Hello and welcome back to the not-so-happy Dogpound. Good news is that I do not have the virus and no one in my family has been diagnosed with the virus, and I pray to the good Lord that it stays that way. However, this hands-off does not apply to the company that I am working for. We have been considered an “essential” manufacturing operation since we make transmission parts for aftermarket, OEM automotive (like: Ford,) and tractors (like: John Deere.) Despite that designation we got hit from several directions. One, some of the vendors who supply us raw materials and parts have not received the same designation, making it more difficult to procure the items we need to make shipments. Two, the customers we are trying to ship to are calling us saying they cannot pay us because they have been shut down by the virus. So, when the automotive companies decided to close for a period of time, it literally shut down one of our four plants. This coupled with all of the other issues we were dealing with as I outlined above, literally pushed management to make some tough decisions. So, they decided that we need to implement a rolling furlough for all of the office and staff personnel for the next three months. We will take turns taking a week off without pay, plus a pay cut for good measure, which will represent a month of lost pay, but we will keep our medical insurance. I was first up for the furlough, lucky me. I am making good use of the time off by getting in my much-needed spring cleaning. However, in reality, I rather be at work.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“Standing together we will get through this, six feet apart.” Dogpound Wisdom
SMILES
Overheard: “Yea, my financial advisor just called me, and he said I could retire at 65, but I need to die at 70.”
Overheard: “My luck. Gasoline is under $2 a gallon and I have no place to go.”
Overheard: “I tell you what. With all of the salons, hairdressers, and tanning beds closed, I hardly recognize my girlfriend anymore.”
Overheard: “I certainly wasted $20 on this 2020 social planning calendar.”
Overheard: “Did you hear about the new lottery game that just came out? The top prize is a 12-pack of toilet paper.”
Overheard: “Funny story. I went to the grocery store with my girlfriend. When we got home and took our mask off, I came home with the wrong girlfriend.
Overheard: “The grandparents are complaining that they don’t get to spend time with their grandkids due to this lock down. I tell you what, when this secure-in-place is over, they will get the kids for a month, maybe longer.”
And as a final point, did you know that Spam made their first batch of canned ham in 1937? The company just announced that due to the recent hoarding, they are going to make a second batch.
That is all I have for today. As always be good, do good, play safe and remember, together we will get through this one day at a time.
JR
