Major layoffs happened as expected on Thursday.  It still seems a little unreal.  It was distrubing and sad.  I made it and still have a job, many other didn’t including some of the people on my team that I was good friends with.

It happened so early and it happened throughout the whole morning.  My desk at work faces the whole marketing department.  Behind me and to the left are other departments including the HR department.  Marketing people have absolutely no reason to go behind me and to the left unless they’re going to lunch.  However, early in the morning I saw one guy heading that way with his boss.  Next thing you know, he came back and was packing up his things and saying good bye.  I feel so bad for him.  They recruited him from the east coast and he hasn’t even been here for a year.  Now he has no job.

My coworker has a daily meeting with our boss.  They always meet at the desk and if not the desk than in the conference room just ahead.  She went for a meeting and next thing I know, she’s walking with the boss towards HR.  I can’t believe it.  Next thing you know, she comes back and is like, “I’m cut, can you guys help me get my pictures.”  Wow.  I was in shock.  We need her.  She’s important.  In fact, everyone in the whole department was in shock.  She was busy all the time and had an important role.  Wow.

And one by one, I saw people from marketing head to HR.  I sit by the door and I saw so many people packing up and leaving.  I saw a lady crying.  My other coworker was given a few months.  Many others had to pack up immediately and leave.

It’s so unreal to have a job one day and all of a sudden not.  To go work at a place every single day (besides weekends), to see the same people, and then next day, you don’t come back, you don’t see them.  Their desk is empty.  It’s crazy.  I can’t imagine if it was me.  What would I do?  There’s nothing out there.  It’s crazy.

We had a company meeting on Friday morning.  They told us how they chose.  They needed to cut salaries by 15%.  They had managers rank who they could afford.  Then rank them by intellect, hard work, and team work.  Wow.  They said they were done cutting.  But who knows till when.  They gave the spiel that we trust that the people who are still here can do the job and save the company.  They said that if we don’t succeed, we could basically all lose our jobs.  Wow.

Wow.  It is kind of bittersweet.  I am thankful I have a job.  But I am very sad for all those who are gone, especially those in my department.  We were so close.  I hope they will find a job soon.