Bleak Times...

A friend was laid off on Thursday. Work is where we became friends but she is not simply a friend from work. She had been with the company for over 11 years and the District Manager walked in on Thursday and told her " due to economic reasons your employment with the company has been terminated ". After 11 years of loyal service that's what she got. They basically told her that there was no rhyme or reason to how they chose who to lay off. Quite honestly it should have been me, I only have 2 years with the company and I do not have young children that I carry health insurance for, when I brought these facts up the District Manager said he didn't have a choice in the matter. Then who did? Who chose? Who had the great plan to do it and to do it the way it was done? There was no warning, she wasn't given the chance to prepare, to look for something else, no one was given the opportunity to volunteer or to retire, they chose by no real method. It was as if they said thanks for your hard work and YEARS of dedication- but you have fallen below the yellow line and it's time to pack your things and say your good byes. If she had chosen to quit on them, they would have expected 2 weeks notice but she got no notice, just- here's your hat what's your hurry? There's the door close it behind you on your way out- TODAY!!
I work for Citi and this is how they are handling the economic crisis- putting more people in line at the unemployment office. Thursday November 6, 2008 the numbers were as follows: 24 people in my area, 300 people in my division, 1300 people across the U.S, with 102 Citifinancial branches closed. That is just one small portion of Citi as a whole.
Friday November 7, 2008- an article in the New York Times states that from a confidential reliable source within the Citi organization there will be ANOTHER 9,100 people let go in the upcoming months. Yep- bleak times...
Good luck my friend, may God bless you and keep you.
This goes out to Donna, my friend:

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.