(photo credit: www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey)If a tree falls in state government, does anyone notice? Thursday we had a terrible blow to our office with 1/6 of our staff eliminated. Out of the blue. No warning. No rumbles of more budget cuts (we are only in the second month of the state fiscal year!!!). The furloughs were supposed to take care of the shortfalls.
I was not eliminated but we lost two positions in my work unit of seven. We are now five. One position was vacant; the other was a intelligent, witty, loyal public servant of GA who has worked for our office for 22 years. Fired and his program eliminated. Just like that. He was part of our work family and then given a cruel corporate firing when his boss was out of town and he was told at the end of Thursday, your fired, hand over your ID and key, and you can arrange to get your personal things later but now you are escorted out of the building. Just like that.
We had always been assured that our department didn't get rid of people. That in exchange for working for state government for low salaries, you had stability and some security. Apparently not.
The photo above is how I have felt for the past two days. Friday, the office was abuzz with speculation, with sadness, with gallows humor. Monday we have a staff meeting and the deputy commissioner is coming over from the department on high to speak to us. We were not told why.
So with this uncertainty and worry and fretting and sadness and anger, I decided to stay home last night and not go to Bad Melisa's Midnight Madness sale. I hope my dear friends understand.
13 comments:
Gretchen-I am so sorry. Corporate America..gotta love it...not. So we trudge on with hope for the best. I just hate not knowing when the other shoe will drop. Do more for less money. And we did miss you Lots of hugs
i lived with the same ax over my head for twenty-one years - dodging the bullet and feeling sad for those who didn't and feeling bad for those of us left to pick up their work in addition to our own ... and then the ax fell and my choice was layoff or early retirement (after 34 years) - i feel your pain, i really do.
Hang in there kiddo...that farm in France is looking better and better! I am here for you if you ever need to vent.
What a sad, shocking report. How absolutely awful.
Oh friend, this is high caliber stress. I like to think that the visit from "on high" is for the purpose of supporting the rest of the team and perhaps explaining the decision making process. Naturally we know how these things go. How the decisions are made, the back room deals and the gamesmanship. We know that whatever the message is, it'll be a bitter pill to swallow.
I haven't been in your situation my friend, I wont say that I have. But that doesn't mean I can't send you some compassion ~ regardless. It doesn't mean I'm not sensitive to what you're going through and it doesn't mean there isn't some shade under my tree.
Wordy Comfort, *karendianne.
Oh Gretchen...that is just so sad. The uncertainty is just awful. You take care...I'm sending tons of good thoughts for you!
I felt my stomach lurch as I read your post. I can only imagine the feelings you are experiencing. There used to be company/government loyalty but that appears to be a thing of the past. My thoughts are with you.
I read your posts with great interest, since I work for the state too, but in education. We have our first furlough day Friday. I am glad to have a job, but I realize we are all wondering what the future will bring for anyone of us...Karmen
This is happening in companies all over the world. They are letting people go at my husbands work...luckily he isn't in the firing line this time...but those that are have a day in the next week or so in which they will all work from home. During that day they will either get a phone call or an email telling them if they are to go...seems so impersonal. (((hugs)))
We missed you! You should have come just to lift your spirits! I've been where you are, and where your displaced co-worker is now - neither is a position of envy. It just plain sucks!
Oh, Gretchen -- that is just so hard to take. Trying to work in that kind of atmosphere is horribly tough. I hope that the Monday meeting will give you all some reassurances and some explanation why that happened.
We were worried about you Friday evening. We definitely missed you. Sorry that it's rocky at your work place. It's uncertain in the schools, too. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers! Missed you!
What a bummer of a week..sending good thoughts your way. Andy and I have been through this economic uncertainty before and I know how you feel. SCARY and SAD doesn't even come close to the emotions...
Your quilting family is there to "lift you up girl" don't forget we are all here.
Pat
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