It was nice working with you

Yesterday must have been the strangest day I have ever had at work.

There was a time, not too long ago, when the company I work for had offices in Austin, Chicago, and London. It seemed like we would actually be a true international company in the coming months. Times were getting tougher for other internet-oriented companies, but we were immune to layoffs because our business model was so solid. While it was a fun, laid-back place to work (beer fridays, chair massages, game room, parties, etc.) we weren’t spending extravagantly like other companies. Company sponsored trips to Cancun (Agillion) were way out of the question—it was the dot com glory days, but we kept in perspective.

But even in an industry that professes a love of change, most of us probably were not prepared for so much to change, so suddenly. And really, I imagine in comparison to some nearby dot coms, our changes occurred much more gradually. But as soon as I returned from holiday break, around the first week of January, our Chicago division was gone. This past spring there were over 40 people laid off–some were simply co-workers, others were friends. So many people would be leaving that there was a processing room set up with little stations so that everyone could be terminated in an orderly fashion. Unlike horror stories I have heard about, there were no security guards present, or other excessive tactics used. There was genuine concern and regret from the senior staff about what was happening.

Yesterday it was surreal thinking that it was time for layoff round number three. Everyone knows there is no job guarantee in this industry, and of course, in our current economic situation, there is little job security anywhere. But it is never easy watching your friend walk down the hallway with a cardboard box full of his stuff. Likewise, it is such a bizarre experience to sit at your desk for an entire day and wonder when there would be a little tap at the door, and then, “Billy, can I see you in my office for a moment?” By 5:00 pm no one had stopped by and I later found out that my team would reamin intact. I still don’t know who all was laid off. I walked down the hallway and had to observe missing name plates to try to get a sense of who and how many were terminated. Maybe today I will find out why they were laid off.

August 31st, 2001