So far so good

There were supposed to be announcements today of who was to be fired for the downsizing at work. It was hard to drive to work on a day like this. I just finished lunch though, so I should be OK for now. People around me are seemingly unaffected yet, although there was a conversation about a person from a different department.

They announced in late January they would be making cuts. They said to give us time to prepare. The fact of the matter is the announcement was made for Wall Street and there is not a single valid reason other than that one. The managers here claim to not know who is leaving yet and situation festers as multitudes of employees are left wondering instead of working. Even now no one knows if they are in the clear as there has been no follow-up announcement about the layoffs. If they were using this communication truly for the benefit of the employee they would let us know when they were done, to remove that uncertainty.

I've only managed to be fired once in my life. I was in high school and working at Burger King at the Southern Dutchess Mall. The nice young manager told me that I was required to shave my facial hair - no doubt at the behest of her superiors. There were only a few whiskers there anyway, but I supposed the policy was the point. The first time I complied in the mall bathroom with supplies they furnished. I vowed never to repeat the humility of it all... then I refused to shave and forced her to fire me rather than conceding the point. She cried, so I felt bad, but having this be her first firing I am sure was an easy one. I smiled the whole time and filled out their paperwork admitting I refused to comply with their policies and was being fired for my own willful disobedience. It was rather empowering for a teenager to be recognized as rebellious, something I am sure meant much at the time.

Now, UNDER-employment, I have that roundly and completely covered. A few times over. Terminated by my employer? Hope to not have to go that route. At least not now anyway.