The news is filled with reports of layoffs at all sorts of companies. 2000 here, 7000 there, etc. It’s one thing to read about it, but it’s another thing to watch it happen in front of your eyes. Yesterday my place of employment (Tomax) initiated a layoff. I’m fine as far as still having a job, but because of my position in the company I was involved in the planning and the actual implementation.
It’s been a rough few days. I haven’t slept at all. I’ve been through it once before, seeing it happen, but I’ve never had to actually be involved in the execution — and I would prefer to never do it again. It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in recent memory. Being involved in the planning and the decision of who goes and who stays was not something I want to repeat. I had to meet with managers under me 90 minutes before the layoffs start to inform them of what is about to happen, completely ruining their day. I had to go get people from their desks individually and bring them into a meeting with upper management. I had to sit in the room while the message is delivered. I had to walk them back to their desks to collect their things and escort them out the doors. I had to watch as everyone else around wonders what is going on, and then as realization sets in the paranoia begins. I felt terrible. It was the longest day of work in my life.
There have been many lessons I have learned from the whole ordeal. Nothing that I’m going to mention here. And if any of those people that I walked out of building are reading this, I apologize again. You are all excellent workers. Place me on any referral list that you need.
Exploder
