You are lucky because know at leat 15 people that have been laid off from all kinds of different companies. Some in the housing market, manufacturing, and just an accounts receivable job. The problem isn't that the lose of jobs, its that if anyone is out of work we are all trying to get the same jobs, which is fine because competition is great, but sometimes 2 qualified canidates are vying for 1 job. How long does that qualified canidate stay out of work. Also in retail they cut hours at the first of the year, but what that really means is you will be cutting staff and they won't be getting any severance or really any warning other than we don't have the hours. Tough times right now.