I'm pretty sure this is something that has happened to almost all of us at least once in our lives but what is the longest time you have ever been involuntarily laid off from work? For me it's 6 months. I was one of the casualties of the 2000-2001 Dot.com bust and the subsequent 9/11 recession which caused tourism to plummet for a few months. So as a result I spent July through most of December 2002 on an unpaid vacation!

1 Month in 1971 when I was discharged...and I just took a bit of vacation .I was laid off from a few New England textile mills when they closed but never more than a week/..

Just shy of 2 years. My wife had us well situated financially to be able to weather the storm. Holding out for landing a good job paid off, as my benefits at this job are quite good.

I've never been laid off. I had been continuously employed from the age of 12 until I was 23 when I quit my job, but then I was unemployed for only a week then I had a new job, which I still hold 23 years later. I hope I don't ever get laid off...

v6,
boNes

Two months in 1977. Just finished one construction project and waiting the next to start up.

Three months, in 2001. Still thankful (in retrospect) that the company got rid of me, since the next one got my career really started.

I've been employed as an adult for the last 31 years, Started with Nike right out of HS, they purchased Cole Haan where I transferred over to. 1994 Nike purchased Canstar Hockey which later became Bauer only and I've worked for them since.

2 years ago they decided to consolidate our CS departments and I was going to be cut, but the last day they offered me a position and because I had nothing lined up, and the benefits are great and I get 7 weeks a year off I'll stay till my kids both go off to college.

I have been laid off 5 times in my life. It has always been because of mergers, or the IT departments being moved to India. Also working on conversions, you are either taking down or building a system. Once that's done, it's "hit the road". Once from a steel company, 3 times from financial IT, and once from medical IT. I was always able to get a job right away. It helped that I always knew people and had contacts. That's how it used to be done. One nice thing, there was usually a "stay on bonus" to stick around until the last minute. At one point, I was thinking about becoming an IT recruiter, because I had been through the drill so many times.

I've been in the IT field since 1998 so I consider myself extremely lucky to have experienced only one layoff. I totally get everything you said in your post though since many of my friends went through similar things in the IT field.

never - the grass around the airport continues to grow - someone has to mow it plus I'm here legally

^ Wait till they replace you with a flock of sheep.

It is definitely a very scary thing. Especially with a mortgage and little mouths to feed. The first few times were very nerve racking. I always kept a well detailed list of contacts, recruiters, and company HR contacts at the ready. Of course along with an updated resume. Before things like Monster.com and Dice.com, you had to do things like that. I have never really experienced any kind of "job security".

The reality is that no job has 100% security even if you're self-employed. Naturally, some sectors will always be "more secure" than other sectors depending on what the economic trends are.

Back in the late '80's working with a bunch of mates doing labouring contract work. One of the guys dads was a contractor and used to get us in as a work gang doing whatever, digging, whacker packing, pulling dow interiors of old buildings, general labour basically. Very good money, twice as much as as anyone else was making at my age but zero job security.sometimes it would be a two week stint other times a couple of months with normally a few weeks in between where i would mow school and housing commision lawns with another guy when he needed a hand.

Not having a secure job at that time was cool because we had a ton of fishing, car and party time and we were all 17ish and generally cashed up. I've never been officially laid off though and have always found it fairly easy jumping around between jobs if i'm not happy.

Once in 1978 and for no longer than a few months I would say.

Never been laid off, but at 25 years at the same job I think it might be time for a change up. Burnt out at this one.

The front page left the word "off" from this post. I saw "When was the longest time you were laid.." Had to stop in!

LMAO. Of course I would never ask such a personal question on SimHQ. This is not Facebook!!

About 2,5 years one time, and 18 months the second time.