Email, Escort, Exit . . .

Last week I received an email from hubby, who normally doesn't send me many emails at work. It was Thursday morning (how ironic the day after April fools), "take a look at this email" he writes me. . "it's from the company president". "Dear employees, due to the downturn in the economy, and many of our customers (ie. Sportsman's Warehouse and Joe's) filing for bankruptcy reorganization, our company is forced to review procedures, sales, and re-organize. With that comes the difficult process of needing to reduce our workforce, (not his exact words, but you get my gest). So as difficult as this decision has been, for the future of the company the reductions will begin . . today. We appreciate your professionalism during this difficult time and know that you will remain productive during this transition." . . . period . . end of email. Now my quotes aren't exact, but it's basically what he was telling them. So as I am at work reading this email I think, this is scary, now what? I was afraid to email him back thinking well I wonder if they are checking personal emails . . maybe a little paranoid but I didn't know. Well, that didn't last long, I emailed him back and asked, "Are people being escorted to their cars now?", "Yes" he says", "Anybody from your department yet?", "Yes" he says, "You can't really talk right now can you?" "No, I can't" he says. "OK, see you at home later". . . So of course I'm worrying about it all day. His shop is non-union, whether that matters or not, they can basically choose whoever they want to layoff, I guess. When he gets home that night, he looks like he's been hit by a truck, emotionally drained. Leupold is a fairly small company (580 people), everybody knows everybody. They laid off 48 people. Two guys from Dale's immediate dept, one that has worked there as long as he has. . . gone with a freaking morning email warning that it was coming. It sucks. Now they re-organize some areas. They have been told this may (probably won't) be the last of the layoffs, depending on the continuing market. We appreciate that his position wasn't on the chopping block this time and hope the employees let go are able to find good jobs again. You know really all any of us can do is get up every morning, go to work, do the best job you can do at whatever it is you do and hope your position survives this mess. The rest is beyond our control.