So, I thought I was secure in my job. My position was one that’s important to the day to day workings of my store, I’m well liked and respected, and I’m a wealth of information.
Wednesday, I got a call from my Store Manager. She had to read me something that was emailed in. All full time positions with our company except the Store Manager and Assistant Store Manager are being eliminated. I had a choice, accept a part time regular team member position at minimum wage or a severance package. I had about two days to make a decision and it took them a day to send me the info on the severance.
I was a full time key-holder with benefits and PTO and had worked for this company for 18 years. The offer to allow me to continue to work for the company at freaking rock bottom without any acknowledgment of my previous years was a freakin’ kick in the teeth. Severance is about 5 weeks pay. All benefits would cease with my last day. I took the severance and will use that time to hopefully secure another full-time job, if not a truly better one.
My store is losing three employees with, two of which were key-holders (so, basically half our management staff) and the third was a freakin’ rock of our fabric department. All to save the company the cost of our benefits and pto. (And the difference in wage, for me, that was a whopping $4 an hour difference.) All while the company continues to throw money at other things.
I love my coworkers and hate that they’re in this bind now, but I cannot sacrifice myself for them in this.
(Sorry if this is a bit of a ramble, I’m kinda all over the place with this situation.)