Hello. I’m off my hunger strike and I’ve washed my hands of the survey. I guess if person doesn’t want to take the survey I’ll just have to go back to writing for myself and my cats. It’s frustrating though. I was offering a great service for a simple mouse click or 2.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking about the leadup to my being downsized from a major fortune 100 company. So I went back to read the types of things I was writing then and decided I should post some of them so you can read about the glory days.
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7-12-04
Sorry I haven’t written for a while. Sophia(my female co-worker) got laid off and now BSJ(my female boss) has a team of one. Me. She also 3 new contractors. One contractor alone makes more than Sophia. But Sophia was laid off to cut costs. It makes my brain hurt.
So I’ve been in deep depression. I even thought about going back to school. See. I don’t like the contractors. Dasari is an Indian or Pakistani, I’m not sure which. He has huge lips and is a know-it-all but doesn’t know anything. He’s afraid of me. He’s always positive. He told me that ADP seemed like a great place to work because everyone is friendly and happy. I told him it was a “..hell-hole and the only reason everyone seems so happy is because they’ve all snapped!”. He wasn’t sure what to say to that. The next day Sophia got laid off. I saw him in the hall and said ‘See!’. He gave me a nervous smile and walked by close to the wall.
The 2nd contractor is Min-de. She’s oriental. She doesn’t speak English. At least not English that anyone can understand. BSJ thinks she’s great! Lara asked me if Min-de does anything. I told her I didn’t know. She then told me she heard Min-de talking on the phone for 2 days right after Sophia left. She was talking in Chinese. Lara and I thought it weird since we don’t have any Chinese speaking clients and the Chinese employees we know wouldn’t be part of Min-de’s necessary contacts. Min-de spent about 2 hours with Lara learning about our new parts salvage project. Lara explained many aspects of the business to Min-de. Min-de took no notes. Lara told me about this and was concerned. I told her that Min-de seemed very sharp with a computer, but it would be nice if she spoke English. Or at least English that we could understand. Lara thought that was funny. “Anyway, we’ll see.” I said. “BSJ thinks she’s great!”
The 3rd contractor is Sandra Ng. She’s Vietnamese. She is very perky. She’s always happy and very inquisitive. Sophia told me she wanted to know why our company got into the Auto Claims business. Sandra didn’t think it fit our other businesses. Sophia told her she didn’t know. Sandra has asked me many questions. I usually tell her I don’t know. I usually do know I just want her to find another source. Her questions come fast and furious. She asks a question, and then tries to answer the question herself and then asks if she’s right. I finally told her. New rule. You don’t get a second question until I answer the first.
BSJ and Sandra apparently hang out together outside of work which is how Sandra got the job. Sandra said she wasn’t even looking. She was happily retired. I guess we put an end to that. She doesn’t seem too happy anymore. She was complaining Friday because the toner needed replacing and she couldn’t find a toner cartridge. “This shouldn’t be that hard!” she told me and I saw flames shooting from her eyeballs. It’s a shame that her happiness is now ruined. I bet her house is very organized.
I talked with Sandra and Min-de right after Sophia got laid off. Sandra was asking me why they would hire 3 contractors and then lay off Sophia when it actually ends up costing them more. “That doesn’t make sense” she said. Min-de looked on like she understood and then some noises came out of her mouth. Sandra and I looked at her for a second and then looked back at each other. Then I said, ‘I know’. Sandra said she really missed her. Me too I said. Min-de made some more noises and I went back to my cubicle.
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Thanks for reading this. I hope you take the survey anyway. Please let me know also if you need any cat toys. I’ll be working on the shopping cart so I can simplify the ordering process for you, but don’t wait for that. I can work out arrangements through email.