Hi modelhead (and others)
Just to thank you all again for your thoughts.
I have taken a while to respond to these posts because I wanted to re-read the posts, especially modelheads contribution as there were a great many points made that I wanted to carefully consider.
The upshot is I applied for the menial position and was offered the post.
24 hours later I informed them that I had changed my mind and no longer wanted the job.
I am 50 years of age so I am no spring chicken.
Being made redundant was a bad enough kick in the teeth but this "alternative" was just too humiliating for me to deal with.
Yes, I know, "Pride before a fall" and all that.
But in my previous position I had played a role in helping the company win millions of pounds worth of business.
In the six years that I was with them I was given three fairly substantial pay rises and told it was because they regarded me as a highly valued member of staff. Then the economic crisis hit and I was told that I was a luxury that they could no longer afford. So, along with eight other members of staff I would be made redundant.
No matter how hard I tried to sell it to myself, I couldn't persuade myself to, as modelhead put it, "throw your time away for a company that has essentially thrown you away".
This is my decision and my responsibility.
Fortunately, I have a wife and family who support me.
I was not being "snobbish" in turning down the "menial" job.
If I end up having to stack shelves in a supermarket to help pay the bills I will do so.
But to have been reduced to the level of "tea maker" and "photocopy" guy amongst my former colleagues was too much.
Hopefully, I will weather the storm and find something else in the not too distant future.
Thanks again.
Regards
Mr S
