I run my own business, so I don't think I can get laid off. there is no one for me to laid off either.
when I first started my job at bnymellon in 2008, bank of ny and mellon bank just got merged. my colleagues were telling me the signs for some changes, when the company was asking you do write up protocol on the things you did or new people, aka consultant, started showing up at work. Two months after I first started, the whole group got called into a big conference room. The message was that they would like to move to Pittsburgh to save money and you can move there or they would try to find another role within the bank (bs basically).
At that moment as a fresh grad out of college who really didn't have an idea what the hell was going on, I didn't have much to lose either. But these people in the conference room with me who worked their whole life for this company, I will never forget their faces just look beyond sad and it was EVERY SINGLE ONE of them collectively had a blacken face. The only thing I got out of this was I vowed not to be a sucker like them to have a lay off hand to me. corporate loyalty goes to hell!
The move never materialized, but I took a work abroad internship in London and quit after 8 more months and never looked back.
I came back a year later and found a job with another bank, the interview went so well that it was like a job on the spot. They were looking for consultant/contractor for about 6 months gig and also a full time employee has left, so there was an opening. It was 11/2009 and the worst job market out there. I refused to take a full time job and would only do contract for them. All my colleagues puzzled why I would not take a job and all I had to do was say yes.
I would rather work 6 months for a lot of money to working for a full time job. It worked out pretty well for me, I went off to travel after I finish my contract for 5-6 months and by nov, they would call me back to work for another tax season.
This went on until last year when I finally decided that I had to fully burned the bridge with them in order for me to focus on my business that was growing. When I left, the company is moving the operation to Nashville in TN from NJ. People are being laid off or they can move to nashville. Why am I not surprised?
I have always keep this in mind, permanent job is permanent until the moment it is not.