Recently Citigroup announced to layoffs about 53,000 of its staffs based in London and New York. This figure does not include the 22,000 layoffs announced earlier this year. Massive layoffs is part of the banking giant struggles to deal with massive losses from deteriorating debt.

Meanwhile back in Malaysia a few companies has started retrenching its workers. Starting with Nikko Electronics in Penang which retrenched 1,000 of its workers in June this year followed by Stats Chippac retrenching 150 workers and the latest is Infineon which retrenched 150 workers.

The trend for manufacturing companies to retrench its workers will be worst in 2009 due to the declining demand from manufacturing sectors as recession hits the globe particularly US, Europe and Japan.

Malaysians working abroad especially in Singapore will be most affected if recession hits Singapore. Currently more than 300,000 Malaysians are working in Singapore. Their retrenchment will further increase the number of unemployed citizens. With the current figures of 50,000 unemployment among our local graduates the situation will be worst than what we can imagine.

Although some quaters in the government including the DPM himself has assured that our economy is in a better position to face the economic downturn, the real impact is yet to come. Analysts predict that when recession hit our shores the effect will be double or triple fold.

When the last recession hit us, 80,000 f our citizens were made jobless. This time the effect will be worst but it can only be seen sometime next year. Since our economy and trades are interwined with other countries which are already facing the recession, sooner or later we all have to face the brunts that will affect our daily lifes.

It’shigh time for our MPs from both the ruling party and the opposition to sit together and come out real fast with concrete action plans to mitigate the impact of this downturn or else we the rakyat will suffer the most.

The best thing is Kay will always shoot an email or two in a week without fail. How did you do it Kay? I mean where you get all those ideas to be shared with us, but most importantly… the time. But after a deep thought I came to a conclusion… the value of friendship. Yes, you really value the friendship within the group. Thank you Kay for your sincere friendship.

As time passes our working culture and company policy changed. Ahhh… just remembered what was taught in our class back then… it keep changing to remain competitive and relevant. New policies, new processes, new value chain, new way of thinking… it’s all about remaining relevant to the market.

But heck… sometimes changes create backlash to employees. You have to move around to a new and non challenging post, you got less number of staffs to handle the increasing workload, you got less budget to work around… and the worst is some new policies introduced that will squeeze your balls.

Some not so good policies are such;

• Veterans need to be replaced by fresh graduates… you know why.
• You are not as aggressive as your younger colleague… they by passed you.
• Don’t do this and that – if you violate you’ll be dismissed.
• Meeting start at 6.00 pm and must finish your work by Monday 8.30 am.
• Take it or leave it.
• Strict internet and email usage – strictly for company matters.
• …. etc.

Anyway you have to get along with these new and “friendly” policies… or you may opt for VSS or tender resignation form.

Whatever decision that you may take, you must keep the friendship within our group alive. Ok… don’t use office emails. Don’t share your ideas using your office emails any longer but post to this blog instead.

Post to this blog about anything that you feel appropriate to share with the group. Post comments just like you press your ‘Reply’ in your emails.

Visit this blog at least once in a week and make post or comment. Remember, your post will keep our group friendship alive.