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[melba_frilkins]

Due to drastic budget cuts, we've seen all kinds of classes cut and probably more cuts coming along. This is really hard on adjunct faculty who are faced with taking a serious hit in income or even becoming unemployed altogether. Obviously this is a very stressful time to all. But I want to share some friendly advice to adjuncts in this situation--don't panic and don't have a meltdown, at least not in public!

I've just watched two sad cases go down in flames. Sad because it was completely unnecessary. One instructor with cut classes sent out a slew of angry emails blaming his full-time co-workers for unfair practices (never mind that it's the dean not faculty who make the schedule);  a second instructor pitched a fit in class and put all the students into panic mode, having them practically convinced that the campus was about to shut down mid-semester.

These types of behaviors are not going to save your class schedule, they are not going to endear you to your colleagues or administrator. They are going to make people wonder if you're the right sort of person to inflict on a classroom full of students.

Put all your complaints, rants, flames, and fear-mongering here in the forum. Run wild. But out in the real world, take a deep breath, remain calm, think before you jump.

[kedves]

Do you think this is something people don't know, or that they know but are unable to act on in the moment?

[pollinate]

Do you think this is something people don't know, or that they know but are unable to act on in the moment?

Both are possible - it depends on the person and sometimes also on the situation, especially if they didn't see it coming or are really in a financial bind.

Maintaining a professional demeanor in public is always a good idea?  Wow, what a novel thought!  ;~D

[der_gadfly]

Chime OP. Public meltdowns have a high propensity for backfire.

Of course, when it is one of those pure mental breakdowns, complete with "fists-meet-wall=hole in wall" meets "tears + chest-clutching-drop-to-the-floor=Oscar winning performance", it can be quite amusing to watch!

[madhatter]

Unfortunately, we learn a lot about people when we see how they handle stress.

[sciencephd]

Things such as angry emails from severely distressed people should be overlooked if at all possible, especially when they have been otherwise good people.  Sometimes the stress just needs to come out, and it happens to be at a bad time.

[alleyoxenfree]

I agree.  They're probably horrified afterwards.  Take them to lunch, buy it for them.

[melba_frilkins]

Do you think this is something people don't know, or that they know but are unable to act on in the moment?

In the cases I mentioned, I think it's actually not knowing and actually thinking that they are doing something appropriate. I say this because it's part of a larger and longer pattern.

But I think for a lot of people, even those who know better, the frustration of the moment can sweep them in to something regrettable. And that's why I started the post, to give people a reminder to not jump in and have a hissy fit when it will only make you look silly. I'm having to remind myself to do the same thing right now in regard to a different issue on campus. Stay calm. Think happy thoughts. Have fun teaching. Forget about the rest.

[antiphon1]

Do you think this is something people don't know, or that they know but are unable to act on in the moment?

In the cases I mentioned, I think it's actually not knowing and actually thinking that they are doing something appropriate. I say this because it's part of a larger and longer pattern.

But I think for a lot of people, even those who know better, the frustration of the moment can sweep them in to something regrettable. And that's why I started the post, to give people a reminder to not jump in and have a hissy fit when it will only make you look silly. I'm having to remind myself to do the same thing right now in regard to a different issue on campus. Stay calm. Think happy thoughts. Have fun teaching. Forget about the rest.

Or perhaps have the hissy fit, but don't send the sentiments via email?  I've seen many an ill considered email live on in infamy.

[melba_frilkins]

Do you think this is something people don't know, or that they know but are unable to act on in the moment?

In the cases I mentioned, I think it's actually not knowing and actually thinking that they are doing something appropriate. I say this because it's part of a larger and longer pattern.

But I think for a lot of people, even those who know better, the frustration of the moment can sweep them in to something regrettable. And that's why I started the post, to give people a reminder to not jump in and have a hissy fit when it will only make you look silly. I'm having to remind myself to do the same thing right now in regard to a different issue on campus. Stay calm. Think happy thoughts. Have fun teaching. Forget about the rest.

Or perhaps have the hissy fit, but don't send the sentiments via email?  I've seen many an ill considered email live on in infamy.

Yes, hissy fits are great in the right context. Though even a live undocumented fit can come back to haunt you if it's in front of the wrong person (or an entire room full of students).

[antiphon1]

Do you think this is something people don't know, or that they know but are unable to act on in the moment?

In the cases I mentioned, I think it's actually not knowing and actually thinking that they are doing something appropriate. I say this because it's part of a larger and longer pattern.

But I think for a lot of people, even those who know better, the frustration of the moment can sweep them in to something regrettable. And that's why I started the post, to give people a reminder to not jump in and have a hissy fit when it will only make you look silly. I'm having to remind myself to do the same thing right now in regard to a different issue on campus. Stay calm. Think happy thoughts. Have fun teaching. Forget about the rest.

Or perhaps have the hissy fit, but don't send the sentiments via email?  I've seen many an ill considered email live on in infamy.

Yes, hissy fits are great in the right context. Though even a live undocumented fit can come back to haunt you if it's in front of the wrong person (or an entire room full of students).

Timing is everything when throwing a proper hissy.  Emotional dumps should be saved for the privacy of your own space rather than shared with the general public.

[venuvian]

OP, have you ever lost a job due to "cutbacks?" 
Have you ever had sleepless nights worrying about:
how you will pay the bills?
how you will be able to sell the suddenly unaffordable house when none of the homes in your neighborhood seem to be selling this year?
how you will afford healthcare when Cobra payments for your family are 85% of what you will make on unemployment?
how you will tell your spouse, who moved or otherwise sacrificed so that you could take this "great" job?
how you will tell your kids that the Christmas presents/vacation/birthday party/sports camp/new shoes will have to go on hold for now? 
or, much worse, how will you justify moving and making your child leave friends, school, and the new teacher who finally really seems to motivate and enjoy your child, rather than label him/her as a problem?
what you own that you will be able to sell in 6 months when you've run out of your savings and your house is still languishing on the market?
what the penalty will be if you have to dip into your retirement account?

I ask, because I never had to face any of these questions myself until recently.  When I had co-workers lose their jobs, I had no clue what they were going through.  Some of them were quite bitter, and even seemed emtionally unstable to me.  But, now I get it.  With unemployment above 10%, I don't think the list contains unrealistic fears.  Of course, when the axe recently came down on me, I was cordial to my Chair, and thanked him to taking the time to tell me himself.  As I finish the semester, I remain cordial to co-workers, some of whom are genuinely sorry to see me go, but some of whom really have backstabbed me my telling the Dean that they'd be "happy" to teach the course I've developed when they could have defended my importance to the department.   I continue to try to do a good job, write recommendation letters for students who ask, and generally retain the deportment of the professional person whom I am.  But, I now understand the "melt down," and I can tell you that I don't at all blame people who have them.

[wet_blanket]

I don't think the OP was dismissing the severity of losing a job.  Most people would certainly be sympathetic to the real implications you suggest.  The point was, I believe, that certain responses are likely to worsen the newly unemployed person's situation.  Losing a job to cutbacks is Very Bad. Behaving in such a way that former employer feels unable to suggest the newly unemployed person for an opening a friend at another university is looking to fill, or would be reluctant to rehire if the economic stars aligned, is probably worse in terms of the long term.

[alleyoxenfree]

venuvian is right in that, look, if people could really avoid meltdowns, they almost certainly would. 

And until you've been in the position, IMHO, the best attitude to a meltdown is to thank god you're not in their situation, take them to lunch, and them write them a bangin' letter of recommendation and do all you can to help them get another job.  Because baby, there but for the grade of god go all of us. 

V is also right that most academics don't believe this, especially when they feel all protected by tenure or some such.  Fast forward to a new president or a new legislature or a personal catastrophe that leaves them unable to keep up the pretense and things look a lot different.

[venuvian]

^thank you for understanding.

What is also hard is that students will make comments or ask questions that are difficult to answer truthfully.  Former students will say things like "I told my roommate to take your class next semester!  Are you still teaching XYZ, because the registrar only says 'staff.'"  What can you say to that?  I've been saying that "Thank you, but the department hasn't set the final teaching assignments yet."  That's a blatant lie, but what else am I supposed to say?  I also with some regularity get asked "What are you teaching next semester" by students.  Again, same PC answer.  It's getting old, but at least I only have to do it for a few more weeks.

Some years ago, I had a really great colleague who lost his job with a couple of months notice.  He was out for more than a year, refusing to move because his son had special needs and it had taken them some time to find him care that was working well.  He ran out of unemployment benefits and ended up working a minimum wage job for awhile so that he wouldn't lose his house.  He told me that, when he applied for the job at that big chain (of the WalMart/KMart/Target variety,) a "kid" (his word) was filling out the application for him (I guess they give assistance with the assumption that you might not read and write well?)  When asked to provide something he was proud of that happened last year, he replied "one of the books I have written was published last year."  The kid said "Wow!  That's a really good one!" as he wrote it down.  That friend is really bitter to this day.  He has a good job again, but he will always be bitter about what happened.  He was professional to the end, but went on some rants afterward.

If you have been in this situation yourself, with a sudden job loss and a family to support, then feel free to give advice, which I'm sure can be helpful.  If not, then please keep your feet on the ground.  People who are losing their jobs don't need to look up at any high horses.