Charlie

Charlie, 55, was laid off from Georgia Pacific due to downsizing. When he began looking for a new job, he was shocked to learn the extent of outsourcing. For the first time in his life, Charlie found himself becoming an activist. He began www.OnShoreAlternatives.com to educate consumers on which companies outsource and which do not.

My Story
Until I was laid off a year ago, I had no idea how prevalent outsourcing had become. As soon as I began looking for a new job, I began hearing about companies that were moving their IT and HR departments to India. I saw people around me being laid off, because their jobs were now being done overseas. Career counselors were telling me that I had to “dumb down” my résumé to find work.

So I gave up looking for a new job and founded www.OnShoreAlternatives.com. I’m hoping that the website will let people know that they have a choice—that there are companies that don’t outsource. I’m also hoping that the site will lead to a steady income. Before being laid off, I was making $90K a year. So far this year I've made $112.

The hardest part of all this is not being able to be a safety net for my family. My 13-year-old daughter just began private school last year, and she loves it. My wife and I are trying to keep her in it, but we’re not sure that we can afford it for much longer. The last time I went to dinner with my two sons, we had to go Dutch. It’s hard knowing I can’t be there for them like I used to be.

This is the first time in my life that I don’t think good is prevailing in this country. What’s happening is wrong, and it doesn’t make long-term business sense. Outsourcing will prove to cost companies more than they anticipated; that’s how it works. Also, companies are unemploying their customer base by laying off employees at such a high rate. Companies and stockholders need to pay more attention to long-term success.

Maybe we could get the country back on track if President Bush would pay attention to the citizens of this country, rather than pandering to big businesses. They may be putting more money in his pockets, but we’re the ones Bush is supposed to be working for.