On Halloween there were two meetings at work. I thought it was odd that there would be two meetings with the same subject line (that did not mention layoffs), with different members of my department. I assumed (correctly) that the larger group would be notified that there would be layoffs and that they would remain employed. I surmised that the second group, of which I was a member, would be laid off. As soon as I figured that out (right after reading the meeting announcements) I started packing. Traditionally, someone would walk into work and be told to pack. I wanted to be ready.
So we get to the meeting (the second one) and we’re told that this group would lose their jobs. But they didn’t know when. We were offered an incentive to stay with the company and do our jobs until the layoffs came. It could be two days, or it could be 120 days. They didn’t know when. If we stayed we would get a severence package that includes one week’s pay for every completed year with the company, any unused vacation time, and any personal days. We’d also keep medical benefits for a while (I assume a limited time in which we would not have to pay for COBRA), plus the “retention bonus” (the amount of which must remain confidential). If we failed to do our work we would be terminated for cause and not get the severence or bonus pay. Same thing if we quit. One thing I’m glad of is that I didn’t wear my zombie makeup for Halloween. Sure, it would have been funny; but I think it would’ve been a bit dopey under the circumstances.
The director was out the following day, but he motioned me into his office on Friday morning. He said he understood why I would clean out my cubicle (or “box” as I like to call it), but that the layoffs would not be soon. He said I wouldn’t like working in a sterile cube, and that he didn’t think that the layoffs would happen until January at the earliest. A co-worker said she didn’t think they’d happen until April. She also said that the new computer and system will be installed, ten people in our department would be laid off, and then the company will discover that it’s not that easy – they’d be scrambling to get everything done, and they’d regret getting rid of people. She said that I could have been in the group that gets to keep their jobs, but that everyone knows how badly I want to move out of California. She said my layoff is a “gift” in that I get to move, plus I get a severence package.
Personally, I’d be surprised if we had jobs at the end of the month. In spite of what the director and my co-worker said, I think the company will get rid of us sooner rather than later.
So. I’ve made arrangements to rent a room from a friend in WA. I’m transferring my savings account into a chequing account that should generate about 150% of the rent in interest. Half of my stuff has been packed for a year and a half. I’m trying to curtail my spending (although I’m performing maintenance on my vehicles). In the meantime, I’m doing my job as well as ever (and helping people with special requests that only I know how to do quickly). I’m continuing to make positive contributions to the department and the company. When I do get laid off, I can move fairly quickly to WA. I’ll be with my friends, and there is a filmmaking scene getting started up there that should be fun. Although there have been layoffs all over the country, many of which are computer related – and I’m a database research analyst, there are always jobs if you look for them. I don’t have to stay in computers. I’m just comfortable with them.
This may be just the kick in the pants that I need to finally move to a nicer environment.
