close call

[floatingleaf]

God, what a day. We had a major conference call at work this morning, announcing a 10% cut in work force across all the companies owned by the same corporation that acquired us a few months ago. It's a huge organization, conducting business all over the globe. We are just a little black dot on the map for them, so to speak. And now they're supposedly in the process of unifying, integrating, cutting down costs and all that crap. So they told us some people would have to go. And let me tell you, the minute I heard that I was absolutely positive I was going to be the first one through the door. I mean, I had barely started there; they were hardly more likely to let go of someone who'd been there for years (like most of the people on our team). But they said that whoever gets laid off will know about it by the end of the day... and then nothing happened. So I guess our entire team gets to stay. Until 2009 at least, hopefully; since there are no other major changes planned for this year or the next. Or so we have been told. But what do we know, really?... *sigh*

The feeling of deja vu I had today was so strong I just can't shake it off. Except two years ago it took about 15 minutes between the conference call and the boss telling the entire department to pack up their stuff and leave the building. And today it was an entire day of just hanging around, looking apprehensively at each other, wondering when the thunder was going to strike and who would fall. And then, as the afternoon wore on and people began to relax again, the atmosphere became curiously light-headed. We started joking and laughing like crazy for no apparent reason. It was just surreal. One of my teammates started hugging and kissing everyone, telling them how happy she was that she would still get to see them tomorrow. We were all sort of shaky and more open/unguarded with each other than ever before (at least in my experience, I guess, since I'm usually very reserved around people I only know from work). And now I just feel utterly drained (after spending about an hour on the phone with a friend, because I needed to get it all off my chest).

This is probably just a delay of the inevitable... but I'm SO glad it's going to happen at some other time. I totally don't need it right now. I still feel like I've barely caught my breath after last year's trials and tribulations... *sigh*

Comments

[oceansecrets2.livejournal.com]

There have been a few "reductions in force" at my company so I understand completely what you went through. I hope you're right that you have a reprieve for at least another year or so!

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

I hope so too. *crosses fingers*

[stormatdusk.livejournal.com]

i'm happy for you. will think good thoughts for continued stability.

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. *hugs*