From bad to worse

[Mark54]

     A week and a half ago I wrote and told everyone that I was released from the doctor to go back to work. Good news for Chele and I. We thought that things were starting to look up. Well.... I was a physical therapy on Friday when I received a call on my cell phone. It was the church that I work for requesting I come back to work for a meeting. I was going to take the rest of the day off because I had my 40 hours in, but I told them I would come back for the meeting. To make a long story short I was told that my job had been eliminated and I was no long employed. The duties of my position were going to be handled by outside contractors. Talk about being floored!
     I know times are bad but I figured working for a church I would be able to weather the storm. I am quite angry right now. These people at my church have known about Chele's illness and the financial strife we have had since this has all happened. I guess they decide that they didn't need me anymore since they got a long so well while I was off work for 12 weeks. Apparently,when times are tough compassion goes out the window even if you are a church.
     We have had a lot of tears at our house this weekend. This is the last thing Chele needs on her mind. Stress is a terrible thing for anyone with Sjogren's. I am worried about the health care issue. If I don't find a new job with benefits we are in deeper trouble. I am 54 years old and feel it will be tough to find some company to hire me. Thanks for letting me ramble on. It's hasn't been a good few years for us and it seems things just are getting worse. I know God has a plan for us and He will take care of us but I am human and feel like I have had enough. Tomorrow will be a better day!

God's blessings,

Mark....

[Katybarstool]

Mark

I am so sorry to hear your news. What a horrible situation to be in. It seems even harder when the church is your employer. Try to hang in there. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.

Kathyx

[Joe S.]

I know it is hard to have a job loss. I was devastated when I lost my high paying job in 2002. I found a part time job as an independent contractor teaching science to grades k-5. It is one hour a day but with the onset of lupus and Sjogren's it was the right change for me. Now I am looking at teaching adults how to heal with Reiki and other Complementary Alternative Medicines.

[Pooh]

Good grief Mark, if it wasn't for bad luck, you and Chelle wouldn't have any luck at all.   I am so sorry to hear of this latest hit.  I wish I knew what to tell you, but I don't. 

All I can do is keep you two in my prayers and ask Him to ease up.  Please hang in there and hold tight to one another.

By the way, were you hurt at work?  I can't remember.  (Imagine that )  If so you might look into this further with the labor department (?) or a lawyer. 

Hugs, and God Bless,
Pooh

P.S. I think I would change churches also.

[Collie]

I am sorry to hear of your bad news; when it rains it pours. I have learned when God closes one door he always seems to open another one; Be patient. ( I know easier said than done.)

Collie

[djean87]

I was an LPN for about 15yrs till august 2008 when my employer terminated me due to illnesses and missing to much work.as everybody says god does things for a reason.I now have my 89 year old mother-in-law with me we kind of take care of each other.so I am thinking this is what he had in mind for me.believe it or not was nurse in gereatics.seems to all go together.in your case try to hold on to the good of this,he has something better in mind for you down the road.Also my mother in law is deaf mute has been teaching me sign language.and at her age she needs naps like I do! frequently!! take care we are all thinking of you

[Bucky]

Mark,

I am so sorry to hear you have lost your job.    It would have been nice of them to give you some notice . . . one would think being employed by a church they would have shown you some compassion and understanding.  I can only imagine how angry you are right now (and rightfully so).

Back in Dec. 2006 Chele was replying to someone in the forum and wrote : "It really is very depressing when you feel no one is in your corner.  Try to remember you do have a lot of people in your corner!"      That same advice that Chele gave in 2006 still applies today . . . please remember your Sjoggie family is here in your corner!! 

Praying that your window will open and something better will come along.

Keep the faith . . . .

Bucky

[Mark54]

     Thank you everyone with your kind words of support. Chele and I got away this weekend to clear our minds. It helped! I'm still upset but am ready to do whatever I need to to take care Chele. I will start working on my resume tomarrow.

     Pooh, I did get hurt at work. The doctor released me so they took the opportunity to eliminate my job now. They wouldn't do it while under the doctors care. The church has to many lawyers to make a mistake like that.

     This too shall pass. We are praying that the job hunting will not take to long.

God's blessings,

Mark....

[susanep]

I am sorry to hear of your job loss. I am praying for God to open up a better door for you and your wife.

susanep

[irish]

Mark, I am really sorry to hear that you have lost your job. If there is anything to be sure of in this day and age it is that nothing is to be depended on like it was years ago.

Also, I am wondering if there is something you can do about being terminated at this point. Have you tried calling Legal services. I think they are listed in the phone book and free legal advice is given.

Are you able to keep health insurance with the Cobra law. It is more spendy than when one is employed, but still it is available. Will keep you and Chele in my prayers. Irish

[wednesday mc haggis]

mrk

i am so so sorry to read this.

It beggars beleif but then ppl never cease to amaze, thoughts with you and your wife, im not christian but Lot and his wife comes to mind, sometimes were tested on our journeys, the reason seems unclear at the tim,e but i know looking back at my life my highs have came from what i did with the lows and what i eventually achieved, there is always storm before calm, you deserve your calm now, but whats for us wont go by us, and in the bigger plan theri is a bigger picture that unfortunately were not privvy to right now, but till then at least we have ears to listen and support to give  each other and thats something no one can take away

T x

[ktfabian]

Mark-

I, too, am so sorry to hear that you've lost your job, especially given that this was a church where we all expect compassion.  My husband and I learned long ago, as a result of having our children in Catholic schools, that dealing with a church in no way ensures compassion. When my back injury happened and I had to stop working at a job that paid better than my husband's and had the better benefits, we wanted to keep our children in the schools they knew and quite frankly, in this area, had the better education.  They loved us when I was working for a company that donated $30,000 in shelving at my request.  Suddenly, we were treated like pond scum, to put it lightly.

Only once, in all the years my children were in Catholic school, was our situation looked on with compassion.  We assumed that the Bishop's word that every child who wanted one would receive a Catholic education wasn't predicated on the parents' ability to pay outrageous tuition.  By the time they both graduated, we were no longer Catholic.

This in no way compared to losing your job, of course, but it's another example of a church acting as if they were a business.  I hope, at least, you'll be able to collect.  When you apply for unemployment compensation, be sure to mention that you were off for 12 weeks prior to being let go.  Those weeks may count as your waiting week that, at least here in PA, is worked in to unemployment.

Has Chele signed up for Medicare Part B or D? If she hasn't, this "life change" as they call it allows her to do so now without waiting and without penalty if she hasn't paid  for Part B up til now.  If you just decide to enroll in Part B, without a life change, they charge you for the premiums or a partial premium, not sure which, back to when you were first eligible. I know Medicare isn't the same as private insurance, but it's better than nothing.

Also, a search on the internet should turn up some insurance companies that won't charge the arm and leg that COBRA will. It may take applying to a few before you're approved because of your pre-existing conditions, but you may find something that you can afford a bit easier than the chunk of change that COBRA-ing your benefits often costs.

My best to both you and Chele.  As others have said, try not to let the stress eat into you, making you feel worse than you already do. I know first hand that this is easier said than done, but neither of you need the added stress right now to aggravate your medical problems.

Remember that we're always here for you if you need to vent or a shoulder to lean on.  You'll be in my prayers,
Tracy

[Epson]

I hate to see anyone lose their job, been there, done that.  I did however drag them into court for years until they had to write a check to get rid of me.  You have to remember a church is a business too, they play by the same rules as any big business.

[irish]

Mark, I don't know what type of work experience you have, but I have been reading articles lately about people who have been laid off and end up starting their own business. They don't get rich, but it does bring in an income.

Also, I can't remember when Chele got her disability, but I think that one has to be disabled for 2 years and then they are automatically rolled over into Medicare. Medicare contacts you and has you fill out forms so that you can sign up for part B which is a must. Still thinking about you and Chele. Irish

[salsen]

Mark I am so sorry to hear such bad news.  My husband and I went through the same thing and it is quite a blow.  He was called into the office after 28 years and told his job was being eliminated.  They also knew his medical conditions and that he had just returned to work from having surgery.  Needless to say if he had made thirty years his pension would have been different.  Do I believe in company loyalty anymore - NOT at all. 

I do know that you will make it through this.  Just keep believing in each other and apply everywhere you can think of.  Something will come along.  The silver lining in our case is that my husband now has a job where he can leave the hassle when he walks out the door.  He is no longer supervising others and on call 24/7.  The stress level has hugely dropped. 

I do understand how depressing this is.  The loss of income and worry when there are health issues (in our case we both have problems) is mentally draining.  Another huge factor is your loss of faith in those you trust to treat you in a fair way.  I know even today I struggle to think descent thoughts about the company my husband worked for.    There was no measure of loyalty in the way he was let go. 

We too went to a lawyer but because his position was eliminated there was no recourse.  The only way would have been if they hired someone in a similar capacity after he was gone.  Yes they had lawyers and knew not to do that. 

Please if at all possible maintain your health insurance even if it is just hospitalization.  Federal law requires that you be picked up by a new company if you can show you maintained insurance in the gap.  Cobra is expensive but there are other individual plans out there that may work.  It doesn't have to be with your last company it just has to be continuous coverage. 

Good luck to you both.  You are in my prayers and I am adding your family to a couple of prayer lines in my area.  May your prayers be answered and a new job come along soon.  Know that along with my family there are many out here who are praying and wishing you the very best.  My husband and I made it through,  the both of you can too!