Do laid-off employees sometimes get their positions back?

Question

Positions/jobs from which they were laid-off from, of course.

And what about the construction/laboring industry?

Just curious...

All answers are appreciated but details from your own or other peoples' experiences are relaly appreciated!

I had a friend who was just laid off from a very small construction company (with only a few workers, owned by a husband and wife who live here locally)- it's a roofing company. The construction here (in some suburbs in Southern California) has GOTTEN REALLY SLOW this season! So that's why I am asking.

Answer 1

I was laid off from a manufactoring position about 5 years ago and was called back in a couple of weeks when things picked up. I guess it depends on the employeee though. Was your friend a good worker? Did he/she have disipline problems at work. It really comes down to the employer. If I were them I would actively be looking for other work. If the work is better than the last employer who laid him/her off I would definitly stay with them.

Answer 2

The answer is "sometimes". It depends on:
1) The company's policy about laid off workers and whether or not they are eligible for rehire.
2) Whether or not the laid off person is still available - many times they have moved on and found something else.
3) Whether it was really a layoff, or more of a performance problem that got lumped into a layoff. If the employee didn't get along with the boss while they were there, they probably won't get asked back.

Construction or other labor-intensive work is often seasonal in nature; the labor market fluctuates with the economy, as you've pointed out. So it's not unusual for a company to let workers go during slow periods and then rehire them when things pick up.

Answer 3

My mother works in a furniture production plant with hundreds of employees and my father works for a small painting company similar to to the roofing company you've described.

My mom has been laid off and gotten her job offered back to her, but by that time a lot of time (several months) had passed and she'd found a new, better paying job.

My dad has never really been laid off, just let go. Usually in the slow season the companies my dad has worked for have just shortened work hours. Sometimes they hire extra work during the busy season that will be let go once the slow season begins. Whether your friend will get his job back may rely heavily on when he was hired. He might consider finding another company just in case or even doing some work on his own for cash from individuals who need roof repair. He may have to commute out of the area to find work opportunities or work may pick up within a couple of months. Good luck to your friend! The construction industry can be so unstable sometimes.

Answer 4

I would say usually not, but it really depends on the situation. Sometimes larger employers use layoffs as an excuse to get rid of deadwood. But if this is a small company, and your friend was truly a valued and productive employee, there would probably be a good chance he would be re-hired when business picks up. But he should try to find work elsewhere in the meantime - he shouldn't hold his breath waiting to be re-hired!

Answer 5

yes. but only sometimes. every time my dad is laid off he got his position back. But in the mean time he should get a new job just in case he doesn't get asked back.

Answer 6

rarely