Possible Layoff's??

Yesterday morning I was reading about what they are calling "Bloody Monday", where tons of companies are letting go of thousands of their staff and closing stores and offices. It really is scary to see what is happening to our economy, and I am hoping the current administration can really change things around like they say they are. I started to worry that maybe MY job could be in jeopardy, but then I thought, well, it's Walmart, they are the only company doing well right now, so I should be safe.Fast-forward to last night, when a cashier, who has been with Walmart as long as I have (4 months), was leaving for the night and stopped to tell me he was just laid off. The reason? ""Economic conditions", the manager told him, and that since they have already cut hours, and the store is still very slow, and not making much money, this is the next step, and they are going to have to start with the newest associates. But after 4 months, you aren't new, we've passed our 90-day probation period, and there are several other people who have started within the last few weeks. So in an instant I went from feeling lucky to be working for a company that wasn't going to be in any need to do layoff's, to feeling scared for my job. Luckily, greeters are needed, and I am doing a good job for them, but when it comes to layoff's, no one is safe. You could be absolutely needed and be the best employee a company has, but if they can't afford to pay you, then that's life. I have already gone from working 28-30 hours a week, down to now 20 hours for the next 3 weeks. That is a huge hour cut, and even though working only 4 hours a day is nice, it is going to hurt in the paycheck, and we are going to struggle. Only thing I can hope for is that we are able to get a large tax refund so we can get current on some bills, and start up a savings account, so if I am laid off, we at least have something to fall back on until I am able to get something else.

What I find really upsetting though, is that no one is really taking about the layoff's that could happen, it is sort of we know it is happening, but management just isn't going to confirm it. Instead of being honest and upfront and saying that yes, we are probably going to layoff some associates, so be prepared kinda thing, it is just you go to work, do your whole shift, and then when you clock out for the day, you are told by they way, we have to let you go. I can only pray that they feel, as a greeter, I am really needed and it would hurt them to let me go, and all I can do is keep doing the best job for them that I can.