Toby Whalen was one of these employees. He'd been trying to land a job at the mine for months when he finally got one in August. Whalen was responsible for bringing supplies to the miners at the Stillwater Mine in Nye.

"I absolutely loved going to work there," he said. "It was fun and at the same time there was that thrill of using the explosives." Toby was already waiting for the bus to take him to the mine on Monday when he got a call saying he didn't need to report to work.

"It was a big disappointment for me," he said. After moving from Butte specifically for this job, Whalen said his family had just gotten back on their feet and now he's trying to figure out how to support his wife and two sons.

"We thought this was a good move," he said. "Now we're right back at square one." Whalen and his family filed for unemployment on Monday and are hoping to get food stamps to help them through the tough times as they formulate a permanent plan.

He said he's done everything he could and now he's hoping for help from a higher power. "I'm hoping that God has a solution for me," he said. Whalen said his greatest frustration is that mine officials have been tight lipped about the layoffs. They are planning a meeting for employees this Thursday in Laurel.