Monday, August 08, 2005

Clarification not Errata

I have said, in a previous post, some things that might not have come across as to what I was meaning to say. Here is an updated version what I mean to say -

It hurts that I work for a company that I still believe in, with so many people upset and complaining about it all the time, I wish maybe those people would respect some of MY feelings and try not to complain about it as much.

10 comments:

Mkae said...

My two cents Mike.

First, I hope nothing I have ever said has hurt you. I consider you a friend and I hope you know I'm looking out for you.

Further, I was in your exact position, having survived three layoffs. Each time, I had my foot on both sides of the fence. I still worked my ass off trying to make my two projects succeed, only to have (what I deemed) ridiculous diversions and obstacles thrown up in front of me. All the while, I dealt with the bitterness of the former employees that were still my friends and who couldn't believe I hadn't left yet.

I left because I no longer believed there was a future at and the end of the day, my family was more important. An opportunity came up and I took it. It didn't mean I was smarter than anyone else. I got lucky.

Recently though, I have been very bitter because even though I'm no longer employed by The Company, I was still affected by their decisions in a negative way. When my family's insurance was cancelled without ANY F'ING NOTICE from the Company that KNEW it was happening, I have a right to be bitter. When my son got sick and the doctor said we're not covered, or when a good friend and former employee finds out his daughter has asthma and he can't get the medicine, I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE BITTER. I wouldn't have scheduled an elective surgery for my daughter had I know they weren't going to pay the bill. All they had to do was notify us in advance. That is the only thing I would have asked and it would have been appreciated. We all found out in a nasty letter from the insurance company.

Just because I'm no longer showing up for work, doesn't mean I can "move on". Technically, until I get my W2 form by Jan. 31, 2006, there's still an option to get screwed over.

We all did believe in the Company at one time or another. That's why we all picked up our lives and went there. For some, that belief was so strong that when they were laid off, it was like a relationship ending. It takes time to get over something like that. Who knows that the "mourning period" will be?

As for me, I look back with supreme doubt that it will pull out of the spiral, but I hope it will. I truly do. For your sake and the sake of everyone there that does have a family and a liveliehood.

Hope this makes sense.

Anonymous said...

But at some point, don't you think the Company deserves to fail because of the decisions and actions of those running it? They've kicked most of the talent and heart out the door, despite the fact the talent and heart were very drained by this year.

One thing we must keep in mind -- if Mr. Girard happens upon a better career opportunity, who is going to handle the daily grind of designing cards for two games with almost no help? Mr. Girard is in perhaps the best and worst position. He *is* the two games they have left.

The health insurance debacle is completely inexcusable. Unfortunately, at this point, I don't think the Company qualifies for all the guarantees provided by the law for "small businesses". They are under 50 employees.

Anonymous said...

people were layed off, didn't take cobra, and expected thecompany to pay?

Anonymous said...

"But at some point, don't you think the Company deserves to fail because of the decisions and actions of those running it?"

I believe that was why Mike stated "Respect my feelings". In essence you are also implying we should loose our jobs.

Mkae said...

No Anonymous, it didn't happen that way. If you were laid off, you took Cobra. If you left, you were covered until a certain date. In all cases, the employees did everything correctly. The breakdown was elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Yanner, I don't imply you should lose your job. I don't want to see any individuals there lose their jobs, because unemployment is a horrible time of great fear, uncertainty, and doubt, but I can't ignore the comeuppance due the Company.

Anonymous said...

Up until now I have avoided ranting in public.

But they literally bought my silence, and then bounced the check.

They have violated contractual agreements, with long lasting, deep personal and financial consequences.

If this sounds bitter, blame the chefs, not the diners.

And be careful where you put your faith.

- a different anonymous.

Anonymous said...

I beleived in it once too. Then the grass on the other side of the fence started looking more and more green. Once on the other side of the fence, you look back and see how brown the old grass is getting, and no ammount of fertilizer will make it green again.

If you can't see what the others see, step back and look; you're too close.

TheGirard said...

or perhaps yer just bitter anonymous because things didn't go "your way"

Aussie-Askew said...

Some of us aren't bitter at all, though we certainly don't deny anyone else the possibility that they may be. The desire to revisit is still the same for most of us: common ground. That's how we all know each other, and for some of us it's more exciting conversation topic than WoW. (jab! ;) What I am trying to communicate here is that you can't ask people to respect your feeling s and then tell them they should "get over it".

I am definitely not bitter, just sad. And not sad that I am no longer there. I am sad that what was a haphazard place to work, got itself up on its feet after initial poor management (Wisely), and then took a few baby steps towards improvement (aggressive license manager, hiring smart people, not just 'funny' people), but then failed to learn any of the lessons of the first stutter, and was dragged into the sub-basement by just a few senior people. It really just a shame, and you would love to sit one or two people down and tell em how obvious it all was, or just shake some sense into them.

No one thinks those that are left you *should* lose their jobs (although we do hope that some of the seniors never get one again), but you surely cannot think that they will last (no money, no health cover, no 401k, no wages, no reputation anymore, and no phones [means no warehouse]). You are still there and having fun? Lap it up! And since you chose to stay, you have obviously worked that one out already! ;) Ride it out for all its worth, you deserve it, and keep your irons hot.

As for the anyonymous -v- Girard spat, thats starting to look like the Discussion List circa 1998.