After nearly six months of unemployment, one of my first duties at my new job is to implement layoffs. Throwing any of these hardworking people into a job market unlike any we've ever seen is unconscionable, but the rationale for having to do it is even worse. "everyone else is cutting back, we'll look weak and badly run if we don't do the same."
It doesn't matter that we had a record year in 2008. It doesn't matter that these people have been more than competent and are mostly responsible for our record year. It doesn't even matter that as soon as the layoffs are over, we are quietly planning to hire again to fill at least half of the newly opened positions. Unfortunately, those laid off will not be considered for their old positions--we replace them with "better talent for less money."
So, for those of you who don't know your professional world is about to come crashing down, I'm sorry. I'm new. I don't have enough clout to win the fight to keep you. I voluntarily--and easily--cut the bloated budget by more than your combined salaries, and I pointed out that the turmoil caused by the turnover would come at a highly inopportune time. But we have shareholders, comptrollers, and others who hold stakes in our organization but don't actually take part in running it. They see that our competitors are cutting staff, and we haven't yet. "Why not?" they ask, though no answer will change their minds. Labor costs go down, our already obscene profits go up. They never have to look in your eyes, they never even know who you are.
I know what you're about to go through, though. Panic, rejection, desperation, days on end of painful phone and email silence. Denial, anger, questioning what you did wrong... You know what? You didn't do anything wrong. I barely even know you. I had only 5 business days to get settled in and decide who has to go. Your warrants have been signed, I'll execute them in 11 days. I hope to God you have support systems and savings in place, I wish I could tip you off now so that you could prepare yourselves for this.
Frankly, I'll be lost without you: the people who trained me on so many of my vital functions in the office, ,who answered my questions, welcomed me warmly to the family and showed me how well run the department can be when everyone knows their jobs and performs it well. I'll miss you all. Please don't think of me as the bad guy, I fought to keep you, all of you.
Best of luck, and I mean that. I hope you're either working again the following Monday, or kicking your feet up watching cartoons and enjoying some time off. Whichever makes you happier. You were better than this place. I am, too, I think. But with a family to feed and savings running out, I had little choice but to take the job. They didn't mention staff reductions in the interview, but I probably would have taken the job anyway. Times are scary, and there were no other prospects on the horizon. And for all I know, my new boss is thinking all these same thoughts about me...
This diary wasn't written for sympathy, what I have to do is despicable, and I am doing it willingly. The angst I suffer is nothing compared to unemployment, but I needed to purge this from my soul.
Oh, and when I take over the company, we're going private, and I'm hiring each and every one of you back with as much back pay as we can afford. Oh, and you guys can call the people responsible for these layoffs and fire them.