So I walked into work yesterday and there was a big speaker near where my team is situated. No one seemed to know what it was for - speculation amongst the team ranged from a morning exercise class to karaoke on a mass-scale - until we got an invite to an meeting scheduled for that afternoon. This concerned us for a couple of reasons: firstly, it was very short notice. Secondly, it quickly came out that the managers all had to go to a meeting beforehand. Thirdly, they were giving the message to every floor at the same time.
The time for the meeting rolls around, the people furthest away gather by the speaker and the rest of us sit back in our chairs and away what is obviously an important message. One of the higher up members of staff - I have to confess, I have absolutely no idea who she is - starts to make an announcement in what I can only imagine is the same tone of voice she would use if she was making an announcement about the start of world war III.
Anyway, long story short...they are "transforming" the part of the business I work in and ultimately, that means fewer staff are going to be needed. In essence, they are laying people off (which even our team leaders had no idea about...probably due to the fact they are also getting rid of some of them too). They are going to be looking at people's job roles in October and the affected staff will be leaving between November and early next year.
Now, I will not usually be the first to admit it but my instincts are usually pretty good and I do have a bad feeling about this. However...I'm not entirely sure being made redundant would be such a bad thing. I mean, obviously I can't afford to live if I'm not working and more than likely - unless I can find a job relatively quickly - I would have to move back to my parents, but maybe a push is just what I need to find that new start I've been so craving for the last few years. Maybe not ideal situations, but when life gives you lemons...make orange juice, and then wonder how the heck you managed it.
