Hi I don't know if this topic has been up before or not, but still its interesting.

The company I work on has been affected heavily by this financial crisis, and since about November we get maybe 1/3 of the orders we normally get. This of course affects everyone here, so nobody has got that much to do. I mean, it's really chill and all, but it gets very boring after a while. So now I'm hanging aroung in EF alot, killing time, and feeling like I don't deserve my salary

Anyone else feeling the effects of the recession?

A little but nothing major for now. I still spend 95% of my time surfing the web.

Yes, the same in my case! I came to the present company with a particular project in mind, which is now indefinitely shelved because it requires investments. I am now doing work which is totally out of my department/responsibilities. I am not complaining though, because it helps me to know totally different areas within the company.
I think in general, this recession is going to be quite an experience for most people affected by it.

I am banker but lately i just seem to be losing interest...

Nope, the industry I'm in is basically recession proof. So any reduction in order intake could be blamed on noone but ourselves.

Indeed. This is an interesting question. I feel less workload at the moment and I try to compensate for too much of a spare time in a fitness centre.

Absolutely. It's always nice to get to do new stuff that you wouldn't normally do. It's just a bit worrying that the order might go down to an even lower level, and then we have to fire people. I mean, big companies are going under every day now. But in one sense I think it's good, because then we get some natural selection, and only the strong ones survive.

I work in redemptions.

I am busier than ever.

It would be unprofessional for me to tell you about the goings-on of my company. But I think everyone is starting to see it, no? I thought the atmosphere at the Hauptbahnhof the other day even reflected it.

What atmosphere are you referring to?

"Absolutely. It's always nice to get to do new stuff that you wouldn't normally do. It's just a bit worrying that the order might go down to an even lower level, and then we have to fire people"

Yes, many small and medium-sized companies (and a few larger ones) have a very real chance of going into non-existence if this lasts till the end of the year.

whats this exactly?

You might have to mention what that is... otherwise we will use our imagination.

I didn't realize you worked for the Church business.

Or it could be redeeming something pawed or margaged. That kind of business would surely go fantastically well now.

We can certainly enjoy a laugh at recession's expense!

Joke 1
Q: With the current market turmoil, what’s the easiest way to make a small fortune?
A: Start off with a large one.
Joke 2
Q: What’s the difference between an investment banker and a large pizza?
A: A large pizza can feed a family of four.
Joke 3
A rich, dying man, laid on his deathbed, requested to be joined at his bedside by his vicar, his bank manager and his lawyer.
He instructed them that he wished to be buried, when he finally passed away, along with all his money. He gave each of them fifty thousand pounds and asked them to throw the money on top of his coffin, in the burial plot, when he died.
A couple of days later the old man passed away and was buried within the week. At the wake, the three men were chatting and the vicar was suddenly overcome with guilt. He confessed to the other two that he had only thrown only half of the money onto the coffin, as the church needed urgent repairs to the roof. The bank manager thought, ‘What the heck if we are having a confession,’ and told the other two men that he had also only thrown half the money in, as the ‘Credit Crunch’ was hitting hard and he needed some money for the bank to stop it going bust. The lawyer jumped up and said to the other two, ‘I think that is a shameful act on both of you. I threw a cheque in for the full amount!”
Joke 4
Record unemployment levels have been announced today as the Credit Crunch tightens it’s grip.
Worst hit sectors are the construction trade and Icelandic bank robbers.

It had such a big impact that my work load was reduced to the magical number of zero (as well as the some of a few fellow forumites, I am afraid). If you orders are reduced to 1/3 of what they once were, I would start to be a little worried...

I was thinking of becoming a Historian but I just cant see any future in it...

In our case is probably the other way around, there were many laid-off in the last few months (maybe too many) and now life is busier for the remaining of team. It seems the company is reluctant to do further reductions in force for the time being, which is a good thing these days I must say.

Oh, yes please do share with us your imagination! ;-)

They should be. It's going to be Hell for a lot of people when everything returns to normal, and companies around the world wont find people to fill the holes.