In the face of unemployment…
Username: Rebekah
Password: ********
Enter.
‘You have been locked out of all Company X computers. ’ Popped up in bright red letters across my computer.
‘Candy? Can you log in?’ I squeaked to a co-worker.
‘Yeah, no problems. Why…’ she started to say and stopped suddenly when she saw my screen. ‘I hate to say this but… that’s not good.’
I shifted nervously in my chair.
‘About 8 months ago, the gal who had your job got the same message. She came in early to work and HR hadn’t been able to fire her yet. When she called IT to ask about it, they told her she had been let go. That’s probably not what’s wrong… I’m just… telling a story’ she said as she half ran back to her cubicle.
I called IT, but in my ever present effort to be a good employee, I consistently arrive over an hour early for work each day. IT wouldn’t roll in for another 64 minutes.
And then… I started to cry. No. I started to sob.
By 7:30, I had all my items sorted in a ‘keep’ and ‘trash’ pile… and a stack of used Kleenex on my desk. At 7:42, my boss called out, ‘Why the *&$*# am I locked out?’ A voice from accounting shouted, ‘Virus. Half of us are locked out. Should be fixed by 9.’
1.) Where was Miss Accounting Know-It-All when I asked the same question?
2.) I hate Candy.
I received an interoffice memo that layoffs will be starting mid-March and they took back all the company cars at my husband’s job. This experience renewed my sense of urgency to be debt free.
These are scary times.
I just wish I was further along…
Popularity: 14% [?]
Posted: February 20th, 2009 under Debt Reduction, Life in General, Personality, company x.
Comments: 7
Comments
Comment from Michelle
Time: February 20, 2009, 7:13 am
Oh man … Beks, that’s just an awful story. I’m so glad that it was just a false alarm. Keep strong, keep the faith – you are showing your quality. Hang in there, buddy!
Comment from Emily
Time: February 20, 2009, 9:44 am
Yikes – I can not imagine, even in these very tough times we have lost our “humanness”. Locked out of a computer??!!?? Shame on all of us. In your case – you have been notified that possibly the end is near. If I were you and knew there are very good chances of losing the job, take stock in what you already have, list what must be gotten before an income change occurs.
This happened to my son, he knew the end was coming and got some ducks in a row. He has now been off for 4 months, and his beautiful wife has begun to notice changes in her career path, layoffs are beginning to occur at other hospitals in her field of expertise. My son’s unemployment is due to run out in April, and so far no extensions have been mentioned. They are parents of 3 beautiful little girls.
I hope these ideas help – I am a prayerful person and continue to pray for all of us in this country and the world who are facing hardships. It will work out but the worry can be overwhelming!!!! Hang tough!
Comment from Caoineag
Time: February 20, 2009, 9:53 am
Time to start job hunting. Being proactive is better than waiting for a layoff. Start letting people know you are looking for work and get your resume out there.
Comment from mikey
Time: February 20, 2009, 10:20 am
I hate Candy too. Fattening…
Comment from baselle
Time: February 21, 2009, 12:45 am
Yeesh. In the space of 1 hr, your co workers would:
1. spread a scary and disingenuous rumor
2. allow you to break down in your cubicle w/o so much as a “are you all right?”
3. withhold useful information.
4. curse
I know these are scary times, and maybe this was a bad day, but if this is your normal work environment, I’d look forward to the layoff.
Comment from Nicole
Time: February 24, 2009, 6:25 pm
Further along as in pregnant? Oh no, you’re talking about debt dwindling:) Got it.
Just keep sending every dime to the bank account draining credit cards!
Comment from Lizzie
Time: March 5, 2009, 2:08 pm
That is just plain awful!
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