Tough Canadian Economy

It has been just about a year since the Canadian government announced that we were officially in a recession.
Living in the northern part of Alberta during the “boom” I personally said the boom will go bust, what I was not prepared for though was the fact to happen over night.

During the Alberta Boom/Bust, I had worked for an Industrial Commercial Supplies company as a Sales Person/General Manager. I went from tons of big orders, to small less orders, all over night. Every company I sold to, Would tell me the same thing “We are on a buying freeze”, and I saw companies laying off up to 1/2 their staff. But everyone was positive, things would pick up.

During this time, the company I worked with, went from trying to keep the employees “semi” happy, to “The boom is over, and You are now ”replaceable” It was un real. They took away the “water cooler” and told us if we wanted water other than tap water, we were to buy it ourselves. And also took away coffee as well. And also cut our commission checks by 1/3 to 1/2 through how the commission structure worked.

The company did a lot of firing based on Sales Performance. And Ironically did the dirty deed when you were ready to leave on holidays.
It was very stressful. It didn’t matter how much you worked, or how hard you worked, People can not change the economy. I was lucky to find another job, and managed to quit the Industrial Supply Company.

Since than No one I once knew even works for that company, they have all fled for the same reason of “STRESS”.
Perhaps we all are weak and could not deal with the stress, or perhaps we all thought it was greener on the other side of the fence.
But none the less this year has been a roller coaster ride of many.

I actually stayed in sales, and moved on to “Photocopiers” and I am much happier, but again, we are still in a recession. And I am hearing the same story. “Money is not in the budget”. And I talked to another company just yesterday, where they were laying off more staff.

It is so depressing some days. But every day I am thankful I have a job, my husband still has a job, and every one is healthy. And that is what is important.

I personally know I am not prepared for my husband to lose his job, as he is the bread-winner. I know I don’t have a 3 month salary saved, and I know we would be very much in debt if he was to lose his job. We have the rrsp’s, etc, but not cash.

For those of you that have had this happen, and survived the train wreck, Good for you!

I want to hear from you, and what have you seen this last year?