It happened on Friday. A woman in the office was let go.
She worked in another department, so my contact with her was minimal. However, one of her co-workers told me her job was in jeopardy for some time because the boss was displeased with her work. Since I didn’t work directly with her, I cannot pass judgment on her efforts.
Yet the “official” reason was that her position was eliminated in favor of a lesser job title. In other words, her boss took this opportunity to get someone else in the job at a lower salary while simultaneously ridding himself of a person he considered a troublesome employee. So she was sacrificed at the altar of profits and a supervisor’s power trip.
Now, to be fair, he may have done her a kindness by saying the position was eliminated, thereby enabling her to collect unemployment, something she would not have qualified for if she were dismissed with cause (poor productivity).
But I do wonder if she was given a fair chance to improve and possibly save her job. And there is no guarantee the new person will do the duties any better. You get what you pay for.
She knew it was coming. The few times I passed her in the office in the preceding weeks she had the glum expression and slumbering gait of someone who knew the fate that awaited her.
So now she must look for another job in our supposedly recovering economy (more on that later). I wish her luck.
But what happened to her is a stark reminder to all workers that people with their own hidden agendas decide our professional fates behind closed doors without any input from us.
Very scary indeed.
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