Transitional Meeting

We met at 10:30 a.m. to do the transitional meeting. I had most of my car packed up by then and just had one bag to take with me when I left. We went over the Executive Staff statistics that I had been preparing the previous five months, the Employee Opinion Survey project that I had led. We were in the process of getting our hands around the results and unfortunately, I won't be able to see what the company will do with them. We discussed the two requisitions that were currently open, one active and one not. I handed over the employee services paperwork for the Education Reimbursement and PC Buy programs. Somebody owed money from the flu shots two weeks before and other miscellaneous items were discussed.

Then, we got to the holiday party. Yes, folks, the business unit holiday party that I organized for January 24th with a budget of $34,000 (more than half my salary) is going on as planned.

This was the most difficult part of the discussion and I could feel myself getting really angry and bitter. This company is going to lay off 50 people, but the holiday parties are still happening! SERIOUSLY. Most of my friends are at sensible companies who cancelled these events.

Lesson #3 - As a company, you should get rid of the "extra" things before you start getting rid of people!

I couldn't even look my boss in the eye during this part of the discussion. When we finished, she asked if I had any questions. No. She reiterated what she had said that day before - this wasn't performance based, it was strictly cost cutting. I had done really great things there and she had planned on me continuing to do so. She thanked me for being professional during the event, stated that she would be happy to be a reference for me, and said to keep in touch. She asked again if I had any questions. No, but at this point, it was obvious that she didn't have my final check. I confirmed that with her. GREAT.

Lesson #4 - Have the person's final check with you when laying them off. They have enough to worry about without having to worry about that.

It was 11 a.m. I got out of there. On the way out, I asked our very nice security guard to help me out with my one bag I had. As he walked me out, I told him that I had gotten laid off, and that he couldn't tell anyone about it. He was shocked. He gave me a big hug.

I drove away.