This is more of a rant than anything, and so for that I apologize. But please indulge me.
I got up this morning as usual, hopped in the shower, went down to catch my bus, and stopped off first at Starbucks. I got a water and an apple fritter, nice indulgences.
I then walked over to my building, Embarcadero 3 in the Financial District of San Francisco. Very nice building if you know it. I go to my floor, enter my office, and start working, programming. I've been working on a big project quite a bit, but the job of a programmer can be nice. In fact, yesterday, I worked from home.
A few minutes later, a woman I don't know appeared at the door to my office, looking concerned and puzzled, but I waved her in, to see what she wanted.
She asked me if I had been in the office yesterday and I told her that I had worked from home. She informed me that my company had been taken into receivership by the court and that all of its assets were frozen. I sat there in stunned silence trying to work out the implications of all this. It quickly dawned on me that I should probably start working on the resume.
I informed her that the laptop and monitor in the office were mine, to which she informed me I'd have to provide receipts to get them. Fantastic. I was putting my headphones away in my bag, and she asked me if THOSE were mine, until I shot her the most disgusted look I've probably mustered in some time.
I head home in a daze, get online to chat with a few people, and found this note in my personal email inbox from someone in the company.
Re: Anthem Blue Cross
Some of you were wondering what is happening with the insurance. The September premium for Anthem has not yet been paid. If it is not paid by September 30th, it will be canceled retroactively effective September 1st, and you will be fully responsible for any services incurred during the month of September.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call or e-mail me.
I've refilled a couple prescriptions this month for my asthma from Walgreens which I believe cost several hundred dollars if I pay market value for them. Fantastic.
I'm fairly sure I'll be able to find a job -- fortunately for me, my profession seems to be one that has been in demand.
But it was a good reminder of how quickly things can change, and how I've gone from employed and with health insurance to, well, unemployed and at risk.
Happy Labor Day indeed.