I did my best to not let it effect me, but did a horrible job of hiding it. After a stressful day at work, I came home, only to get into a fight with Deni. During our fight, it came out that layoffs were just around the corner and that I could lose my job. Although I had attempted to not let it effect me, it was a major stress in my life and I was bring it home with me.
We made it through that layoff and about ten more since then. After the first few, they got a little easier. In those early years there was a methodology of how to avoid losing your job. Mainly not be the worse member of the team. The majority of the layoffs were getting rid of those that should have been fired anyway.
However after all the dead wood had been shed, the decisions started getting harder and harder. They start getting more and more personal each year.
Last year a close co-worker of mine was let go. That was hard for me. We were hired within the same time in 2000 and our careers mirrored each other through the years. It was hard to watch him lose his job and struggle looking for a job in the down economy.
Then this year another close co-worker was let go. Although I haven't known him long, he was instrumental to helping me with the new project I took on this summer. I'm saddened by the reckless decisions made each year that effect people and more importantly families.
These last 2 years, more than any, have made me change my thinking about my job. I've changed my thinking from "if I will lose my job" to "when".
In chatting with friend that lost his job this year, he said something about still keeping in touch and even helping me, if I needed it.
He said:
Well, my friends are my friends and I wouldn't let them down
Wow - I need more friends like this, but more importantly, I need to strive to be this type of friend.
