Today is the worst working day in my life... Experiencing for my very first time how retrenchment is carried out in a company. There were a mix of different emotions all within that 30 minutes to 1 hour - from the anxiousness to the fear to the sadness and then to reliefness.
Everyone did not have the mood to work today... but we still had to carry on with our daily duties while waiting for that moment to come. In the morning, we heard that the HR staff have carried out the retrenchment at level 8 and will be coming down to our level in the late afternoon... Time passed so slowly and we waited until about 4pm...
We saw a lady wearing corporate business wear walked pass our unit... She was holding a piece of paper and she walked towards my VP's seat. She then informed my VP to go into one of our conference room. Thereafter, all the HODs also made their way to that same room. At that moment, we knew that the time has come... We all stopped whatever that we were doing immediately and all our attention turned to that room. Everyone's eyes were staring and waiting for our VP to walk out from that room.
Everyone started to gather in cliques to discuss about what was going to happen. Most of us were scared yet anxious to know who the affected people are. Even I who was initially prepared for it suddenly felt the tension... My eyes were tearing slightly and I can feel myself trembling... In fact, most of my female colleagues' eyes were also slightly red and they all felt the same way as me... We kept telling one another not to start the crying... bcoz seeing one person cry will affect the feeling of another person to cry as well. The tension across the whole office was so strong. Everyone's face looked so tensed up and worried while waiting for my VP to come out from that room... Although at that moment, there were already news going around saying that there are 3 people to be cut from our department but I chose not to believe it.
Few minutes later, my VP walked out with that super serious look that says something is not good... This made us all of us even more anxious and scared. She then informed all the unit heads (who are the AVPs) into the room this time. We then waited again while the AVPs went in.
Another few minutes later, they all came out and informed us to proceed into the conference room. My department which consists of 3 units were all gathered into that conference room where my VP made the first announcement. She was trying to remain calm but she was also tearing a little while she spoke... Unfortunately, my big big boss (i cannot remember his rank, but he is the one in charge of our department, higher ranking than my VP) was one of them...
I felt sad although I did not get to know him but he is known for being a very nice boss. Furthermore, he was one of the interviewers who sat in during my job interview last time.
After the announcement made, everyone went back to our unit to wait while our VP went to level 8 to check on the names of those who are going to be cut. We all waited with fear... About 15 minutes later, our VP walked in from the other end of the office... As she walked, all eyes followed wherever she went. The scariest part was looking at her walking towards our direction! When she came over to us, she asked where is my colleague who has left earlier for her half day leave. Knowing that she went on half-day, she then walked back to her desk to make a phone call. Everyone's eyes were still on her... She then walked to another colleague's desk... And then we saw that colleague walking out to go to level 8... We roughly guessed that she was one of them.
Not long after, our VP gathered everyone from our unit once again... This time she made another announcement on the other 2 affected people - both of them have worked for 15 years with the company... After that she then said that the moment that everyone is waiting for is over and that we should all feel relieve now. She then encouraged us to put in our best effort in getting back to work.
Thank God that it is finally over (at least for now)!!! (but still not sure about the next 6 months =P)
Although a part of me felt relieved, I also feel sad for my colleagues who has to go... One of them is a very nice colleague, someone who always joke with me... though we are not very close but she has always been very bubbly, humourous and helpful. I am definitely going to miss her... Saying goodbye was the most difficult...
As for my big big boss, he sent out an email to bid goodbye to everyone... Once again, I felt like crying after reading his email. Like I said, although I do not know him, but I feel sad... Probably bcoz he was one of them who made the decision to hire me last time. I do not know how to describe this kind of sadness... Anyway, I wish all those affected all the best!
Now that the retrenchment exercise is over for my department, there are still many uncertainties ahead... I wonder how will our new big boss be like, not sure good or not... Moreover, there are already rumours going around to say that the next round of retrenchment might be in June next year. *Sigh*
Everyone did not have the mood to work today... but we still had to carry on with our daily duties while waiting for that moment to come. In the morning, we heard that the HR staff have carried out the retrenchment at level 8 and will be coming down to our level in the late afternoon... Time passed so slowly and we waited until about 4pm...
We saw a lady wearing corporate business wear walked pass our unit... She was holding a piece of paper and she walked towards my VP's seat. She then informed my VP to go into one of our conference room. Thereafter, all the HODs also made their way to that same room. At that moment, we knew that the time has come... We all stopped whatever that we were doing immediately and all our attention turned to that room. Everyone's eyes were staring and waiting for our VP to walk out from that room.
Everyone started to gather in cliques to discuss about what was going to happen. Most of us were scared yet anxious to know who the affected people are. Even I who was initially prepared for it suddenly felt the tension... My eyes were tearing slightly and I can feel myself trembling... In fact, most of my female colleagues' eyes were also slightly red and they all felt the same way as me... We kept telling one another not to start the crying... bcoz seeing one person cry will affect the feeling of another person to cry as well. The tension across the whole office was so strong. Everyone's face looked so tensed up and worried while waiting for my VP to come out from that room... Although at that moment, there were already news going around saying that there are 3 people to be cut from our department but I chose not to believe it.
Few minutes later, my VP walked out with that super serious look that says something is not good... This made us all of us even more anxious and scared. She then informed all the unit heads (who are the AVPs) into the room this time. We then waited again while the AVPs went in.
Another few minutes later, they all came out and informed us to proceed into the conference room. My department which consists of 3 units were all gathered into that conference room where my VP made the first announcement. She was trying to remain calm but she was also tearing a little while she spoke... Unfortunately, my big big boss (i cannot remember his rank, but he is the one in charge of our department, higher ranking than my VP) was one of them...
I felt sad although I did not get to know him but he is known for being a very nice boss. Furthermore, he was one of the interviewers who sat in during my job interview last time.
After the announcement made, everyone went back to our unit to wait while our VP went to level 8 to check on the names of those who are going to be cut. We all waited with fear... About 15 minutes later, our VP walked in from the other end of the office... As she walked, all eyes followed wherever she went. The scariest part was looking at her walking towards our direction! When she came over to us, she asked where is my colleague who has left earlier for her half day leave. Knowing that she went on half-day, she then walked back to her desk to make a phone call. Everyone's eyes were still on her... She then walked to another colleague's desk... And then we saw that colleague walking out to go to level 8... We roughly guessed that she was one of them.
Not long after, our VP gathered everyone from our unit once again... This time she made another announcement on the other 2 affected people - both of them have worked for 15 years with the company... After that she then said that the moment that everyone is waiting for is over and that we should all feel relieve now. She then encouraged us to put in our best effort in getting back to work.
Thank God that it is finally over (at least for now)!!! (but still not sure about the next 6 months =P)
Although a part of me felt relieved, I also feel sad for my colleagues who has to go... One of them is a very nice colleague, someone who always joke with me... though we are not very close but she has always been very bubbly, humourous and helpful. I am definitely going to miss her... Saying goodbye was the most difficult...
As for my big big boss, he sent out an email to bid goodbye to everyone... Once again, I felt like crying after reading his email. Like I said, although I do not know him, but I feel sad... Probably bcoz he was one of them who made the decision to hire me last time. I do not know how to describe this kind of sadness... Anyway, I wish all those affected all the best!
Now that the retrenchment exercise is over for my department, there are still many uncertainties ahead... I wonder how will our new big boss be like, not sure good or not... Moreover, there are already rumours going around to say that the next round of retrenchment might be in June next year. *Sigh*
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