Random People Who Lost Their Jobs Due To CoV Share Their Heartbreaking Stories (35 items)

• (#1) The Firing Line

  From Redditor /u/PM_ME_YOUR_TYLENOLPM

  Food and beverage manager at a large hotel. GM and HR gave me a list of employees to call and inform them that they would all be furloughed.

  It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my life. I had to stop halfway through the list just to sit in my office and cry. I had to encourage grown men and women that everything would work out and be OK when I had no idea myself if or when it would be. I went to work this morning, worked my normal 10 hours, then I was laid off at the end of the day.

  I cried again on the way home.
• (#2) For The Greater Good

  From Redditor /u/edmidgley

  They wanted a coworker and I to reduce our hours to half each because they could only afford one of us and didn't wanna make a redundancy. In the end, I took the redundancy. I'm 21 and live at home, meals provided. My coworker is a 30-year-old homeowner with bills and an unemployed girlfriend. Him loosing half his income for me seemed wrong. Better me than him.
• (#3) Left It All Behind

  From Redditor /u/rileyellen

  We sold our house, packed up our stuff and our two young daughters, and moved our family to the Bay Area in California for my husband’s new job in SF. That was January 25 of this year. He lost his job on Monday as soon as they announced the shelter-in-place order. We left behind our families, friends, home, everything for this job. We don’t know what we’re going to do. Thankfully we have savings from selling our house while he looks for a job. We just don’t know who, if anyone, will be hiring anytime soon. I want to buy a school bus and convert it to an RV and go live in the mountains. I have yet to get my husband and our daughters on board with that plan though.
• (#4) Lost In Italy

  From Redditor /u/PauseAndReflect

  I am f*cked. I’m American but live in Italy. Northern Italy, specifically.

  Worked for the last five years for a tech startup that is heavily dependent on renting apartments and people traveling abroad in Europe for revenue, though my job in the company was totally back end. I was part of the first wave of employees and really liked my job. We were funded mostly by Silicon Valley investors.

  The company had already decided our jobs were to be automated slowly and painfully, and I was already starting to look for a new job, but the process just got sped up due to the crisis and we all got the red slip on Monday.

  My husband is a taxi driver, and he hasn’t worked in almost three weeks. We don’t know when he’ll be able to work again. I don’t know when I’ll even be able to get another job interview. We have a three-month emergency fund that I’ve built up thankfully and no credit card debt, but I’m terrified for the future. We’re both in our 30s, and got f*cked in 2008 when we graduated into that recession. Now? I’m worried I’ll never own a home and never have kids. I don’t know how any of that will be possible.

  I feel hopeless. I’m going to fight my way out of this whichever way I can, but I’m honestly feeling defeated. And I’m scared we’re going to get sick eventually. Or one of our family members here in Italy will get sick. Or one of my family members in the U.S. will get sick, and I’ll be unable to fly back to be there.

  We had an increase of around 4,450 cases and 427 more deaths in Italy today. I feel like a real [jerk] for even worrying about my finances in the face of this tragedy here, but I’m terrified for what’s next selfishly.

  And I have no idea how I’m going to pay for my student loan going forward. It’s literally strangling me.

  Just f*ck, guys. If you got laid off this week, I’m with you. I literally just feel like giving up.

  Thanks for reading this if you did...I needed to vent. Stay good guys. And stay healthy, from us in Italy to wherever you are in the world.
• (#5) The Cupboards Are Bare

  From Redditor /u/lzrkennyloggins

  I was laid off indefinitely from two different hourly paying line-cooking jobs on Monday(~50 hours combined/week). I helped clean out one of the restaurants Wednesday. We discarded a lot of stuff. I helped clean out all of the coolers and throw away A LOT of prepped food that people didn't/couldn't take home. Employees were encouraged to take what they wanted: produce, dairy, meat etc. The place is almost completely empty, it's surreal.

  My spouse was laid off indefinitely Wednesday. She manages a restaurant and is salaried w/ benefits (~50 hours/week). She was told that management will not be paid until the place reopens.

  Our family currently has no work or income. We have a young child. These are very uncertain times.
• (#6) Car Trouble

  From Redditor /u/Tazzybugg

  My husband got laid off on Tuesday. He works about 3 minutes down the road from my work. He showed up at my work with tears in his eyes, apologizing to me for not doing well enough to be kept. He works at a car dealership as an auto technician, where they let go of four techs that day because of decreasing business. They're letting go of more people this Saturday. My brother is a mechanic there and is scared to lose his job, too. They told my husband that when business picks back up, they "might" call and ask him to come work for them again.

  Thankfully, I work in the lab of a hospital, so my job is pretty secure. I keep telling my husband that we'll get through it, but I know it's taking a toll on him.
• (#7) Without A Country

  From Redditor /u/Paranoid427

  My experience is pretty unique. In a nutshell, my wife and I live in New Zealand and had planned a two-year working visa in Toronto. We were supposed to leave in April, so we had obviously already handed in our notices of resignation to our bosses. Long story short, Canada shut its borders and my boss has already hired my replacement.

  As a side note, they shut the borders on my birthday.
• (#8) Everything Happens At Once

  From Redditor /u/SpadeMacD

  I threw away a decent salary and a stable-but-mediocre life just over a year ago to try to achieve something worthwhile and interesting for myself. I was guided toward a one-year course in creative advertising, which seemed really interesting.

  So I sold off most of my worldly posessions to get enough cash to move to the opposite end of the country with my partner to begin study. I got really into it, the course was really well connected with industry, and I finished the course strongly with amazing prospects. I took the most prestigious offer (which was also the lowest paying because prestige, I guess) and began my internship at a world-leading agency.

  That was six weeks ago.

  My partner and I separated because we were growing apart, and on Monday, I moved my belongings into a complete sh*thole of a flat, populated by shirtless weirdos.

  The next day, my company let go of all their temporary & contract staff.

  My career is gone, and I'm all alone in a disgusting house with no friends.

  At least I have internet for Reddit.
• (#9) Gambling On The Future

  From Redditor /u/nevadadealers

  Wife and I both work at major casinos on the Las Vegas strip. Both of us are out of work. All casinos in Las Vegas are closed. Only security and a few other key positions are still employed. Casinos are the largest employers in the state of Nevada. I’m sure this is going to devastate the local economy.
• (#10) So Close, Yet So Far

  From Redditor /u/AngryValephar

  I got a call congratulating me on getting a job two days before a hiring freeze went into place at the university I applied to. I never saw my contract, nor do I have any work.
• (#11) When There's No Escape

  From Redditor /u/strykerx

  I own an escape room. We have made negative revenue this week because of refunding cancellations and no new bookings. We were just coming out of a rough patch and finally showing some profits before this hit. My business bank account is almost depleted. I frankly don't think the business is going to survive.
• (#12) No Tell Hotel

  From Redditor /u/iphon4s

  I worked at Hyatt. I was hired as an intern fresh out of college for a year. Most of Hyatt's interns were actually internationals from Europe. Hyatt paid us minimum wage, which is crazy once you learn how expensive NYC is. Two months ago they recently hired a guy from the Netherlands and just two weeks ago another girl also from the Netherlands have just moved to NYC for this internship and had moved to her apartment just last week.

  Two days agom HR called us for a meeting and said effective Monday we were no longer employed by Hyatt. They refused to pay us any of our sick or personal days, which I had seven days' worth. For the interns who have recently moved to NYC, HR basically said you're on your own, not our problem, nothing we can do to help. SOL.

  Being laid off is one thingm, but having the HR director tell us that they were not intending in paying any of our sick days or personal days was a slap in the face and a massive d*ck move. I had intended to work 'til Saturday, which was my last scheduled day. Since they were not paying my sick days, I just called off my last three days so I can at least get three sick days paid.

  Hyatt's saying is "We care for people so they can be their best." They really showed their true colors, and I would never work for Hyatt or stay in any of their property for as long as I live.
• (#13) The Stands Are Empty

  From Redditor /u/OccyBigD

  Not me but my dad. He works in the exhibition industry (setting up stands for shows, events, and conferences), but now with bans on public gatherings, he's out of the job indefinitely. He was the sole earner in our house, as well, and we only have enough rent money for the next month. Scary times ahead.
• (#14) Grounded

  From Redditor /u/blackforestgirl86

  I just finished my training as a flight attendant for a major European airline. It's been a dream of mine and I have been putting my love and energy into this training for the past months. I'm in Cancun right now and it's bittersweet because it's absolutely beautiful here, but at the same time, this was my last training flight. I'm now a fully trained flight attendant and yet no one knows when me and my other new colleagues will actually be getting our work contract since the airline industry is suffering a lot right now.

  I think I will cry when landing back in Frankfurt tonight because I don't know when will be my next flight ... but I will put on a brave face and genuine smile for our passengers. At least I will do my best.
• (#15) The Show Must Go Off

  From Redditor /u/elbrigno

  Classical musician here. Every orchestra had to cancel concerts for the next eight weeks. Unsure if any of the concerts will be rescheduled. Many orchestras are waiting to see if the “act of god” clause will be applied. If that is the case, musicians will not be paid. Most summer orchestras are still programmed but there is high chance will be shut down as well.
• (#16) Box It Up

  From Redditor /u/fukyokarma

  Just lost it about an hour ago. I’m a restaurant manager and they called me and told me to turn in my keys by the end of the day. I’m in quarantine and can’t. They are sending me a UPS box so I can send in my keys and told me to file for unemployment. Never expected this to happen to me. I’m in shock. I don't know what I’m going to do.
• (#17) A Sporting Chance

  From Redditor /u/KGBBigAl

  You hear people saying all the time now “D*mn, sports aren’t on. What am I gunna watch?!” Well that’s my job. I run camera for all the local sports in Colorado. We are all contractors and none of us are getting paid. You hear a bunch of teams offering money to the hourly employees, which is great, but that doesn’t include the people who actually get the game on the air for people at home to watch. Being out of work for a month can be devastating on our livelihoods as some of the lower positions could’ve only been on one or two shows before this crisis happened. Really rooting for a stimulus of some sort to come through.
• (#18) Let The Record Show

  From Redditor /u/lachjeff

  I had been unemployed for over two months, with countless applications and rejections. I finally landed a job at a record storing facility, good hours, good pay. Technically it was a casual job but it was essentially full time. There was work for me for over a year.

  The company whose records I was to be taking care of canceled the job and I was back out of work after 5 1/2 days.
• (#19) It's A Zoo Out There

  From Redditor /u/cweezie

  I was a server looking for a new job before this all began. I got a job secured at the zoo (an amazing dream job for me and my personality), but the day before I started at the zoo, they shut it down for the CoV fears. Then they shut down my serving job, too.
• (#20) No Piece Of Cake

  From Redditor /u/hciwdnassybra

  I worked at a specialty custom cake shop. My bosses are a brother and sister that own the business. They have been terrified of CoV since it started in January and have been throwing around the idea of closing ever since then. When all the employees would panic and ask what would happen to us if you close, they would just say, “Don’t worry about it, we will figure it out.”

  Last week, we got an email giving us six days' notice that we will be closed for the following month with partial pay. By the time we reached the final day we would be open before the month of closing, they told us that we were actually being laid off, the partial pay for the month would be severance, and they are unsure of when they will open.

  They act like this is only temporary, but I know that they are refusing custom cake orders all the way until August.

  They also make no promises to be able to hire us back after they reopen later this year since they may not be able to afford it.
• (#21) The New Reality

  From Redditor /u/TheGreatRandolph

  I do camera work, mostly reality TV. Our entire industry is shut down. I had just finished filming Deadliest Catch and returned to real life to sleep (I worked 24-hour days, often with two-hour naps, but no real schedule, just go!, so recovery takes a bit after that one) and climb for a bit. Then everything I had lined up, and everything all of my friends are working on, went away basically overnight.

  Whenever you can, just turn the TV on to Discovery so when this all blows over, I can get back to frolicking in Alaska! Or the jungles.

  Side note - I finally had time to get treated for the parasite I picked up in Belize on Naked and Afraid. I named him Rupert, and thought I killed him climbing, but it turned out I was wrong. Goodbye, Rupert. You’ll be missed.
• (#22) A Slippery Slope

  From Redditor /u/Heibgab

  I work for a ski resort in Colorado. Practically all employees have been laid off and are now stranded in a ski town with little other employment. Many have no way to get themselves home due to the desperate financial situation.
• (#23) Double Downer

  From Redditor /u/nonstopsobbing

  My job as a barista was shut down for safety and because nobody is coming in anyway. And my summer job (teaching kids how to swim at a sleepaway camp) is canceled because the camp decided not to open. While I'm not in danger of losing my house or starving, I am now unable to afford to continue going to college next semester.
• (#24) A New Line Of Work

  From Redditor /u/Punkinprincess

  I'm a stripper, which is a pretty big no-go while people are social distancing. All the bars in my state closed on Tuesday, and that same day, I went to a hiring event at the grocery store near me and walked out with a job! I was scared because as a stripper, I don't qualify for unemployment and my boyfriend also works in the service industry and his hours are getting cut. I also got a job with the census that was supposed to start on the 24th but that got postponed.

  Overall I'm kinda excited to work at the grocery store. I was kinda looking for a part time job anyways before this all started, and maybe it will be good way to transition out of stripping.
• (#25) Home Is Where The Art Is

  From Redditor /u/PurpleToasting

  I got laid off today.

  I worked in an art studio. There were only a few of us and my boss owns the business. As it's a small business, she just couldn't afford to keep me employed anymore. Business just stopped. Normally we would have 10-plus orders a day. Today we had one.

  It sucks but I understand completely and she is the nicest boss. I live in the UK, and although the government is promising loans for small businesses, it's not helping/realistic. By that I mean the help is going to come too late. I really hope her business manages to get through the next few months.

  It's going to be a difficult few months for a lot of us. I'm lucky I've got some savings and still live at home, so it could be so much worse.
• (#26) Curtains Closed

  From Redditor /u/StarsCanScream

  Manager at a movie theater. I already saw it coming, so it wasn’t that shocking to hear. We were only seeing about 200 people a weekday down from our average of 900.

  Got called in by the GM and we were told that we were closing indefinitely. It’s looking like six-12 weeks. I’m fortunate enough to have enough money saved that it isn’t really an issue for me, but it really upset me knowing that a lot of the people who work in the building have no other source of income and scrape by with their paychecks.

  Fingers crossed it’s six weeks ... maybe less.
• (#27) Boys In The Band

  From Redditor /u/Sattiebear

  I’m a professional musician, a drummer for two working bar cover bands, a well paid church gig, and a symphony orchestra. We’ve been told that all gigs and shows are canceled indefinitely and all church services suspended. Wife and I have money saved and will be OK, but I have bandmates in dire straights right now.
• (#28) No Work For Substitute

  From Redditor /u/theonlythingissufjan

  I'm a substitute teacher, and I had a few sub assignments lined up for the next month. All are canceled, and I don't know if there will even be a school year to finish. I had to apply for unemployment since I have no means of making a living if schools end their year.
• (#29) End Of The Tour

  From Redditor /u/jimmythecomic

  I’m a tour guide. We make most of our money between March and June due to traveling school groups. All March and April shifts have been canceled. I’m praying I get to work in May. When tours slow down in June, I usually work in a summer camp. There’s some uncertainty there as well.
• (#30) A Silver Lining

  From Redditor /u/Canadian_Neckbeard

  My mom works in vacation rentals doing housekeeping. She's 61, diabetic and has COPD, and lives in a state that has mandatory shutdown of all non-essential businesses. When she was informed they'd be laying people off but also staying open, she told them she's afraid of getting CoV and they laid her off so she could collect unemployment and continue to pay her bills while staying home safe.
• (#31) Not Feeling Festive

  From Redditor /u/CommodoreBelmont

  I do web development and IT management. My company makes fabric decor for events and festivals. You know, the things that nobody's allowed to do right now. I've seen the company soar in the time I've been there. January was our best month ever, pulling in more than three times the amount the place was pulling in the month I was hired a few years back. We had twice as many requests for quotes on new projects in February as we did in December. We were crushing our records left and right. And then it was all vaporized in the span of a couple weeks as one festival after another was canceled and event throwers canceled their orders for our products.

  I was laid off Monday, along with the marketing agent, sales manager, and several members of production. We've been told that when things are looking up again, we'll be the first people called back, but that's going to be a while. The CEO is hoping for May. I'm thinking July is more realistic. I'm signed up for unemployment, and I'll be looking for work (because you have to in order to collect unemployment benefits), and I have a pretty good balance in my savings account. I'll be OK for a few months, although I did just have to cancel/postpone a refinance on my house. But I'm scared and anxious, and I'm grieving. I love my job. I really enjoy the work, I'm proud of what we do, I like my co-workers, and I love my team.
• (#32) That's A Wrap

  From Redditor /u/yogagirl1641

  Both boyfriend and I work in the film industry. The whole industry has been shut down in Vancouver, and we are not being told when productions will come back or start up again. Showed up to work on the 13th was told to go home and haven’t been back since.

  I’m preparing myself for two to three months before I can even entertain the idea of going back to work.
• (#33) A Rough Environment

  From Redditor /u/depixelated

  I worked with a company that did environmental work with concerts and musicians. Just started the job, too, and was really excited to start what I thought was my dream job. I got laid off because of CoV.

  Job hunting during the quarantine is really difficult, and I would like to use my environmental science degree for something useful.
• (#34) Closing Time

  From Redditor /u/SateenDuraLuxePaints

  I'm a bartender. I wasn't working Saturday or Sunday but was watching other places post on social media that they'd be closing for the time being. On Monday, a few hours before I was scheduled to go in, the city declared that sit-in restaurants should only serve take-out and that bars should close, so I spent a while with the owner packing up all the alcohol before we were all laid off in order that we could start collecting EI. I was a regular there for years before I started working there after finding it in its first week open, and it's been open almost as long as I've lived in this neighbourhood. I'm the longest-tenured bartender at this point. It's really f*cked up to think about the place potentially not coming back.
• (#35) The Graphic Details

  From Redditor /u/wogwai

  I was laid off from my five-year graphic design job, working for a screen-printing and promotional products company. About half of our business involves schools, sports, and events. Obviously none of that is happening currently, so our business has stagnated. They are going to try to operate with a skeleton crew for the next couple months. The hope is to bring everyone back eventually, but I'm not optimistic.

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