My First Time.
(Ed. Note) We are excited to introduce Lesley Pink, an editor and writer who has worked in marketing, financial journalism, and immigration law. She wishes she could swim for a living, but for now you can find her here in her new “Single White Unemployed Female” column. Enjoy.
I thought I was lucky. After seeing a number of my former colleagues laid off in 2009, I held my breath and continued to work as an editor. I knew times were still tough, but thought I had escaped the hatchet coming down on me. I was wrong.
The first week of January, I was laid off. It was my first time. I had been at the company over two years, had gotten good reviews, thought my [now former] boss liked my work. The phone call came from the HR director right before 5 on a Thursday.
I knew that her call meant one of two things: either I had gotten in trouble somehow or I was being laid off. Based on the timing, I guessed the latter. HR Director and Former Boss were seated at a round conference table, stacks of large white envelopes surrounding them. “I can guess why I’m here,” I said, waiting for what I knew they were going to tell me. “And what is that?” asked HR Director. “I’m guessing I’m getting laid off,” I replied. “Unfortunately, you are correct. We are eliminating your position,” she said. And with that, I entered the ranks of the unemployed. HR Director went on to explain the meager severance package, COBRA coverage, and, of course, how all of this would go down.
Having just seen “Up in the Air” a week before, I felt like I was in the movie itself…
