Layoffs

We had layoffs at work this week while I was still on vacation. I had my blackberry with me all week and had reception until Tuesday when we went to Zions. Well, layoffs were TUESDAY!

As we were headed back to St. George I checked my email. I found two email messages from my Mom. I could read part of both subject lines. One said "I am home" and the other said "Good News." I chose to open the "Good News" message first. She announced "I am back to being full time wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. I was laid off from Symantec this morning."

YIKES!

All sorts of emotions started flooding over me. Mom and I have worked at the same company for nearly 20 years. First at WordPerfect, then at Altiris/Symantec. She's been hoping to retire, but hadn't decided when. Now the "when" has been decided for her and her severance pay is kind of like a "bonus" I guess. So, I suppose in some ways it's happy news for her.

But I will have to go to work day after day without seeing my Mom & I won't have the chance to talk with her every day at work. I will really miss her. I knew this day would eventually come since she was so close to retirement , but to have it occur so quickly and surprisingly was a shock.

I called her and talked with her while we drove back to St. George. She said her manager thought I would be ok and wouldn't be laid off. But I wouldn't know for sure until I got back to work. Thankfully I got a call the next day from my mangager while we drove home. I still have my job.

But it is so difficult to be at work after a major layoff. There are emotions on both sides. Someone said "You're happy to have your job...yet you feel guilty that you are happy that you have your job."

When I got to work Thursday people were relieved to see me. One person said "I worried about your job...but I couldn't ask anyone about you only because I knew they couldn't tell me." I also saw the shell shocked looks on their faces. The managers have been through the emotional wringer as well. I found a LOT of people just wanted to TALK.

And so I listened.

I am SO thankful I missed the actual day. Right now in my life I couldn't have handled an emotional first-hand shock like this so I'm glad I was gone. I still have to deal with emotions, but not the same as actually being in the office that day and seeing friends escorted from the building.

I wish the best to all my long-time co-worker FRIENDS who are now looking for work. I wish you all the luck in the world as you pick up and move on. You will certainly be missed. I have worked with the greatest people in the world.

I told Chris that I now know for sure that I will have my job for the next three months -- until the stock report comes out again and Symantec then re-evaluates the employee numbers. I think it will be re-evaluated each quarter as long as the economy remains shaky.

In the mean time, I planted my garden today. Talk about theraputic! I really needed it.