Funemployment, Day 1 in These Foolish Things
- March 7, 2022, 8:28 a.m.
- |
- Public
Monday morning and I’m calling it my first “official” day of Funemployment!
I don’t even know where to start.
I went to the office over the weekend to collect all of my personal stuff (nine years worth of stuff - trinkets, gifts from work friends, photos) and I ended up helping clean out my whole office area because Boss was there to help. I have almost zero beef with her for a couple of reasons: (1) it wasn’t her decision. She apologized profusely in a few texts I received from her over the weekend and noted that she won’t even have this part of the business anymore. In fact, my area of responsibility got moved over to Golden Boy’s area. Do you remember him? He’s the one who always took credit for my work back in the day. We’ve been re-org’d a few times since then, but once a golden boy, always a golden boy, I guess. And (2), she’s (Boss is) genuinely a good person, was extremely gentle with me during my cancer treatment and helped me out tremendously. She even offered a letter of recommendation and told me that the head of HR wants to give me a positive letter or recommendation as well.
Stayed for three hours! That was kind of overkill, but I did want to leave things clean. A clean break, I guess? I don’t know. I didn’t feel bad about it.
Over the weekend I also messaged with a guy I used to travel with - mainly while I was in China. He was forced into retirement last year by the same folks who pushed me out. He had a copy of the organizational letter for my part of the business and asked me if I wanted to see it. I said yes out of morbid curiosity.
Looks like my official job was “eliminated” - really it was just somewhat changed and it is under Golden Boy now, but the person who will be filling that sort-of different (but not really) spot is in NYC and likely won’t move here. I don’t know how I feel about that. Her credentials seem more impressive than mine, but what I do know is that there is a LOT of unfinished business and it is an incredibly crucial time of year right now.
I will likely get blamed for the disaster that will happen due to the negligence of Support Girl who is clueless (!!!). But of course, that’s what happens when you leave a company. UGH. I kind of cringe to think about how things will fall apart, but then I can’t worry about it, can I? They didn’t think about any of that when they were pushing me out the door.
There’s so much more, but it’s work-y and boring and it’s Monday morning of a new week and time to move on.
I have a couple of questions about my severance so I have to get back with HR on those questions and get all signed up for COBRA so need to take care of all that today, but other than that I need to start formulating my plan for next steps.
I hate being here, but then again, I feel a sense of relief…somehow?
GS
Florentine ⋅ March 07, 2022
Happy first day of your new beginning! <3
Hopefully, in all this great reshuffling, you will land in a spot where the company you work for value their talent and you'll feel the joy in the work you're doing again, and the people you're doing it with.
colder ⋅ March 07, 2022
A new beginning can always be the beginning of something positive. 🙂
CharminglyNeurotic ⋅ March 07, 2022
Can you very quickly start your own consultancy? And offer to work as a freelance consultant?
bobbi01 ⋅ March 07, 2022
From my experience being pushed out was the best thing that happened to me. You need to grieve and heal, and then go get what you want !
ninakir88 ⋅ March 07, 2022
the job market is hot right now.. everyone is hiring. you will find something even better in no time
Ginger Snap ninakir88 ⋅ March 07, 2022
Thank you - I sure hope so.
Deleted user ⋅ March 07, 2022
You're a better person than I am. I would have gathered my things and turned right around and gone home, and if that meant my desk was left in disarray or there were coffee stains or whatever, oh well. As for disasters, that is indeed their problem and the truth about Support Girl will come out sooner or later. And if they call, email, or text asking about something I was working on, I woudn't help. One company tried something like that with me. The guy had turned over the job something like 18 times in two years (real asshole), and he called up wanting to know my computer password and my passcode for my phone because the light was flashing. I told him to contact IT and customer service with whoever his phone vendor was, as I was no longer paid to assist him with anything, and then I hung up on him.
You are smart and savvy, and nine years with one company looks good on a resume, so I am sure you will land on your feet. My suggestion is to take a couple of weeks to get your bearings and enjoy spring before you start applying for jobs, or at least tell potential employers you cannot start until the end of April or the beginning of May, because my hunch is you will be snapped right up once you start applying. Give yourself as much of a break as you can feel comfortable with, because at your next job you will have to accrue leave from 0 so it will be a while before you can take a vacation again. Just Mama Hen chiming in here.
Nash ⋅ March 07, 2022
You were not happy there anyway. When I was laid off at the old company it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.
.bob ⋅ March 08, 2022
So many times these difficult transitions/exits end up being the best possible opening to a much better opportunity. I am optimistic that this will be true for you, too!
plushcreep ⋅ March 08, 2022
I've been in your shoes more than once in my life and always bounced back stronger and better off. You'll do the same!
pandora ⋅ March 09, 2022
Yeah, it sucks, but I'm so thankful that you also feel relief. And all of the shit that's going to happen now is firmly in the Not Your Problem pile! If they regret letting you go... GOOD!