I have to admit, until very recently, my family and I haven’t really felt the pull of the Recessional undertow. We cut back spending at Christmas and what not, but that was all in the “just in case” mentality. Turns out that might have been a smart move on my part. Very rapidly, the company that I have worked for the last five years of my life has taken a significant downturn in sales and profits, so much so that the rumor mill of layoffs began a few weeks ago. And things have intensified, to the point that I am very sure SOMETHING will be happening tomorrow morning. I just don’t know what.
Like any rumor mill, picking the good from the bad is nearly impossible, but it seems that there is a good chance the “Restructuring” is going to hit my department as well. I’d always thought my department was safe, as it is small (accounting) compared to the rest of the company, and everyone’s function is pretty vital. Even if one of us is to go, it will place a huge burden on the rest of us to take up slack.
So here I sit, chewing my nails and wondering what the hell is going down tomorrow. I don’t think it will be me that goes, but usually the ones let go don’t see it coming, so I’m not really off the hook after all. Waiting. Waiting. Oh, god, did I ever mention that I abhor waiting for anything? Even a pizza?
Oddly though, I’m not that depressed. I never intended to be an Accountant for god’s sake anyway. I’m a creative type. I’m a thinker, a problem solver. Sometimes a writer, an artist, a photographer. So I’m still not sure how I ended up a bean counter. Other than this one job, the rest of my paid work experience has been in Animal Sciences (Animal ER nurse, Animal Control, SPCA) so this was a big leap to begin with.
And somehow, I have ended up doing well in my not-chosen profession. I even made a huge leap last year when I suggested instead of replacing the departed-AP person, why not let me do my current job AND accounts payable, and they would be saving almost a whole salary. They agreed, and I got a goo raise along with the extra responsability. Now that may end up costing me. I’m the second highest paid person in the department, right under the CFO. Since I don’t think they’d be stupid enough to get rid of him, I’m wearing the Scarlet X on my forhead, and it’s yelling loud and clear, “Get rid of me! You can save a ton of money!”
Oy, veh. So I’ll know tomorrow which way the cookie crumbles.
