Long distance transportation people worried about not getting home?

People working at potentially dangerous and risky operations?

Computer folks reaching a sense of hopelessness about their project?

Folks resigning for intended moves to safer circumstances?

What types of operations may need to shut down way ahead of OO?

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 19, 1999

Answers

Hi Watchful, thanks for private mail. Have a friend who's a nurse in a city hospital; plans to take vacation 2nd and 3rd weeks of 2000 to avoid any possible civil disturbances to and from work.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), March 19, 1999.

I am computer systems analyst (permanent employee) working on y2k project. We have already been told by my company that we will not be allowed any vacation or leave of absence during December, 99 or Jan, 2000. I live around 150 miles from my workplace. Commute into large city 1x a week, stay for two days, work from home the rest of week.

I am expected to follow my weekly routine during Dec/Jan and I will do so if at all possible. The y2k project I am working on is in good shape so far.....if that changes and we run late, then since the project is mission-critical, I suppose that there is a possibility that myself and my co-workers will be so exhausted that we could give up hope and leave the company in disgust in Dec, especially if other serious problems are occurring. But I honestly don't think that will happen....most of us have serious investments in the company (in both years and investment plan monies), so it would have to get pretty bad for us to leave in Dec...a full scale panic might do it.....hope I'm not forced to eat my words....

On a practical basis, if the first workday of the new century dawns with little fanfare, I will make my regular 150 mile drive into the city....but keep a full tank of gas. If really serious problems develop in the city before or right at rollover, then I'm not driving into the city.....and therefore will be looking for a new job when the smoke clears...kiss my investment money goodbye...guess it would be gone anyway though, eh? I think others in my position will do the same.

Other co-workers who travel have already said they will quit before they will fly in Jan. If asked to fly, so will I. Can't see taking that risk.

-- seagreen (seagreen@seagreen.com), March 19, 1999.

We plan to be at home waiting to see what's up by 0000 UTC 1/1/00. As all military and scientific installations etc. run on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), there should be some indications of trouble (nuclear accidents etc.) if it is going to happen at that time. For those that aren't familiar with UTC, 0000 UTC 1/1/00 will occur at 7 p.m. EST 12/31/99. If all is quiet then, we have a week of leave planned to see how things shake out before venturing out too far afield of home.

-- Ramp Rat (Aviation_R_us@noname.nocity), March 19, 1999.

I work in a LARGE supermarket, meat dept. If things start to look like its gonna get ugly, there's a back door, which I will promptly use. after that, its serve yourself.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), March 19, 1999.

Just something for everyone to think about.

Sometimes our individual paradigms do not allow us to consider other potentialities. For instance, if things are looking difficult in the fall ... there is the potential for a measured degree of martial law to be instated November - December. I would not consider this potential in a totally negative light. Many of our decisions (and that of the government) will depend on the timing and movement of the masses. Let's not assume that our workplace or schedule will proceed as "normal" in the days ahead.

Each one of us will have our own personalized circumstances (depending on location, family, workplace, etc.) and we will have to make specific decisions based on a case by case basis. For my family, we are going to evaluate day by day, event by event. It won't be easy, but for us it is the only rational way to approach the uncertanties that await us.

My 2 cents, tim

-- tim daniels (tim@commonsense.com), March 19, 1999.

jan. 1st, we had a snowstorm. 12 to 15 inches predicted. as I said earlier, I work in a grocery store, meat dept. people reacted like it was the end of their lives. In my area, there is no lack of grocery stores. every sore in my area was stripped bare of all meat in a matter of hours. HOURS.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), March 19, 1999.

as an afterthought, it was a BAD snowstorm, however no one was "snowed in" for more than six hours. a lousy box of kraft mac and cheese would have gotten you through it. the point is, there was absolutly not a pound of hamburger to be had in a town of 140000, fifteen major supermarkets, all occuring within my eight hour shift. so you have all heard that a typical supermarket has THREE days supply on the shelves?

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), March 20, 1999.

How about if companies follow through this year on their threats of getting rid of their suppliers who can't guarantee Y2K compliance? Could be lots of small- and medium-sized businesses going under or laying off bunches of people. And if this starts (maybe long before we get to December), IMHO this could start the dreaded ripple effects across the economy. Hope this doesn't come to pass, but time will tell.

-- Don (whytocay@hotmail.com), March 20, 1999.

As I've said, I work at a chemical plant. Because I usually go to a hotel party on New Year's Eve, my boss and I have an understanding that I simply don't work on New Year's day. It will be pretty simple after that to decide if I'm going. If it hasn't gone into meltdown, I'll go in. But, we have a steam plant. I doubt our little corner of the world will get coal if the transportation system grinds to a halt. It will all go to the city. I'll get some warning of substantial failures happening. Then I'll stay home.

-- margie mason (mar3mike@aol.com), March 20, 1999.

I will not be going out the last week of December through the first week of January. Aside from wanting to be with my family, I choose to remove myself from the over-burdened police responsibility. One less body to have to protect out there is the least I can do for those who will be out in public trying to keep the peace before, during, and after the "party".

I'd say my wife will go to work if it is possible up until Jan. 1. After that, the plant she works at probably will shut down. They have plastic injection, extrusion, and PET bottle machines. She asked about their compliance. Supervisor said, "I don't know. The guys in NJ are working on it". That doesn't help in NC. He didn't even know if they had inventoried the machines yet! Harummmph, some multi-million dollar company, huh?

Mr.K
***not worried about going into work, I can live without them***

-- Mr. Kennedy (staying@home.here), March 20, 1999.

I was talking to my neighbor, he works in the IT department of a major semiconductor manufacturer. The company has canceled all vacations and leaves from Q4 (Oct99) through Q1 (Mar00). Their contingency plan inclued FOF.....

-- helium (heliumavid@yahoo.com), March 20, 1999.

I work in a major semiconductor factory and we have contingency to be off anywhere from 24 hours prior/after 010100 to seven days prior/after depending on the circumstances. The plant uses 40% of the city's electricity supply and they will shut it down if there is any inkling of a problem. I plan on not working in the beginning of 2000. Especially if there is no electricity.

got sense/cents?

The Dog

-- Dog (desertdog@sand.com), March 20, 1999.