Well, I fired up the old computational device today (a device upon which I do very little actual computing) and went to Facebook. Saw that General Norman Schwartzkopf had died at the age of 78. Thought perhaps that I would write a post about that. Decided not to.
Yes, I'm somewhat saddened that the General had passed away. But it's not like we were good buddies or anything. Also, as I fired up my own blog to perhaps write on this, I checked my other blogs (ya know that stuff in over there on the right, "Stuff I Like to Read") and saw something which hit a little closer to home for me.
Seems that my blog-buddy Suldog has lost his job. Three days after Christmas and just a few days before the New Year. That sucks.
Now there's something I have never, ever understood. I've seen it at my own place of employment as well. What in the name of all that's Holy possesses employers to lay-off/fire/downsize employees around holidays like Christmas? Are they completely ignorant of all human emotions? Are they truly imps of Satan and evil as the day is long? Or are they simply, completely stupid?
I vote "none of the above". Why, you ask? Well, because I think most employers of other people simply just don't care. They care about their own bottom line sure. But they truly do not care about their employees. Oh they may say they care, but trust me, they don't.
Letting employees go for economic reasons follows a "process". There are certain things to be considered when deciding which employees the company can afford to lose. I get that. But where in this heartless, soulless process does it say to do this kind of crap around Christmas? I'm betting it's got something to do with taxes and end-of-the-year balance sheets and such. In other words, it's probably the "government's fault". I'm fine with that, governments are evil. Ours is just less evil than everyone else's. But the ee-jits in DC are working hard to make us Number One. As in Most Evil.
But that does not change the fact that my buddy Suldog lost his job. In a bad economy. I also have the feeling that with the morons we have currently running the country, his job will not be the only one lost in the next month or so.
What's that fluttering noise I hear? Oh, that's just my holiday spirit flying out the window.
Aw, I don't want to think of my bad stuff being the cause of you losing your holiday spirit! I'm bummed, sure, but it's not a death sentence. I've already had an offer, from a good internet friend, concerning employment (it may or may not be something I can do, but I think it may be. I'll be looking into it a bit more after the 1st.)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the prayers and good thoughts being sent out for me, by so many nice folks such as yourself, have more than made me aware of the good in this world. Dry any tears you dropped for me, my friend. I have been blessed beyond measure in this life, and I will continue to be so. That's a promise.
That was a bit of "poetic license" if you will. Others are losing their jobs, this lets me rant about the "gubmint", etc. I guess I used your predicament for the drama that's in it, so to speak. However, I was troubled by this shift in your life. Hopefully things will work out for you. Sounds to me like you have exactly the right attitude and will treat this as a mere speed bump on the highway of life. You impress me much Suldog and you do sound blessed. Bravo my friend, bravo.
DeleteFWIW... EDS had a policy of not letting anyone go before, during, or shortly after the holidays, unless it was for some egregious breach of conduct or ethics. They were good in that space. Where they WEREN'T good, however, was their practice of having terminated employees escorted by ARMED security guards while they cleaned out their desks and were shown the door (as if they had no idea where it was, to begin with). I always thought that practice was a bit excessive and not a little bit offensive. The fortunate thing was I didn't have to witness that many layoffs during my 14 years with them.
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to think EDS (under Perot) was the ideal which is no more. And probably won't be seen again. More's the pity.
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