It occurred to me last night that my experience of losing my job, is not unlike my week in Jamaica for Hurricane Ivan. It’s not the best comparison in the sense one is a life threatening event but there are some similarities. It’s not something anyone in their right mind would volunteer for, but to go through this process you get an opportunity to see and experience things you would not normally encounter. Part of life is encountering the unknown.
Just some background -- our Corporate policy for job reductions is not to announce to anyone specifically when they have been identified for an “exit, stage left”. To me, this is an overkill reaction to the tiny handful of folks who may act unprofessionally or out of spite in their remaining days.
A lot of managers, most being human beings, have been known to “bend the rules” -- I am thankful that my manager treated me as a professional and I have acted as such not only in the best interest in the company but for myself. If I'm gonna go, I'm gonna do it with class.
I imagine there are some folks who prefer to not know in advance they may lose their job. Get the bad news all in one shot. I can see the Pro’s and Con’s of both positions, but for me I am grateful for the time to bear with the emotional churn of dealing with a career change.
As I am aware of my future, or lack of it -- I can appreciate the unintended humor of what I am doing this week.
Here I am cleaning my desk, packing so that I can be moved to my new office on Tuesday -- two days before being fired.
For three or so years I was in exile in my current office – in a damned near empty building, the only thing missing -- the cricket sounds, a hooting owl, and maybe a coyote yelp. It was rather unpleasant to come in, seeing the empty offices of friends and colleagues who were fired over the previous years.
So...in the grand tradition countless bone-headed decisions...the month they decide to do this corporate purge, and when I get tagged, I will finally get an office next to my remaining colleagues in the other building.
For two days!!! It’s funny and sad at the same time. Will someone please, just shoot me.
The office cleanup has been a bitter-sweet experience in itself, which I save for a future post (and a photo).
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1 comment:
This leaves me mostly speechless. It's really rather recent for me, this making friends with people on forums and blogs who are far away, and whom I may never actually meet. I read these words, and I don't know how to offer encouragement. One can't exactly sit down for a few beers and talk the night away with a couple thousand miles between. For what it's worth, know you have a friend here, who will be very happy to hear when someone has discovered your talents and offered you a position that makes you forget all about Lucent.
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