I thought I would share a little bit about what is going on with us. As you all know, Joe was recently laid off from his job at IMFlash. He received a severance of about three months. During this time, we were searching everywhere for a new job. He couldn't find anything that paid even close to what he was making before. We finally decided to have him get a low paying job while on severance in order to get double checks and save some money and then to return to school in the fall. He really likes his job, so he decided to just keep working and use some financial aid from school to supplement us until he could finish school.
Recently IMFlash certified under the Trade Adjustment Act. This act is a government program that helps displaced workers who have lost their jobs due to the relocation of the jobs overseas. There are different elements of the program. They will pay for him to go back to school (paying tuition, books, fees) and pay him a living allowance for 2.5 years while he does so. They will also cover 80% of the costs of COBRA while we are in the program and job search/relocation money when we are done. We decided that the program would be too good to pass up and started the process of getting approved. We knew this meant that he couldn't really continue his low paying job, even though he loves the company. He would have to work VERY part time (like 7-10 hours per week) in order to do the program. Things have really been in turmoil and I have been very stressed out trying to figure all of this out.
We had not mentioned anything to his work about the TAA. We didn't want to get them in an uproar until we knew what would really be happening. Yesterday, however the cat got out of the bag. The Department of Workforce Services sent his company a letter asking for details about his work there as part of the approval process. Oops. LOL The CEOs called Joe into their office to ask him about it. He told them all the details and how he needs to make more money in order to really support his family. He let them know that he loves the company, but he just can't come even close to feeding his six children on the salary he has been making (it is probably like 55% of what he was making before) and that he was going to get his masters in order to be able to get a higher paying job.
Anyway, they were very nice about it all (of course...this is why he loves the company in the first place). They told him that they totally understood and that they could see why he would want to take advantage of it. Then, however, they told him that they have been so impressed with him that they really, really don't want him to leave (or go part time). They said that they had been talking before they got the letter, and had decided to give him a promotion. They wanted to know just how much he made at IMFlash and asked him if they could pay him close to what he was making there and/or pay for his school themselves if he would consider staying (and give up the TAA). They said that they feel like he is their best guy and really want him to take on heavier loads, more management type stuff. Anyway, now we are in an uproar again...not sure what to do. Joe was very flattered that they were so kind and that they said lots of really nice stuff about him. He does really like his company and if they are willing to almost double his salary...
Sigh. So now we're not exactly sure what we will be doing. We are in talks with his work about how much of a raise they can afford to give him. We don't have much time to make these decisions. It is a time of upheaval for our little family. We can use all the prayers we can get!
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