Niece has just lost her job as a direct result of Musk’s edict.

Such an important issue as well. I hope she gets something suitable.

Witzend

She’s American, a PhD who has been working for years on climate change research. In her current job she still has to complete a year’s probation, hence the sacking, since Musk had ruled that all government probationers will be given the boot.

Luckily her former boss at a university will probably be able to re-employ her, but many thousands will not be so lucky.

So sorry, and as you say thousands of others will now lose their jobs, one of our SILs who runs a company offering training for businesses in diversity and equality in the workplace has had the US branch shut down and fears the UK will go the same way.
Dark days.

An estimated 200,000 government employees lost their jobs this week. This doesn't include those in the trickle down lines of private compaines who have lost contracts.

They also lost health insurance.

It is going to be bad. And it will start affecting people around the world. No one, it seems, can escape these mad men.

Sadly she probably won't be the last either.
It's only when it comes down to a personal level that the actions of the powers that be stop being "merely" theoretical.
Every good wish to her for her career going forward.

It brings things homes when one can put, if not a name, an idnetity and a story to one of those affected.

Good grief. Where will all these people go now ? They are well educated,informed people so hopefully they can get different employment or start an American brain drain. He doesn’t think things through, does he ?

nanna8

Good grief. Where will all these people go now ? They are well educated,informed people so hopefully they can get different employment or start an American brain drain. He doesn’t think things through, does he ?

Unfortunately, unless the American job market is very different to the British or that of any European country, well-educated, well-informed people are not greatly in demand in the business world,

Even if they were, few businesses are doing as well as they would like, and certainly not well enough to be hiring people. Right now their sales are dropping, so they are firing people.

Funding for research or teaching in universities and colleges has been greatly reduced everywhere, as the hard fact is that the war in Ukraine is costing us all money, as our governments are forced to find funding for defence budgets that have been starved for years.

So no, sadly, this poor young woman and many like her, are not going to find new jobs very easily. They will be on the breadline soon, or taking jobs they are grossly over-qualified for in order to keep a roof of some sort over their heads and food in the mouths of their children.

nanna8

Good grief. Where will all these people go now ? They are well educated,informed people so hopefully they can get different employment or start an American brain drain. He doesn’t think things through, does he ?

They should come here- leave the US to stew in its own ignorance.

However, the Atlantic is a big ocean to cross in a small boat so I suggest they cross the border and go to Canada...

”They should come here- leave the US to stew in its own ignorance”

Agreed keepingquiet. I’d welcome a ‘brain drain’ from the USA👍

But what is Musk's legal authority to do this What would happen if people challenged their dismissal?

Quote from keepingquiet...."However, the Atlantic is a big ocean to cross in a small boat so I suggest they cross the border and go to Canada..."

Canada is under serious attack at the moment by trump and musk. Escaping to Canada is not as easy to do as one would think since like everywhere else, there's a process.

Trump et al have a strangle hold on their government and don't give a damn about anyone else. It's ironic that sooo many of those who voted for him are suffering, and more will continue to suffer firings. They are also gutting the few social safety nets that had been in place.

They pulled a classic 'Bait & Switch' on voters there.

At this point in time, the USA is a dictatorship... just like Russia.

What a mess!!!!

I am so sorry to hear that Witzend. It's a personal disaster, which when multiplied by all the other dismissals, will turn into an economic one for the USA. People on benefit cannot afford to spend, except on essentials. Economic growth will flatline and fall.
Vintage asks, 'on whose authority'? We will all have to wait to see what the Trump appointed Supreme Court makes of his challenge to the increasing legal restraints being rushed through against him. If they support him against the rule of law, then he is king.

vintage1950

But what is Musk's legal authority to do this What would happen if people challenged their dismissal?

He has no legal authority. He is very rich and bought Trump the Presidency so now Trump and everyone else, has to do as he says... it's called a coup d'etat in countires that aren't functioning democracies, and soon the US won't be one either.

Be careful who and what you vote for...

keepingquiet

vintage1950

But what is Musk's legal authority to do this What would happen if people challenged their dismissal?

He has no legal authority. He is very rich and bought Trump the Presidency so now Trump and everyone else, has to do as he says... it's called a coup d'etat in countires that aren't functioning democracies, and soon the US won't be one either.

Be careful who and what you vote for...

I can't help suspecting that Reform is watching closely what is happening in the US and is taking notes.

After all, Boris Johnson showed the way by ignoring parliamentary conventions, such as dismissing ministers for breaking the ministerial code and elevating quite unsuitable people to the peerage. Don't think it couldn't happen here...

Thousands have and are losing their jobs over here due to Labour policies!!

It’s sad how bad things have become for Americans following the re-election process of Donald Trump. We have family in California who believe things are only going to get worse. I for one won’t visit the USA in the near future, which is a shame as we love our trips stateside.

I want to be very clear about this. What Trump and Musk are doing is unconstitutional and illegal.

They don't care.

imaround

I want to be very clear about this. What Trump and Musk are doing is unconstitutional and illegal.

They don't care.

And they can continue to do it for the next four years, or longer if Trump changes the law around a president only being able to serve 2 terms.

I am wondering what financial help such people will get in the USA. Over here of course they would get a redundancy payment, I believe in the civil service it is a month’s salary for each year of service up to 12 months. Then there would be unemployment benefit which is about £90 a week and Universal Credit. I am thinking benefits are not so generous in the USA, how will all these people manage? And of course their health insurance is linked to their employment so they will lose that as well.

Excuse my ignorance, I've no clue what happening. But are they doing fire and rehire?

An additional problem with losing your job in the US is that you also lose your health benefits.

love0c

Thousands have and are losing their jobs over here due to Labour policies!!

Good point, I am sad to say.

As soon as the announcement was made, people could see that that was bound to happen.

Which presumably Labour knew too.

I am so sorry to hear that Witzend. It's a personal disaster, which when multiplied by all the other dismissals, will turn into an economic one for the USA. People on benefit cannot afford to spend, except on essentials. Economic growth will flatline and fall.

Depends if those people get jobs in the Private sector instead, I would say.
Or go into other Public service jobs where they can help say the USA some money.In one way or another.

Rula

Excuse my ignorance, I've no clue what happening. But are they doing fire and rehire?

Musk and Trump are cutting “unnecessary bureaucrats” and making the state smaller. This is the type of thing that Reform and the Tories are advocating. In the USA they cut nuclear power employees and had to rehire them because of their importance.
Trump’s tariffs have affected the price of food. Eggs as of yesterday were 15 dollars per dozen.

Richard Murphy has suggested that Trump’s activities are going to crash the global markets