there's going to be a LOT of blood on my hands...

[LanternWaste]

I have a bad feeling that on Friday, there's going to be a LOT of blood on my hands.

Sometime back, I received a promotion at the office that I work at. Late yesterday afternoon, I get called into a closed-door meeting in my boss's office with his boss *and* the company's owner.

I'm told our company may be buying another, smaller company in our region that does the same thing we do. I'm then asked to accompany them on Friday for a visit to this company and a) give any and all recommendations I can think of that would apply to my department and b) follow that up with some number crunching dealing with how many people from the other company we would not be retaining.

From what I already know, it appears that we won't have use for *any* of them and so far, I'm working on it from that angle (as it was implied I do).

I've been fired from jobs before-- "laid-off", "downsized" (even "right-sized" once). Every time, it was a serious kick in the stomach. Every time, it ruined any progress I'd made up to then, and every time I had to start all over again.

So I know how it feels when this happens. And now, not only am I going to be instrumental ruining the lives of approximately nine other people, I'm going to be the point man on this.

I feel like shit must feel on a crappy day. There's no way around this for me-- I'm going to be kicking a lot of people (and their families) in their stomachs. I've been having a pretty good year so far and it goes right down the crapper. I really, really hate this.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear LanternWaste....

You put this so eloquently......

I can feel your pain at what you're about to do....

Is there any way to soften it?

For the people you are going to let go, can you have a list of resources?

Referrals? That sort of thing?

I'm sure your inherent kindness will help them........

What a horrible situation to find yourself in......

:hug:

[lildreamer316]

3. Hell yeah...since

you've made yourself familiar with who they are and their qualifications, maybe you could point some of them in the right directions??
I know it's a bit of work, but I would think it would probably be worth it.
Best of luck to you, and them.

[LanternWaste]

10. That *would* be the right thing to do--

That *would* be the right thing to do-- I hope this doesn't happen so fast that I don't have the opportunity to point them there.

Thanks for the kind words....

[LanternWaste]

7. Thank you Peggy.

Thank you Peggy. I think tonight I'll be looking for as many resources as possible for them and if this does happen, get that info to them surreptitiously.

(Thanks again...)

[wildhorses]

2. the hatchet man--sorry

at least you give a shit...most don't

[Burma Jones]

4. You know, some people enjoy doing what you may have to do

I'm glad you don't. Maybe those times you've been let go constitutes today's version of paying your dues...sad to say...

[LanternWaste]

8. If nothing else

If nothing else, it allows me to empathize with them-- something so very sadly lacking in today's corporate environment....

[Strawman]

5. Wow. That's rough

That happened at our company. The way it was handled was kinda bad. We went from 80 people to 20 people after being acquired. Some people were kept on during a short 90 day transition. Many others were axed the very day we got the news of the acquisition. I was lucky enough to survive.

Hearing "congratulations for having such a great company" from the CEO of the company that bought us was beyond wince inducing, as was the HR director telling laid off people to not forget their free baseball hats and tshirts on their way out of the meeting they all got fired in (these were hats and shirts of the company that just fired them). At least the severance was reasonable and most people landed on their feet fairly quickly.

No matter what, they're not gonna like you. I would say just be honest and empathetic, but not overly positive. Sometimes trying to be positive is just not all that appropriate. In our case the people from the new company were not appropriately somber.

[LanternWaste]

9. Thanks for the advice

Thanks for the advice. As it stands, I'm going to be as professional about this as I can, but not (as you said) positive. The guy who laid me off in '95 was all chuckles and smiles-- good thing I don't own a gun, ya' know?

[ThomCat]

6. That has to be a gut-wrenching assignment.

:(

I'm sorry.

[qwertyMike]

11. Fight for a good severance package

for those laid off.

Me?
I'd quit.

Johnny Paycheck

[Parche]

12. LOT

Aslan will make it better, things work out!!!