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The Definition of "THIS SUCKS"
You get all cocky and the next thing you know you get bit in the a$$! Remember just last post how I mentioned that the year was off to a good start. Well I'm taking that comment back.
Last May at work the powers that be decided that the three new people in my position (click on the blue "my position" to get a little taste of what I do) could do the job that four people used to do. The three of us struggled for months with management complaining that we weren't getting done; the numbers on all the reports were out of whack; we weren't helping the departments enough; we were falling behind on shelf maintenance; there were too many out of stocks; we were the devils spawn; we were responsible for all the evils of the world; we were the cause of every major natural disaster; etc. and so forth. It was bad. The three of us were ready to walk out.
Then the company decided to transfer us a new boss. We were apprehensive at first. This new person was with the company 18 years. The rumors were flying. She was a company spy. She was a bitch on wheels. She was difficult, hard to get along with, sent here to clean house, passed on to our store because her store couldn't wait to get rid of her.
All lies. She used to be a trainer for my position. She is smart, funny, honest. A real leader. For the first time since I took that position, there was someone to stand up for us. She really came through for us. She spelled out exactly what we were and weren't responsible for. If we had questions, she had answers. If there was something that was wrong, she showed us how to fix it. When we fell behind, she grabbed a computer and helped us. The work load was still huge but having someone on our side made it less stressful. We looked forward to coming to work.
We eventually lost the guy that took care of electrical and garden. He was replaced quickly by the girl who did the merchandising. Then we started to hear rumors that we were going to get the fourth "buyer" back. It was going to make things so much easier. We were going to be able to get so much more done. They hired the girl from the paint department and she caught on quickly. The new manager gave me a really good review. Things were looking up. We were sisters. We were a team. We loved coming to work.
I came back to work from my Cleveland trip to my friend and co-worker's panicked announcement that someone from another store called to tell her they were eliminating our positions along with the night stocking positions. I told her we had been hearing that for years but suggested that we go talk to HR guy. He told us that there were going to be some changes but he didn't know what they were going to be until the meeting on Thursday. We decided not to panic until after the meeting.
Wednesday, the day before the big meeting, HR guy, received a package in the mail from the corporate office. It directed him to break the news to everyone affected so they would have 60 days to make lifestyle decisions. It was handled poorly. Our manager wasn't there. They were eliminating our positions and creating two new positions that the four of us could apply for. We were told the remaining two would be found positions somewhere in the store.
Thursday morning when we were talking to our new manager, she was floored when we told her what was said. She pointed out that there was a hiring deep freeze. Anyone who wasn't hired for the two new full time positions or wouldn't take some of the new part time positions in receiving was going to be out of a job.
With three hours of sleep and highly stressed, no one thought to confront HR guy when he was walking out the door with the rest of the store managers for the big meeting. He did hand us a new job description sheet and mention that the new position was two pay grades lower than what we were at now.
That mornings' store rally was led by the Kitchen department head. He clarified what the changes were and that people were going to lose their jobs. There were grown men crying. Everyone wanted to know who's neck was next on the chopping block. Store moral was always a problem and that day it hit a new low. There were long time members of our store's family that were being let go. It was like news of impending death. It was by far the longest hardest day to work through.
I was so very tired. I took the new job description home to read with Honey. Currently I perform all my duties from 5am to 2pm, Monday through Friday. This new position was everything the four of us were currently doing only it would be done varying shifts, days, evenings, and weekends, by only two people. So in addition to being stressed with the work load we would have to be sleep deprived also. I told Honey I needed to explore other options. He agreed and supports my decision.
That night I slept another three hours and woke having anxiety attacks. I tossed and turned the next 5 hours, then showered and dragged myself into work. I told them I wouldn't be able to apply for the new position and I couldn't work part time. The weight was lifted from my shoulders. I slept well last night.
I'm 46 years old and starting over.
Companies like Walmart are only going to last but so long because of
employer/employee relationships. These kinds of establishments are only
temporary fixes for any community because they wipe out Mom and Pop stores
that give each city their character. City planners are to blame because
they don't look at the total ramifications of national companies
dominating an area.
You're right, that does suck. I'm sorry. I hope that you do feel some
relief (a little maybe?). I'm hoping that something better is around the
corner. You really deserve it Catty. I'm so sorry.
Ugh. That's awful, Catty. It's going to be hard, getting a new job in the
current economic climate, but I certainly can't fault your decision.
Trading in your old job for one that will be more stressful, lousy hours,
and less pay? And for a company that could very well turn around and lay
you off altogether or "restructure" again so that your job gets even worse
in six months? Or even sooner? Forget that. It sounds to me like they've
shown that they don't deserve to retain good employees like you.
Sorry to hear about the way the company is jerking you around. This is
exactly why unions are needed. Some CEO is justifying his position for his
bonus on how many people he fires.
Catty: "I'm 46 years old and starting over".
What scumbags! I'm with Nutsy: I do hope this lets you find something far
better.
Thanks for the words of encouragement guys. I really do feel like I'll
find something better. They sent us home early today so I spent the day
cooking, then looking for my resume, then finding my resume, then eating
some rice pudding that I made,then realizing the copy was on the Cave
Computer, then figuring out how to save it in many formats on a disc, then
catching up on everyone's blogs, then trying to insert the disc on the new
computer only to find it doesn't have anything but a CD drive. CRAP!!!
The Cave Computer doesn't have a CD drive. I'm going to have to re-type
the whole thing into the new computer. I shouldn't have spent the whole
afternoon procrastinating.
Hopefully, you'll find something better. I hope your company isn't the
only game in town. Corporate America has this stuff well thought out. But
it's not favorable to middle class America.
"Oh, I HAVE to apply for that stupid position they are offering or it will
be considered by the unemployment people as a refusal to accept work"
Catty, life has thrown you a curve. But I'm sure you will find it to be a
blessing in disguise. Remember, THIS TOO SHALL PASS!
Why, WHY would anyone treat other human beings like this? As hard as this
is Catty, there has to be something better out there.
I feel your pain. I've been there. I AM there. It is an extremely
demeaning thing for me to be pushing fifty and be delivering pizzas like an
18 year kid and grubbing for tips to make ends meet. I don't write about
exactly how depressed this makes me, but, believe me, it's there.
--W-- & Catty, the job you do doesn't define you. You are more than the
job you do. Plus, there are no closed systems, you can change your
circumstance. Don't beat yourself up. You're good people in tough
circumstances. However, once you're able to take the emotion out of the
situation, quietly start to look at your circumstances and plot out a plan
to change it.
Catty, considering how good your culinary talents are, and the fact that
you have a green thumb, what's the possibility of getting a small business
off the ground in either catering for events, breakfast and lunch trucks,
parties, etc. Or working at a nursery or starting a seasonal garden of
fruits and vegetables that you can eat and sell the extras.
With supporters like you people, I can't possibly go wrong. I've been
concentrating on getting better the last couple of days so I haven't put
much effort into the possibilities that have been presented to me. I do
know I look awful in orange so that change alone is a big positive. This
is the new face of discrimination based on age/longevity, loyalty, and
money.
Catty, I'm glad you were already in that frame of mind. Great minds think
alike. ;] A blessing in disguise!
Not that I'm a "great mind" but I'm on board with the Capt. on this. This
is an entrepreneurial opportunity although it's hard to launch a small biz
during difficult times so much care must be taken to understand the
market(s) and the possibilities. That said, a couple of things: 1) you can
pull your data off of the cave computer using a flash drive (USB); 2) go
through the motions of applying for the open job in order to protect your
hard-earned unemployment benefits. You will need them to buy you some time
in recovering from your employment during your laying in / laid off time
and turning that energy into launch fuel for your new venture, whatever
that might be.