Procrastinet

Hey What's That Roaring Sound?

filed under: Stuff to worry about

Mid-December:

My dayjob firm calls a staff meeting to explain the steps being taken to deal with the troubled economy. "Don't worry," they say, "we have been planning for this and have taken steps that have insulated us from the worst measures that other firms are finding necessary. Primarily, there are to be NO LAYOFFS."

Today:

Staff meeting to explain that all floater secretaries have been let go. Employees of retirement age being offered voluntary buyouts. All employees being offered voluntary schedule/pay reductions. Once these measures are in place, "we'll see where we are" and consider "involuntary measures."

That took less than three months.

I think a lot of businesses knew things were rough and took the first steps to gird against it last year, but are only now facing up to just how bad it is and just how drastic those measures are going to have to be. Expect to hear more stories like this in the next couple months, as more people are given sudden and unexpected opportunities to re-evaluate their life priorities.

"Hey, why is our canoe moving so fast? And what's that roaring sound?"

Posted by rjt at March 4, 2009 11:18 AM