Sounds like your better off out of it.
The firm I first started at recently went bump. I left just as they started to take on more and more work but kept the same amount of blokes.
I did all my training/apprenticeship with them (3 years) and worked for them for 10 months once I qualified.
It was my dad who told me to look for another job as he said to me it'll only get worse.
I left and so did a fair few others. We spoke to some of the lads that where still there and they where run ragged and never finished at a decent time.
Eventually this type of management catches up with people and contracts don't get fulfilled and firms go under.
So it sounds to me like your on to a winner being laid off or whatever they decide to call it.
Plus, I don't understand this view that they thought you wasn't using your initiative by asked what job to do next? They sound like right idiots. What where you meant to do? Start making up jobs to do in people's homes?
Sod em mate
you've got your van so you can just go back to working for yourself again.
Being on the books is pants anyway