here. Maternal America had some nice-ish suits; bought them on sale from Figure 8. I also do a lot of sheath dresses (from every place like Liz Lange at Target to Isabella Oliver) with a blazer or suit jacket on top. I try to do suits for actual jury trials, but the dress & suit jacket is formal enough for regular court, grand jury, etc. appearances.
Tunnel says
Fair warning: Maternity suiting is the pits. I got a few suits from Pea in the Pod/Destination Maternity. They were like polyester blends that had good stretch but were nowhere near the quality I was use to in suiting. They run good sales from time to time, so keep a look out. Also, a lot of women say that they are able to continue to wear their pre-pregnancy suit jackets but that did not work for me because my bust expanded so much.
B says
Corporate engineer, so my clothing requirements are likely a bit different – but I’ve gotten the most mileage out of my over-the-bump Loft maternity trousers. They have a high-quality stretchy panel that worked at 14 weeks and is still working at 38 weeks. The pants fabric has a touch of stretch, which helps also. Unlike their cheaper counterparts (hello, Gap), the whole panel is supersoft and stretchy so even if it only comes partway up my bump it still “holds” and doesn’t dig in. It’s also possible to fold the panel over. As for sizing, I was in between sizes and sized up; that worked perfectly for me.
I just don’t remember them having a matching suit jacket!! But worth checking anyway. If not, if a contrasting blazer is formal enough for you, then these pants would be great.
anon says
Alas, everyone is different! I found Loft panels to be sooooo uncomfortably tight and squeezing (and I know that’s a common complaint). I wore my Loft pants a grand total of twice.
Anonymous says
So funny! I wear mine 2-3 times per WEEK. Including today. The panel barely clears my belly button now but still feels great. Oh well, YMMV I guess!
kc esq says
For a faux suit look that still worked better than maternity suiting for me, I matched Gap maternity pants as closely as I could to one black and one charcoal Calvin Klein blazer sold as separates at Century 21 for less than $100. I got a longer cut in the blazer than I would typically wear non-pregnant, but the proportions really worked for my pregnant frame. I got a lot of compliments and questions about where I bought such great maternity clothes.
ASmelia Bedelia says
I did this. I had regular suit jackets that I paired with maternity pants that *almost* matched. I always had a layer of maternity shirt in between and everyone thought they were GREAT maternity suits.
JEB says
Also a prosecutor (federal). I couldn’t bring myself to buy a maternity suit – they were expensive and poorly made. I mostly wore maternity dresses with my regular blazers to court. I also got some great maternity pants from Loft (I miss them…they’re better than my regular work pants!), and I sometimes wore those with a regular tweed blazer. I will admit that towards the end, I was probably too casual, but I honestly didn’t care. I wore some of my Old Navy/Target cotton maternity dresses with blazers to court, and people may have been silently judging me, but no one said a word.
As for coats, I think many of us have commented on this before – I just used my regular puffy coat and wool coat unzipped/unbuttoned with layers and scarves as needed. Granted, I gave birth at the end of November, and I’m in DC, so I didn’t have months of harsh winter to contend with…just a few early, small snow storms here and there. But even if I’d been pregnant for the entire winter season, I probably would have continued with my regular coats, as I found myself often overheated when bundled up.
MDMom says
I also wore a lot of maternity dresses with regular jackets. If you need a larger jacket later on, I would just buy a size up at somewhere like H&M which has a tone of reasonably priced jackets (some stretchy ones too!). I was fine with my regular jackets throughout, but the stretchier the better. I also had a black maternity skirt and black maternity pants that got a lot of wear- the black pants matched my black jackets well enough to look like a regular suit. For your particular stage, I wore my regular suits with a rubber band through the button hole, covered up by a bella band, and long loose tops. This got me through most of the second trimester. I wouldn’t waste money on maternity suiting unless you can’t make anything else work. I made court appearances several days per week throughout my pregnancy and this was plenty formal enough. It was state court though, not federal. I don’t know if they would be more formal but honestly I can’t imagine anywhere that a nice dress + blazer is not appropriate, especially when pregnant.
MDMom says
Forgot to add- I also had a black & cream stretchy knit skirt (non-maternity) from Banana Republic that I got a ton of wear out of and can still wear now-post maternity. It was stretchy enough to fit normally for most of second trimester then I could wear it low (below bump) until well into the third. Unfortunately, I just checked their website and can’t find anything like it.
Jennie says
Has anyone here bought a used crib on craig’s list? I was considering getting the bloom alma mini because we are limited on space at the moment and it seems like a good solution for a crib to put in our bedroom, but I don’t want to pay full price for it and CL has a ton of nearby listings for about $250-350, with mattress and sheets included. But according to the Baby Bargains book that always gets recommended here, you should never ever buy/take a used crib. Their thinking makes sense for a lot of cribs I suppose, but I feel like it doesn’t really apply for a foldable crib with no safety recalls like the Alma mini. Esp. because most of the ones for sale have been used for less than a year and bought within the last year or two as well. Thoughts?
anon says
Yes, we got a used Ikea Gulliver crib (but got a new mattress). You can check on the recalls, and you can inspect the crib before you buy it to make sure it’s in okay shape. I think many/most families do get hand me down or used cribs.
EP-er says
I sold my son’s crib/toddler bed on Craig’s List. I made sure that it wasn’t recalled before listing it & had all of the original manuals/spare parts. I would be more hesitant about the mattress — I would probably get that new. (We didn’t sell the mattress, and my daughter is still suing it in her toddler bed.)
Jennie says
Why more concerned about the mattress? Bedbugs or another issue?
anon from above says
We only got a new mattress because the folks selling the crib weren’t selling the mattress.
Amelia Bedelia says
I was more concerned about soaked in pee (or other things) that a former user didn’t clean up to my standards. it just felt odd to me.
Meg Murry says
I’m pretty sure the “never buy a used or hand-me-down crib” advice is pointing at either ancient cribs someone has had up in their attic for the past 20-30 years that don’t meet modern safety standards, or to people trying to sell cribs with the drop side style that has been recalled.
We bought a crib used from a friend of a friend. It has been through her 3 kids, my 2 and now has moved on to another baby. Yes, it has a drop side so it’s no longer being sold, but it’s not the style that was failing – it is a completely different mechanism that I have no fear of. The mattresses got hard use though, since it was used as both a crib and toddler bed, so that has been replaced at least twice, if not more, since the crib was used.
The things you have to be wary of are:
-has it ever been recalled (which you checked on)
-it is really what is being advertised, or is it a knock off version (that has possibly been recalled or isn’t built as well)
-is it in good shape?
-does it have all the parts?
-does it have the manual or can you download it online?
Its also good if it is still being made so you can theoretically get replacement parts from the original company.
I would do it myself, I think the “never buy a used crib” advice is a good way to get people afraid and willing to spend more money and create more waste.
Anonymous says
I bought a used PB crib for $100 on CL. It is still sold in stores for $900 and I’m planning to resell it for what I paid when we move my kid into a regular bed in a few weeks. I consider it one of my best baby bargains. I think the concerns about used cribs primarily relate to (1) old ones with slats that are spaced too widely and (2) drop side cribs.
Chi Squared says
We got a used crib (Stanley Young America line) that retailed at $1200 at a ridiculous discount on Craigslist (I think it was under $200). Zero concerns or issues, and we plan to convert it into a full size bed when the kiddo is ready. Fortunately we ordered the conversion rails before Stanley discontinued the line.
Amelia Bedelia says
We bought a used crib for 80 bucks. I am SO glad we did. We did buy a new mattress, though. I thought it was just weird to use a used mattress.
Jennie says
Thanks all. The Baby Bargains book was very adamant on this point, and while I can see how it applies to car seats and even strollers, it just didn’t make sense to me for late model cribs. Glad I am not alone!
hoola hoopa says
Yes, our main crib, mini/porta crib, and pack and play were all CL buys.
If it meets current safety standards and in good repair, I see absolutely no reason to declare used cribs as a bad idea.
Famouscait says
My husband, son and I all have our birthdays within a 7-day span (hooray!). So, I’m considering throwing us all a joint birthday/we survived the first year or parenthood party. Guests would range in age from 1 to 89. Does this sounds like fun? I’m imagining something very laid back, as in just cake and punch around our house.
Anon says
I think that sounds fabulous.
EP-er says
Yes! Do it! Have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic punch!
Famouscait says
Ok! Thanks y’all! I appreciate the enthusiasm.
SC says
I think it sounds like fun, especially if it’s open house. Who doesn’t like cake and punch? And I agree with EP-er that an alcoholic punch, or just a way to spike the punch, would be great!
Meg Murry says
I think cake and punch, or cake, punch and munchies (veggie tray + chips and dip – nothing fancy) would be perfectly appropriate.
Just don’t throw it at a standard meal time, and possibly put “cake and punch” on the invite, and it would be fine. The only way this would seem wrong to me would be if you were serving only cake and punch at a standard mealtime, like noon or 5 or 6 pm.
anon says
Motherhood maternity had some stretchy pencil skirts with a stretchy panel on the sides that I wore the crap out of last fall. I had one in black and one in burgundy. Loved them.
Maternity outfit help says
I’m 12.5 weeks pregnant with my first baby and for the past few days I’ve been struggling with what to wear to work. I haven’t gained any weight yet (which is surprising to me because I feel and look so much thicker around the middle). I can still wear my usual work clothes but nothing looks attractive – I used to have a flat stomach and now there is a bloated looking belly pooch going on, but I don’t really look pregnant, just chubby. I think it’s too early for maternity clothes.
Any advice for work clothes during this transitional phase? I work in biglaw in a fairly formal/conservative environment. I usually wear skirt suits or sheath dresses because I think they are more comfy than pants, but maybe I need to start wearing pants with a looser top? Thanks in advance for any advice!
Maternity outfit help says
Oops I totally missed the post above from the other 12-weeks-pregnant lawyer :) Guess I will start there!
anon says
Ah, the awkward stage! Before pregnancy, I usually wore pretty form-fitting tops that hit at the top of my waistband (suit pants or skirt), but around that time I had to go buy a few looser/longer tops — my tops got too short before they were otherwise too small. They worked for about weeks 10-20. Then you can just keep your pants unbuttoned, or secretly switch to maternity pants (if they’ll stay up). Skirts were harder for me/way less comfortable. Sheath dresses in stretchy fabrics were plenty comfy, but remarkably unflattering until I was very obviously showing.
Maddie Ross says
With my first, before I really started showing, I wore a ton of sheath dresses, including a couple a size or two up from normal. I also liked the tulip-y kind of dresses (j.crew had some then, and I think factory has a couple now). The waist is a bit above my natural waist (and definitely above where I was getting thicker) and the skirt flared, but it still looked a bit like my normal style. I also liked adding layers – longer cardigans and jackets – they helped me feel more normal. Part of this though is whether you have told or not – I wore those to hide. If you’ve told already, then you may feel differently.
Maternity outfit help says
I just told a few days ago. It went really well (I was very nervous, not sure why), and I feel so relieved. So I’m not trying to hide it, I just feel kind of frumpy/unattractive in my regular clothes. I think I will feel better once I have a defined bump and can wear real maternity dresses like the one Seraphine makes.
Lulu says
I dressed similarly pre-pregnancy. During the in-between stage I switched from sheath to shift dresses. Pants with looser tops I already owned once a week. I found maternity sheath dresses looked okay from 18 weeks even though I didn’t need them until 20+ weeks. Consider picking up some maternity pencil skirts. I have one from Tart and one from Eva Alexander, both of which are really comfortable.
MDMom says
More detail in response to Anon above, but long loose flowy tops are your friend. Buy ones that you can wear post-maternity and invest in some basic maternity tops that match your suits that you can wear late into your pregnancy. Black maternity tees are a great and very useful basic (white tees weren’t as good because my black bella band showed through).
Also, if you have any friends who have had babies recently, I would ask if they have anything you can borrow. I scored a TON of free maternity clothes from 2 friends who had babies the year before me.
Butter says
Also you might want to have a friend or SO snap a picture of you so you can see what you look like – at 12 weeks, 15 weeks, and now 19 weeks I felt humongous, poochy, and like I wasn’t pulling off my regular clothes, but in reality (or in other people’s reality) I don’t look that big or any different, and people keep commenting on how good I look for x weeks (much to my surprise). I’d also second the rec for flowy/looser shirts and the bella band to get you through the next several weeks.
LC says
I went through a similar phase — I usually wear lots of sheath dresses and my regular wardrobe stopped working very quickly. I bought a couple of pairs of Banana Republic Sloan pants in a size up. YMMV as to whether these are appropriate for your office, but they were for mine (also in law — government but we are expected to look nice) when worn with heels, nice jewelry, etc. Then I bought a few nice flowy tops, which generally worked with blazers. This got me through for a while — I eventually wore the pants with a belly band until the beginning of my third trimester — and was so much more comfortable than trying to stuff myself into too-tight clothes.
anne-on says
Can you get away with a stretchy demi panel maternity skirt or pants with a flowy silky top (untucked) and a jacket over it? That was my basic uniform until I announced I was pregnant. That and silk tunic style (or just looser) tops untucked over slacks/skirts with a jacket. It helps that I wear a lot of chanel style/open jackets, so the flowy top fit in with that cut nicely.
JEB says
Thoughts on teething and diarrhea? It seems as though most of the medical research has discounted this, but anecdotally, there seem to be lots of people who seem to think it’s a fairly reliable teething issue.
My daughter is 9.5 months, and she finally cut her first tooth a few weeks ago. She now seems to be back in teething mode (chewing, drooling, eating fewer solids, etc.), so I’m expecting a few more to pop through soon. For the past 3 mornings, she’s woken up with a huge blow out. We haven’t dealt with anything like that since she started solids and everything firmed up, so it’s definitely a change. She also threw up once at daycare yesterday. Other than that, no other issues. She doesn’t have a fever, and she’s acting normal. We called the doctor, and they just said to keep an eye on her. My daycare provider, who has been caring for kids for 30 years, suggested teething as the cause. I guess I’m curious what other people think. Legitimate teething symptom?
anne-on says
Yup. I know its supposed to be an old wives tale, but my son would always have at least one incident of diarrhea and spike a low grade fever a day or two before a tooth popped out. My pediatrician said it wasn’t uncommon and if there were no other symptoms not to worry about it, but feel free to give tylenol/advil at night if they were uncomfortable. If it persisted for more than a day or two though I always brought them into the doctor.
POSITA says
Maybe try feeding her banana to firm up her poo. It might help her little tummy feel better regardless of the cause.
Meg Murry says
I think they are just trying to downplay the “teething causes diarrhea and/or fevers and/or rashes” old wives tales, because doctors don’t want people to ignore actual illnesses as “oh, that’s just teething” when the baby actually has something serious.
That said, there does seem to be some correlation (if not casuation) between them. My pediatrician said he thought a lot of it could have to do with the excess drool (more drool = swallow more spit, and drool on the neck = damp area to form a rash), and the fact that some babies will change up their diet and prefer more liquids and less solids when they are teething. I suspect constant hand chewing also could be introducing even more germs than usual into their mouths.
I think teething could be part of, either directly or indirectly, or she could have one of the million bugs that babies always seem to get. When my kids had stomach issues, a little bit of yogurt or probiotic seemed to help – or at least, seemed to make me feel like I was doing something productive about it. Some people now recommend the BRATY diet for stomach bugs/diarrhea – bananas, rice, apples/applesauce, toast, and yogurt.
anon says
I was just researching this, as my kiddo had a few days of unexplained loose stools at the same time his first two teeth were popping up. Consensus on the web seems to be there is no connection, but my kid doesn’t usually suffer from that issue so… you never know.
NewMomAnon says
My kiddo often gets sick when she is teething because she chews on everything to try to relieve the pain. So it isn’t the teeth causing the illness, per se, but the illness probably wouldn’t have happened without the teething. Good luck. A sick, teething baby is so sad.
JEB says
Thanks ladies! The correlation versus causation makes a lot of sense. She’s refusing solids and only consuming b-milk, so that could very well explain it. I hadn’t thought of that.
Famouscait says
I have no idea, but I am home today with a diarrhea-y (but otherwise fine) 11m old. Gah.
JEB says
Ugh, no fun!
NewMomAnon says
My firm laid off a bunch of people of all levels (secretaries through attorneys) this week. None of the layoffs were announced; several of the layoffs were people I had staffed on my projects, so I showed up at their offices to ask for updates and they were gone. I feel almost sick to my stomach.
Meg Murry says
Oh no! I think the only thing worse than being laid off is being in an office that is having layoffs.
Any word as to whether this is only the first round? Was there something that triggered this, like losing a big client or contract?
NewMomAnon says
Our last fiscal year was rough (we had a big oil and gas practice and the bottom dropped out when the oil prices fell, as well as a general drop in realization across our big corporate practices) and the firm has been more aggressively budget cutting. I think their tolerance dropped for “problem” employees. Each of the laid off folks had an issue (low hours, performance issues, bar passage, etc) but in the past the firm probably would have worked with them to resolve it. Knowing that I’m likely on the list of “problem employees” has me listening for a knock on the door. I had always expected to get 3-6 months to job hunt if the firm decided to cut me loose, but all of these folks were laid off with a few hours notice and no chance to wrap up their projects. It reminds me of 2008….
HSAL says
That’s so scary. Good luck!
JJ says
Ugh, stealth layoffs are the worst. That is very reminiscent of 2008. Maybe the people aren’t there anymore, but they get to say they’re working at your firm for the next three months (and receive severance or something like that) to aid in job searching. That was common in 2008 among the firms in my city.