For those of you who have had the honor of being a DialAmerican at some point in your existence or known someone who has, it may interest you to know that the Dial is dead.

The announcement came today for the staff, tonight for our night shift reps, & tomorrow morning for our day shift reps. This ends 17 years of DialAmerica in Knoxville, the last 6 of which, I was along for the ride. Despite all the BS, it was a good place to work. We were a big family. Now we'll have about 100 or so more unemployed people in our fair city, including lots of single moms, elderly, & disabled.

We were given a package of parting materials which include various other organizations out there to apply with. We haven't been told officially about unemployment benefits. I know we will be losing our insurance coverage next month (& we have 2 appointments this week!).

On the plus side, I guess I'll be able to stay late at Sanctus this Sunday, since I don't have to worry about getting up early Monday morning.

OMG that sucks, Mo!

I am so sorry MO.

holy shit that sucks
sorry mo

As someone who as lost their job to a supposedly upswinging economy (yeah, right) I know how you feel (it stinks). I'm probably going to be at Sanctus on Sunday. So, if you need some advice on what to do next let me know, but I think you'll be back on your feet before you know it.

Im sorry Hope ye get back on ye feet quicky.

If I can help you out in any way, let me know. The few times I've worked for another have always ended badly, thus the poor-but-happy path of the self employed. (Best Genii voice: Cosmic Phenominal Freedom - Itty Bitty Income!)

We'll cheer you up at Sanctus - see you there.

Gregori

Oh hell. It's an end of an era.

Sorry about the job. I personally can totally understand as I am in a similar situation. Hope things go well for you on the job hunt. If I run across any job openings, I will post them.

J

Damn... sorry to hear that Mo....
I'm here if ya need anything

I'm so sorry......

I really hate to hear that Mo. Let me know if I can help in any way.
*hug*

That sucks ass! Does that include all of DialAmerica? I have a friend that recently got a job at the one in Johnosn City...I hope that one stays, just for her sake!
I'm so sorry Mo!

Johnson City is still viable, but there are no more DialAmericas in Knoxville.

They told the A.M. reps this morning. They took it especially hard since that's where all our veterans were for the most part. Not a dry eye in the place.

Thanks for all the kind words. The Dial was a major part of my life that is now over. I can't help but be sad. The staff all sat down for one last meal together this afternoon... our "last supper." We cracked on each other & cussed like sailors for old time's sake. I'll miss them all.

Anyway, does any one know where the unemployment office is? I've never had to do this before. I know it used to on Magnolia, but I've heard it's since moved.

Thanks again for giving a fuck guys. It helps offset all those corporate asses who don't.

I believe you can file online.

Go to:

http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/labor/

Major Suckage, Mo. I hope you and your family weather it smoothly. Let us know if we can help. Come October, I may be in the same boat. bleh.
Yay America.

The unemployment office is on 1610 University Ave. The directions mapquest give are accurate. Since I've done this before, I'll give you some pointers:

1. Go to the office on Thursday or Friday between 8am and 3pm, because the rest of the week is pretty packed. You'll need to bring some kind of official letter that denotes that you've been laid off.
2. Once there, you'll be asked to fill out some forms. They pretty much ask the same things (past jobs, length of working there, etc.), but are different in some ways.
3. Once you've finished the forms, you turn them into the people at the desk and they'll put in a box for you to see somebody about unemployment benefits, but in the meantime....
4. You get to watch some crappy video that after watching it you'll wonder if you can get that twenty minutes of your life back.
5. After the cinematic equivalent of having extra-hot buffalo sauce thrown in your eye, you'll wait to see somebody.
6. Once you finally see somebody they'll give you a book and explain how everything works to you, which will seem repetitive because of the video you almost clawed your eyes out to mentioned it as well.
7. After seeing somebody, your finished, other than calling your unemployment in every week which I won't get into because it gets mentioned in the video, by the person you see, and it's in the book that they give you.

Theoretically, you could do this in a day. However, I didn't because I had no idea what I was doing.

Good luck

Thanks, Spookypete. Mission accomplished. They said to call next Tuesday to request the first check. Not an overly friendly lot down there, huh?

*HUGS* I am sorry to hear this. If you want company, I know I haven't been around or anything much but feel free to PM me and if you wanna get out and I can, I would definitely be up for doing it.

Man Cow (who my bro thinks is the greatest American ever) had a good point to say abou t all of this. " We are slaves to this counrty. If you don't think so, see how you are treated at any governement office or government affiliation. You atand in line like cattle at thew DMV hoping that you will get in that day." I'm sorry Mo, if I can do anything let me know.

Thanks guys! Let's all meet up at 11th street or Panda on Friday. Coffee & Kareoke should put smiles on or faces!