Sometimes, the unexpected happens.
One of the plans in the The Great Relocation 2.0 was that The Ravishing Mrs. TB, when she relocated here, would be going from full time to part-time work. This had been discussed much earlier in the year and had been agreed to by her employer. Her employer had been low-key advertising for a replacement. As you might remember in November, she had officially let them know that her last full time day would be on or about 31 December 2024.
This past week, she was notified that in fact she would not be needed part-time. They are outsourcing the entire job (at some point; this is still being worked out - which in itself tells me this was a bit of a last minute decision).
She has been in this position for over 10 years, so this surprises me a bit that they are doing this at the last minute. And sadly for her, instead of a rousing sendoff I fear she will simply slip away after her last day without fanfare - to my mind a somewhat poor ending to a 10 year relationship.
I am not going to say this throws the whole world into disarray - it does not; I had started planning a bit for this about three weeks ago when she mentioned she had overheard a conversation that this might be a possibility. Still, a possibility is one thing: actually coming to the time when the thing is supposed to happen and it does not is entirely something else.
For various and sundry reasons, it will likely be a bit before she can take a job here in New Home 2.0: A relocation drive, followed by a period of time away (pre-paid of course, so the money is non-refundable) and having time available to help her mother with some aspects of life following her father's death, will push things out a bit. And while it might be a squeaker for a bit, we should be okay - we had been economizing anyway and this will just drive that process even more.
On a larger scale, it does make wonder how much of this happening everywhere (as you might recall, Hammerfall 3.0 happened during this month as well): places getting to the end of the year and realizing that they have to economize, which in turn means impacting others.
In so many ways, it seems like our lives are being dramatically upended as a result of this move with a finality that I had not truly anticipated.
Your story does not sound out of bounds with what is happening in the world today. Company Loyalty Points value decline when it is known the employee will be leaving soon.
ReplyDeleteBeing that the holidays are in full swing, maybe this development could be an advantage for your family. Time is compressed during the end of the year, so ending up with free time often helps with the added events. Her Mom could use the extra support, being the 1st Christmas without her husband.
One of those half empty - half full situations I guess. I'm hopeful it will all work out.
Anon - There are indeed a number of positives which are not financially based. Perhaps the biggest is - even if there is a short cutover period - no additional stress trying to problem solve from half a country away. And we are not quite certain when things will end - given we are only 3 weeks out from the end of the year, it is hard for me to believe that a transition will happen that quickly, given Christmas and New Year's.
DeleteI do suspect that once we get the money situation worked out, this will overall be an improvement in terms of stress and focus, if nothing else.
Reading this tribute to loyalty (there isn't any) makes me wonder how many execs are taking a pay cut themselves? Another end-of-the-year axe, sorry TB.
ReplyDeleteNylon12, I have to be fair that I am grateful that they have supported us this long. The timing is a bit unfortunate - but it at least draws a pretty bright line about this being the place we live and work now.
DeleteFinal terms are still pending - there may be an overlap period between the new and old, especially due to the end of the year.
I guess I'm not terribly shocked by the news. Had an employee of mine wanted to go from full to part time and from office to remote, I'm pretty sure it would cross my mind to see if there were cheaper alternatives. It is unfortunate and hopefully after she gets her proverbial house in order, she is able to find some meaningful local employment.
ReplyDeleteEd, in that sense it is not too surprising. What is surprising to me is that this was not voiced right up at the beginning when it was first mentioned (my move was no secret. And the fact that they really did not seem to try too hard to fill the position.
DeleteIt is one thing, in my world, to clearly state up front that such a thing will not work. It is another let things roll until almost the end and then change one's mind.
In both of my Hammerfalls, the truth was always given to me at the last second, I presume so that we didn't take time to sabotage a sinking ship further. I've never worked somewhere where we were given advanced notice to make an orderly transition. One of those ramifications of a world that no longer employs "family" but resources.
DeleteEd, yours is likely the more familiar experience. Mine varied: the very first Hammerfall we ended out the week, the second Hammerfall was a 60 day warning (as required by law), and the most recent was done the morning of.
DeleteThe concern, from what Uisdean Ruadh has related to me upon more than one occasion, is the risk of sabotaging things on the way out the door.
Son worked for company where the CEO in a meeting discussed what he would like to do. Son explained he couldn't do it based on Federal Law. CEO came to him privately twice. Third time son said no CEO fired him. Removed him from property. Immediately. Son made them stop at HR and picked up Every Single Review that he had been given. Those and the Fed's arresting the CEO a year later made his lawsuit even better. Costly mistake for that company.
DeleteThat was quite a clever thing for your son to think of. I would not have had that presence of mind to ask for my reviews.
DeleteHopefully everything will work out after the Holidays.
ReplyDeleteYou all be safe and God bless.
Linda, I am sure they will. Given everything that has happened up to this point, I am confident in saying that the hand of God is in this, even if we cannot fully see it at the moment.
DeleteDisappointing, but not surprising. At least you all already had plans for change regarding her job, so it wasn't an unexpected cutting off on their part. The saddest thing industrialization brings is demoting humans to disposable components in the economic growth process.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, it was both of those things. It just moves the timeline up a bit.
DeleteTo be honest, I have taken a lot of comfort from yours and Dan's journey in this regard. The very unexpected happened, and you adapted.
I realized a long time ago in the corporate world that I was a commodity, a number, a cog -- you get the picture. I have always counseled people who report to me, as well as colleagues, that the moment you let yourself believe they care about you, you have deceived yourself. With all the rah-rah company jargon, it's easy to let yourself slip into that kind of delusion. I know all that and I know it's not personal. Yet when what happens to Mrs. TB happens to me (and it has), I take it personally. I can't help it. But eventually life has gone on. You and Mrs. TB are solid, and I know it will be the same for you. Not easy, by any stretch, but you know it will be OK. Blessings to both of you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bob. I spoke with her today about it and she is in a relatively better place about it (although still a bit bothered by how everything ended). To your point, on the one hand it is not personal. On the other hand, it feels that way (and arguably they did not position themselves successfully for the filling the position so we ended up in Plan B). There is a chance they will need her a bit into the New Year, but she will certainly be done by the 15th of January when she flies up here.
DeleteShe will still need to fly back to New Home for a bit; thankfully there is no need for her to interact there unless she wants to.