Jan 08 2009
‘Survivor’ in the workplace
It’s been an emotional week at work. On Wednesday, our top manager announced that eight people in our office had been laid off as well as staff members from other offices in our company. Those of us at the meeting were ok.
A lady that worked with the company for 40 years was one of the eight. It’s hard to see someone so loyal to the company leave.
Some people from my age group also lost their jobs. The only way I’m keeping mine is because a fellow coworker put in her two weeks’ notice before the announcement. She had no idea that there were going to be layoffs. Because of her I am not doing serious job hunting yet.
My direct boss got laid off too.
We had a meeting with those staff members that are left after the cutbacks. One coworker said he felt like it was like the TV show “Survivor” and was scared he was going to be the next voted off the island.
For me, it feels like we’ve been through a war zone. We are the remaining soldiers that have to move on and still complete the mission.
It’s difficult to move on when your work environment has been turned upside down. You think “Am I next?”
I already miss kidding around with my excoworkers. I’m tired of saying goodbye to friends and the uneasy feeling in my stomach.
Ergonomics is the term used for occupational engineering. If the workers aren’t happy, the company may not do that well in the long run. It’s good to maintain a balance.
If the possibilities are really thinning out, I think you should start looking for job opportunities from now itself. It wouldn’t hurt to quit your present job and move on to another company where you are happier and have a job security.