Laid Off...

posted on: 2008-02-07 at 9:47:00 AM

Well it happened. Finally-- but MUCH SOONER than I expected. I expected to go down with the ship-- but someone decided to let me go early. I'm mad as hell, but don't have any one person or entity to direct my anger. GRAHHH!

I've thought this over and over and logically, it's simple: If I stayed on board for two more weeks, I would have been granted about $3000 in the form of a severance package that I am otherwise ineligible for (Feb. 21st would have been my 1st year anniversary). The store will remain open for at least two more weeks, and thus, if I stayed on board, I should have been able to get my severance.

Somebody at the liquidation company made the decision that they as the days dwindle, the number of on-board managers should dwindle as well. Sure, this makes perfect sense -- I'm down with that. However, what doesn't make sense to me is this: There are five managers at my store. I am the least paid and am one of only two that have the experience of closing another store.

Q. Why get rid of the least paid manager who has the most experience closing this store?

A. Because I have the most to lose!

By keeping me on, and not laying off one of the other, more expensive and less experienced managers, the company would have to dole out about $3000 (minus the $500 - $1000 difference in salary) more than if they have not. Apparently, my work in the store isn't worth the $2000 spread over the next 14 days.

But I contest that notion: All I would have to do was make the company about $200 more per day that I am working. I could have totally pulled it off.

This is where my morals and work ethic seem to differ than those of most. When I ran my video game store, if confronted with the option to either watch the bottom-line and cover my own ass .. or to take a risk for one of my employees, I would "take one for the team." In fact, I've done that on a few occasions: I'd protect one of my employees by putting my own job on the line.

The way I see it is this: When you are in a position of control, you call the shots. If someone above you cries "FOUL" and questions your actions, you MANAGE. You explain why-- and one of the dirty little secrets of management is that you can make any bullshit story you want to get your point across. It all comes down to whether the decision was "right" or "wrong," and if the boss was dumb enough to fall for it.

For me, I protected my PEOPLE, not my bottom-line. And my heart is big enough to see the benefit of losing a relatively small bit of money for the sake of helping a good employee's family.

It is very transparent what is happening here. Save a dollar. My work ethic does not apply because I don't make those hard decisions. Somewhere up the chain, someone is making a few hundred dollars more than they would have if they had let me stay on a few more weeks.

HEY, FUCK YOU.

I could play the pity card here, but I won't. I knew this was coming, and no one expected the stores to stay open as long as they have -- so I was never expecting the severance pay as an option until just recently.

Still, I am mad as hell.

posted by Carl

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2 Comments: [ Post a comment ]

 BITE ME said...

Wow hope that wasn't directed to me butt head!! I feel for you,but its gonna be done to the rest of us as well.Don't be a stranger.
Posted: February 8, 2008 8:56 PM

 
 Anonymous said...

Crazy Carl, send me an e-mail with your Resume tomorrow

Thanks
Kris
atwoodk@hlyw.com
Posted: February 21, 2008 7:31 PM

 

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