I just don't get it.
My wife works for a prominent brokerage firm. She is friends with Pauline. My wife is a reporting analyst and a sales assistant. Pauline is a sales assistants. My wife works for a top tier group of 3 brokers, herself and another assistant. They do a significant amount of business. Pauline works for a bunch of lower tier people that don't do a lot of business.
On Monday, the icy cold hand of layoffs came for a few people in the office. All sales reps. All with a limited amount of tenure. None of them registered to trade securities. This should be read as - "they had limited value."
My wife is registered.
Pauline is not.
In addition to the pink slips, management decreed a change to the severance policy which will significantly curtail the amount of money being paid out when they run people. This policy goes into effect on January 15th.
Guess when the next round of layoffs is going to be?
Guess what the criteria for termination will be? That's right - the assistants that are not registered.
Here's where the story gets relevant dear readers - all three of you - Pauline, by an act of the GODS, was told she was going to get to work with my wife's group. The message here is - "not only have you been spared the chopping block, you have also been given a chance at salvation."
What does Pauline do with this gift? She dumps all over it. She doesn't want to work with that team. They are too demanding.
Pauline, single, home-over, no secondary income, working in what is possibly the most volatile industry (financial services) in the most volatile economy is the last 80 odd years - THUMBS HER NOSE AT THIS OPPORTUNITY FROM THE HEAVENS.
It is BEYOND comprehension for me.
People! Wake UP! You MUST MUST MUST MUST be more SELF AWARE than this. Pull your heads out of the sand or wherever you have them SHOVED and take a look around. Pauline, like in a Matrix-style slow motion shot dodged a bullet by the skin of her teeth. And instead of getting on her knees and praying thanks to all that is holy, she gets uppity and lets everyone know how unhappy she is with the move.
So on January 16th, the day the new severance plan becomes effective, do not give Pauline your pity when she is sobbing as she packs up her desk. She had a chance and SHE BLEW IT.
I think I am "reader #3". Don't blow a gasket Mike. Perhaps she really doesn't want to work there any longer. Maybe she won the lottery and doesn't need to work...
ReplyDeleteHowever, your point is clear. Self Awareness is also knowing your value in real terms. Anyone needing to keep their job needs to show some gratitude (good attitude) and demonstrate their value to the organization (current skills, certification, time saving, money saving, revenue generating all count).