Thursday, April 02, 2009

Waiting for the other shoe to drop...

This morning was the second day that my workplace gathered us together for the reading of a downsizing report.

It's hard not to be concerned.

Yesterday we found out that even hard work doesn't save you in our company - and a national manager that has worked for us for 29 years was one of the people that was let go. To be honest, it doesn't seem like there was a logical reason that he was let go...and that is a little scary.

Today we found that the cuts are hitting closer to home. Positions like mine were cut all over the country today and I can't help but wonder what the heck is happening. My company is cutting positions and they aren't telling us:
- how many positions are being cut
- where the cuts are taking place
- who the cuts are affecting
- what criteria they're using to make the cuts

It's a more than a little frustrating and sad...and unfortunately because we don't have any knowledge, it's breeding anxiousness, fear, and panic. All we know is that we're in a wave of layoffs...and seemingly anyone could be next.

I'm trying not to worry. I'm trying to remember to breathe. And I'm trying to remind myself that I was looking for a job when I found this one.

But in the midst of all of the articles, blogs, and stories of friends that have lost their jobs, it's hard for me to be optimistic right about now.

The economy? It's happening. And not in a good way.

4 comments:

Jon Hey said...

Hang in there. There is always a bedroom here in St. Louis for ya. Oh, and we have a guest bedroom, too. ;)

Ginger said...

I thought my job was secure, too. It turns out that even in schools people are being let go, and it's getting really nasty. Instead of being gracious, those who are doing the firing are actually blackballing teachers - giving them poor evaluations (for no good reason) and no recommendation letter. Why? I have no idea and it seems very random. The way people find out is they get a letter in a manilla envelope in their box. Scary.

Ginger said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
kristi said...

I'm so sorry to hear that! I know how scary it is. We recently had a round of layoffs (one engineer in our office got the axe) and who knows if there are more to come. I just keep my head down and get my work done. Try not to stress too much. You can always relocate here to SoCal and live with me :)