Thursday, May 23, 2019

The Best Intentions

After a few very stressful weeks, the dust has settled and even though the company I work for is closing all facilities in Duncan, I get to keep my job. The catch? I'll be working from home. Some people say they couldn't effectively work from home. Personally, I don't think I'll have a problem with it. I have a tendency to get sucked into a black hole once I fire up my computer and I don't have a hard time keeping my focus. I don't think working from home is going to change that. After a couple of years fraught with change, challenges, and uncertainty, I feel like this might be the beginning of a new phase. That is if Murphey's Law which is my constant companion, will stay upstairs bingeing on daytime TV while I work. Or hey, if Murphey's Law just forgot about me completely.... That would be great. I'm excited about entering a phase. An in case you're wondering if I'll be working in jams and curlers..... Absolutely not. The plan is to get up everyday, dress for success and get-er-done.... I have the best intentions of being my best self in the best place possible.... Home Sweet Home.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

The Long Goodbye

In December 2017, the company I worked for sold to a large public company... The beginning of a roller coaster ride. Acclimating to the structure of a public company has been quite a transition. In private company, we were able to handle things. If something landed on my desk, I either took care of it, or delivered it to someone who could. In a public company... Not so much. As a private company we felt like family. In a private company.... We are nothing but an employee number. In a private company, we had freedom to come up with new idea, easier ways of doing things. In a public company, everything has a templet and you must not vary from "The Templet". 

Whenever a company is sold, there is always a lot of uncertainty. Will they keep the original employees? If they do, how long will it last? We all feel that we have been in limbo for the last couple of years. I am fortunate that I was taken in under the corporate umbrella. But even though I've been fortunate, I still don't feel safe. Last week we discovered (by accident) that they would be closing all of the facilities in town. Today the deed was done and many of my co-workers were laid off. It was heartbreaking because we are like family. I think I have survivors guilt. I am one of a handful of employees that will remain working (so they say), even if it's from home. I am appreciative of the opportunity I've been given, but my heart is heavy for everyone who hasn't been as lucky. The last two years has been a long goodbye to everything we loved about what we did and who we worked for.   I know new chapters will open for my co-workers, but they are chapters from a book they didn't intend to read.