Monteybard

For over a year I knew something was going to happen to my job, or a re-organization was coming. The CEO had hired a consultant, and we thought he was there to give advice and to help guide a few departments until a new C-Level could be hired. I will call him the Henchman. He was a very odd guy and not your typical consultant. At first, we all found him annoying and a little goofy. We figured he would make some recommendations and then be gone in a few months. Then he started choosing one person in a department to ask questions and gain an understanding of processes. They supplied the Henchman with the answers he was seeking. After a few months, the rumors started that we were going to close a couple of distribution centers. Did the organization need to raise cash quickly and was selling the warehouses a reasonable solution? How would we conduct business with the reduction of warehouses? We were told to carry on as normal.

Then the announcement came that two warehouses were closing and unfortunately the employees at the location would lose their jobs. Inventory was re-directed to other warehouses. We moved forward. We hoped that was the only major change for the time being.

As we neared the end of our fiscal year, a lot of pressure was put on the team I worked with to go beyond our goals for inventory. We would do what was asked and then the Henchman would ask for more. Nothing seemed good enough. I had to have peace with myself that I was doing my best to meet the goals.

I had planned a vacation in June to go to Florida for a week. While on vacation, I checked my work emails on my phone as needed to make sure there were not any major issues. During that week on Thursday, the Henchman sent out a Teams Meeting invitation to the entire team to meet the following Monday. Right away I could feel my stomach drop when I saw the email invitation. My intuition was saying this doesn’t sound good.

I came to work that Monday. The whole team was very concerned. It reeked of a possible reorg meeting. We tried to stay positive among each other, but we knew change was coming.

Then the moment had arrived. We all walked the hallway down to the conference room like we were attending a funeral. We opened the door and the HR staff was in the room and the compliance person. The air was immediately heavy even though the room felt cold. We took our place in the chairs around the long conference table. Awkward stares were shared with each other. They also included the coworkers who were remote via the video screen. Their faces were as worried as those of us physically sitting at the table.

A few moments passed by while we were all trying to put together the possible scenario about to happen to us. Then the door opened and in walked the Henchman, VP, one of our team members, and lastly the CEO. The team member was the one that the Henchman had used to ask about all the processes of our team. She was very emotional and teary. She sat directly across from me. I thought to myself, what have you done? What did you tell him?

The CEO started to speak, she said they were combining both teams together and reorganizing the roles. I could hear her talking but I felt like I was in a movie and I was having an out of body experience. Was this really happening? The look on everyone’s face, it was like someone died. Then they put up a slide on the big screen with the newly done organization chart. She announced whose positions would stay the same. The team member who had entered the room last and was the informant to the Henchman had been promoted. I guess this was her big reward. The rest of us would have the choice of reapplying to one of the new developed roles or take a severance package. We would have until Wednesday to apply for the new roles. The interview would be on Thursday, and a decision would be made on Friday. There was no guarantee we would be selected in any of the roles. If we did not apply, Friday would be our last day of employment, and we would could take the severance package. The severance package we be provided to us so we could review to make the decision to apply or leave.

The voice in my head was very loud, and it was saying “to get out” and not to re-apply. I was wondering if anyone else was getting the same message. I was so done. I gave it my all for 24 years with three different roles at the company. All my reviews had been excellent, and I had even received a performance award. I was not entirely convinced the new roles were going to move the needle in the overall strategy of the company. I fully realized leaving the company would be a leap of faith for me. I was 58 years old and it would be a challenge to find a new job.

After the meeting was over, we all walked back to our office area. It would be the last time I walked the hallway. We were told we could go home and take time to think about our decision. I went into my office; I told those around me that I was not re-applying. They looked at me with surprise that I had made my mind up so quickly. I went to HR and got a copy of the severance package. Then I started to pack my belongings since I was determined this was it for me. It was like living in the twilight zone. This was the day I got laid off.