November 7, 2008
Recession Shelter: No Head Count Reductions Allowed!
Recently, Best Friend Ever told me that I could come live with her and her now husband in the attic of their Cape Cod. I may have to seriously consider that offer.
While my job has been pretty much a stable gig and my company does well even in the face of recession, our parent company is…um….it’s bad.
It turns out, I should feel lucky that the money I’m making today will *hopefully* still be the money I make in 2010. I say this because *to the best of my knowledge* I *should* still have a job through the fourth quarter.
The alternative has me a bit shaken. I have no real back-up plan, so if I get laid off or really sick or something, that’s it. I won’t make rent or be able to pay any of my other bills. And while moving in with my parents 13 hours away is always an option though never desirable, even that back-up needs a back-up now. My parents are looking into filing bankruptcy and walking away from their house.
Given these developments, I took a moment to myself this afternoon. After the debrief conference call to discuss the (non)earnings conference call earlier in the day. After the words head count reduction, hiring freeze, and merit/wage freeze were promoted as cost-savings measures.
I crawled under my desk. I did. Trouser pants and high heels be damned. Emo, for his part, sat staring at the gray wall of his cube. He didn’t even flinch in the face of this here crazy.
Beneath my desk, I curled up into a ball, tucking my purse under my head, and pulling the chair in to hide my uncertainty. It was nice in an oddly institutional gray and Berber carpet sort of way. And that’s when I decided I could really benefit from classing up the joint.
That way, every time I read a headline about the declining stock market and rising costs, or get another email update from HR about the impact of the “economic downturn” (can’t we just call it what it is? ECONOMIC SHITSTORM), I can crawl into my Recession Shelter and wrap myself in the Sleeping Bag of More Luxurious Times, strap on my Dooms Day Be-Gone Ear Muffs, and take a few or eight swigs from the bottle of Jack for a Jacked-Up Economy until it’s safe to come out again.
Or until HR has gone home for the day at least.
BC said,
November 9, 2008 at 4:55 am
Nic, I feel you. I work(ed) for BBDO Detroit, which worked for Chrysler. Chrysler sold very few cars, so BBDO had to swing the axe, and MY head was above said axe.
It’s a weird feeling being laid off and having nothing concrete to fall back on.
Economic shitstorm? Yeah, that’s pretty accurate.
Nic said,
November 12, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I’m sorry to hear that. Everyone has been telling me to just be grateful to have a job right now. I guess I really am and should shut the hell up. I hope things turn around for you soon.