On Edge...

Well things have been a little hairy at work. On Tuesday we got an email from our CEO in New York that 'cost efficency' measures were going to be taken. This included salary reductions for higher, senior employees, workforce reductions, no 401K matching, no raises into 2009 (already none this year) and various operating expence reductions. So needless to say, the office has been not in the best of moods.
Today 10 people were laid off. And that is only from what I know from our location, we have 3 other offices. My boss, the operations manager, stopped by yesterday and said that us in marketing would be ok. They fired my boss a few months ago, so that was a big salary break. She had been with them 16 years. Another couple of guys had been with the company just about as long and were let go today also. Some of the people let go were expected, but some were not. Its so hard to hear about some of these folks too, cause I know how hard it is to go without a job, and I was between jobs in a good economy. Real estate is not the area to be in right now. When we got word of the last people in the day that were let go, we heard through the romour mill that they were going to be x'ing 43 people. Yesterday the count was 20, that was actually confirmed from our boss not like the 43 through the grape vine. So I'm in doubt if I can take her word that our dept. will be fine.
We were planning an office event coinciding with the halloween party. Its going to be interesting to see how it goes down now.
I was thinking today if they called us in, I think it would be so tough to choose who would get axed. Well, maybe not so hard actually. I know I dont want to see Lauri go, because she is a good designer, works really well with real estate looking stuff. She has been with the company for 4 years. Kelly is the other designer. She has just a month over me. But honestly, I dont think she is a good designer. And I think that can clearly be stacked up. Place any of her materials next to similar materials of mine and its quite obvious. thing is, Kelly and Lauri are pretty tight. We all have great attitudes, and get along well with everybody and are very productive toward brokers and clients. I really dont wan to see Lauri go. Seeing how they are axing the seniors, she would be more likly thatn kelly and I cause our salaries are just 1 year, and pennies in the bucket. But she is really good at designing for real estate.
It really keeps me motivated to get my website going. I have to stick to my scedule and get stuff done! i need something new.
But, the only good thing is that since lots of projects Im working on are in limbo from clients, I get to work on posters for the Office Challenge. Which Im just making some cool stuff. Its good to keep my mind away from the office drama. I just get in my own little bubble, and make pretty pictures. Im just doing whatever I want on this project, ust making it really flippin cool because I want to. Plus they'll see that I can actually design cool stuff, instead of the normal stuff their used to. Ill try and post the posters one I finish.
Well, heres a video in relation to the work situation and the seasons. Enjoy.