For weeks I've been feeling uneasy about work. It's not just about the work itself because that sucks ass big time but hey what can you do ......
I just felt that something is up and that the the energy in the office is dark, very negative, almost oppressive.
But I just couldn't put my finger on it.
There seems to be several management meetings a week and after the meetings in the board room, a couple of the directors will gather in the glass meeting rooms and talk further.
They then have a staff meeting to tell everyone how the agency is moving forwards and how we're in a good place and everything is dandy. Trying to spread a feel good factor.
But we're not buying it. In fact, we all walk out feeling like they're trying to cover up something.
So I've been uneasy all week. Until last Friday that is.
I was stuck in a glass meeting room for almost an entire day for a discussion and brain storm session. When I emerged at 8pm, I saw groups of people huddled around looking shocked and bewildered. Wondering what happened, I walked up to the Creative Group Head.
Me: What happened?
CGH: You didn't hear?
Me: No. What happened?
CHG: 3 people have been retrenched.
Me: What???!!
So i emerge from an 8 hour meeting only to find that 3 of my colleagues were told to pack up and go within 24 hours.
Even better was my manager who asked another colleague of mine today.
Manager: Where's that fella? His desk is so clean.
Other colleague: Oh you didn't hear?
Manager: No, what happened?
Other colleague: He's been retrenched.
Manager: What?!!
And so it goes. Management is not telling the staff whats going on and no announcements have been made that there's been retrenchment. So people walk into the office to find some collegues missing. And even worst, that a new person is sitting in their colleagues place.
I can understand the retrenchment. What I don't understand is they way they go about doing it.
I don't know if there is a right or wrong way to handle retrenchment but I do know that doing it the way they've done it is leaving the remaining staff feeling puzzled, scared and demotivated.
I just felt that something is up and that the the energy in the office is dark, very negative, almost oppressive.
But I just couldn't put my finger on it.
There seems to be several management meetings a week and after the meetings in the board room, a couple of the directors will gather in the glass meeting rooms and talk further.
They then have a staff meeting to tell everyone how the agency is moving forwards and how we're in a good place and everything is dandy. Trying to spread a feel good factor.
But we're not buying it. In fact, we all walk out feeling like they're trying to cover up something.
So I've been uneasy all week. Until last Friday that is.
I was stuck in a glass meeting room for almost an entire day for a discussion and brain storm session. When I emerged at 8pm, I saw groups of people huddled around looking shocked and bewildered. Wondering what happened, I walked up to the Creative Group Head.
Me: What happened?
CGH: You didn't hear?
Me: No. What happened?
CHG: 3 people have been retrenched.
Me: What???!!
So i emerge from an 8 hour meeting only to find that 3 of my colleagues were told to pack up and go within 24 hours.
Even better was my manager who asked another colleague of mine today.
Manager: Where's that fella? His desk is so clean.
Other colleague: Oh you didn't hear?
Manager: No, what happened?
Other colleague: He's been retrenched.
Manager: What?!!
And so it goes. Management is not telling the staff whats going on and no announcements have been made that there's been retrenchment. So people walk into the office to find some collegues missing. And even worst, that a new person is sitting in their colleagues place.
I can understand the retrenchment. What I don't understand is they way they go about doing it.
I don't know if there is a right or wrong way to handle retrenchment but I do know that doing it the way they've done it is leaving the remaining staff feeling puzzled, scared and demotivated.
4 comments:
Banks do it that style. I think they have their reasons. No warning, nothing. Have to pack and leave there and then, their accounts locked, can't check emails anymore. I think this happens in certain industries where it's more 'sensitive'. It's harsh....
How awful for you. Why does the work environment seem to bring out the worst in people? There is a humane way of retrenching and the way that your company is doing it. Hope everything works out in the end.
How are things now? Times like this, wouldn't it be nice if we all had a trust fund waiting for us, so we could just walk away.....
Ally,
Yeah heard that it's not unusual to get a person out in 24 hours. Just seems to brutal tho ....
Anon,
Definitely! If only....
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