Information sessions point employees to benefits, education

By BENNETT HALL

Gazette-Times reporter

About 75 people spent Thursday morning in a meeting room at Oregon State University contemplating life after Hewlett-Packard.

"On the one hand, I'm glad to see you," Alan Rowe of the Oregon Employment Department told the group, most of whom are losing their jobs at the mid-valley's largest tech industry employer.

"On the other hand, I'm sorry - I'm sorry because I've been laid off before."

An estimated 300 workers are exiting the company as it shuts down a silicon wafer fabrication facility and makes other cutbacks in Corvallis. HP has slashed more than 3,500 jobs at its local campus since the site's heyday in the mid-1990s, but the Silicon Valley computer and electronics giant still employs about 2,500 people here.

There were two information sessions Thursday at OSU's LaSells Stewart Center to educate employees about some of the government benefits they may qualify for. In addition to unemployment insurance, benefits can range from career counseling and outplacement assistance to cash allowances for job search and relocation.

The morning session was packed as Carla Raymond of Linn-Benton Community College ticked off a few of the 80-plus certificate and training programs available at the community college.

"There's pharmacy technician, veterinarian's assistant, phlebotomy, polysomnographic technician - that's a sleep tech," Raymond explained. "If you are one of those people who like to stay up all night and you want to help people with their sleep disorders, that could be a good program."

During a break, workers stretched their legs and talked in small groups in the conference center lobby.

"I've worked at HP my whole life, since getting out of college," said a man in his 50s. "I was hoping to hang in for another few years until I could retire, but that's not happening."

Like others at the event, he said he didn't want his name in the paper for fear that Hewlett-Packard would withhold his severance package. In past layoffs, HP has required workers to sign severance agreements pledging not to make "disparaging comments" about the company.

While he said nothing derogatory about his former employer, the worker did express concern about finding another job in a down economy - especially with so many other ex-HP employees looking for work.

"Certainly in the high-tech field, we're going to saturate the job market," he said.

Others were more hopeful.

"I have something lined up, but I'm still looking at options," said a man who got laid off after 24 years with Hewlett-Packard. "There is work out there, I think, for people who have some skills."

And still others seemed almost relieved to be on their way out of a workplace where the threat of job cuts has become a continuous presence.

"There's a lot of uncertainty," said one worker. "Even if I hadn't gotten laid off this time, my wife asked me would I please start looking for another job."

More layoffs could be coming. As it digests the $13.9 billion acquisition of technology services provider Electronic Data Systems, Hewlett-Packard has announced it will cut 24,600 jobs from the combined companies' global work force of 209,000.

It's not clear how those layoffs might affect HP's Corvallis campus, which is focused primarily on the company's imaging and printing business.

The resource fair will continue with two more sessions on Saturday. The meetings are scheduled from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the LaSells Stewart Center, 875 S.W. 26th St. Openings are available, but space is limited. Call 800-436-6191 to reserve a place.

People who can't attend either session can call Sue McGuire-Thompson of the Community Services Consortium at 928-6335 about scheduling additional information opportunities.

Bennett Hall can be reached at 758-9529 or bennett.hall@lee.net.