It's The End of the World

The song playing on my radio when I pulled into the bank parking lot at about 7:30 AM on a June day in 1995 was REM's "It's the End of the World As We Know It."  And I thought "how appropriate."  Because I had every reason to believe that within the next half hour, I was going to lose a job I'd held for over 17 years. The company was downsizing, and rumors had run rampant that this was the day chopped heads would be notified.  Two of my co-workers also had reason to believe they were getting cut, and the three of us ladies arranged to meet at the bank across the street from our office early in the morning. We were going to drive together to our office, park together, walk in together, and get axed together. Me, Deb, and Lynn.  What fun. 

The rumor mill also had it that on the day you were axed, your ID badge would no longer work to open the door.  So we expected to be blocked at the entrance, and that the security guard would escort us to the Human Resources area where we'd be out-processed.  Again, together. 

But it didn't quite happen that way.  In fact, nothing happened that day.  We approached the door brazenly, ready to meet our fate, and we very simply walked through, past the sleepy guard, and went to our respective desks.  We were, frankly, floored that nothing had occurred.

A few weeks later, though, the rumors came true.  At my desk about 8:00, a friend passed by and said "Today's the day. HR's already started calling people." And not 10 minutes later, the phone on my desk rang.  It was indeed HR, and they politely asked me if I could "join" them downstairs in their quarters.  Deb and Lynn were both spared, somehow. 

Unlike many others who were cut that day, I was happy about the news.  I no longer liked the work I was doing.  I was getting a very decent severance package that would allow me to take six months off of work entirely.  The HR people couldn't believe I wasn't bursting into tears about my new freedom.  But the truth is, I was ready for the end of the world as I knew it. 

I lost contact with many of the people I worked with there, eventually.  But Deb and Lynn and I have managed to get together from time to time over these last ten years.  We share some drinks, some food, and a whole lot of laughs. We did it last night, and my sides still hurt from laughing. It's a different world these days, but the three of us?  Still together.   

Comments

[scorpy]

That is awesome to hear! It's tough to find (and hang on to) quality people these days.

[Bruce Small]

Five years ago I was in utter despair with a job I hated. Vicki would find me some mornings staring at the bathroom mirror, trying to get up the courage to go to work. This was clearly not good.

We had sold the company the year before to a huge conglomerate, and it turned into a disaster. I took my money and bailed out, starting my own business, successful beyond anyone's dreams. I had no idea life could be so good.

The layoffs started in the old firm with faithful people who had been there for 25 years. The ultimate irony was when the HR person was walked out the door. Geez was I glad I got out.

[Lynn]

Well said. Being there with you and Deb those fateful days (and many more after that) it was, we thought, the end of our world as we knew it. And when you came down my aisle, and said, "I got a call", so many things flashed in my mind. Am I next? I wasn't, but I almost wish I was. I have somehow managed to still survive, probably however, only until next month, which will probably be the 'last' axe. But I, like you, will take the break happily after 26 years. Also, I know that when I write to ask "When is our next outing?", we will still be laughing until our sides hurt even harder. Love ya!