Yesterday I ran into a colleague from the Former Company in the grocery store. We talked about the Downsize, and he told me that those who remained on after the Downsize have continued to refer to that fateful day as “Black Tuesday”. Funny, when he said the words, I conjured up the image in my head of the day I left that building in a blustery wind, with dark clouds overhead. It was indeed a black day. He mentioned that there is still some trepidation among some teams within the company, in spite of, or perhaps because of the new management. As I have said before, I do not envy a single colleague who was left in the Former Company after “Black Tuesday”.
I asked how things were going with the new management in place. He chuckled as he revealed that when the new org. chart came down, it was conspicuously obvious that the CTO was off on a branch all by himself, left with no one to manage. Of course, there was the suspicion that he was trying to form alliances within the company, and I couldn’t help but wonder…to what end? Is the intention to spin off yet another solo venture? Who knows? Frankly, from what I have heard, there have been far too many bridges burned over the years, at least in terms of the local tech industry. Either way, I hope that my own path does not cross his or his brother’s again.
I have made contact with the local Ministry of Labour on the termination pay cheques that were mailed to them. Those of us who filed with them are eager to have this over and done with, and want to take our monies owed and move on. I was assured yesterday that the cheques indeed arrived in their offices, and that the gentleman assigned to the case will do everything to expedite the process of turning those cheques over to us once all of the checks and balances have been calculated. The man I have been in contact with throughout this ordeal has been very kind, and always quick to respond to any questions or concerns that we layoffees have had. I thanked him profusely on everyone’s behalf, and he expressed his genuine delight that the Former Company honoured its commitment to the layoffees. It would appear that it is not often that cases come to a resolution that satisfies their office and the victims.
Over the course of this last week, I have heard my new company’s name bantered about all over the news and in local chat. One of the company’s founders was honoured with prestigious recognition through a national newspaper. In these times of corporate greed and finagling, he and the company have come out as a shining example of the way business can succeed through honest means. The talk has inspired such a sense of pride in being associated with a “winning team”. My Director and I were chatting about it yesterday and I mentioned that after the past two companies I had worked with, it is so refreshing to be in a positive and honest environment.
That said, I would be remiss if I did not give credit where credit is due. In spite of some of the poor upper level management practices I was exposed to, I could not have been ready for the present job opportunity if not for the learning ground that the former companies presented. In both cases, I broadened my horizons where technology is concerned, and as a result, have a more well rounded approach than I might have had earlier on in my career in the industry. I credit my colleagues and some of my direct managers to that end. I have a broad base to draw from in that I have dabbled in a few areas of the industry over the past number of years.
All of this experience makes teamwork an easier proposition than it is for others who have perhaps worked in silos over time. The team I am presently engaged with is comprised of people with varying fortes in the industry. There are facilitators, project managers, developer-types, design specialists, administrators and managers, all of who speak in very different languages. The bottom line, as with any team, is that we are working together for a common cause. We are all in pursuit of the same goal where the company is concerned. Everybody has his or her own proprietary career interests at the forefront as well which, depending on the nature of the person, can work to the advantage or the disadvantage of the rest of the team. In the past, I have been exposed to environments where the proprietary career interests have been the sole motivator, and ultimately have been to the detriment of both the team and its cause. Although the dynamics of the newly formed team are still playing themselves out in my new workplace, I have confidence in the Director’s ability, and am thus hoping to see us work ourselves into a finely oiled machine that will successfully output the company’s goal.
I am feeling quite at home in spite of being in a new environment.
