Big Earth Quake

No, Australia has no earth quake today. Everyone stop panicking. What I’m talking about is the big “Earth quake” in my company today. The company decided to retrench 5 people and move 1 person to other people today. My company has 50 people so retrenching 5 people = cutting 10%. Due to economy ressession in Autralia (Only started, not even in ressession yet), my company decided that each department will give a name list out, and the board of directors will decide which one to cut, AND I’M IN THE LIST!

It all started that on Wednesday (29/8), my supervisor,Derek was being called into the directors room. Usually being very “eight”, I felt something very fishy going around there, so when Derek came out, I ask him what’s going on, and he just say nothing (*act like nothing happen, blowing mouth wistle*).

Then about 4pm yesterday (30/10), during my conversation with Derek, he (in his casual tone) told me that there was an executive meeting yesterday (he forgot that he tried to hide from me yesterday), and normally after the executive meeting, the BIG AXE would be taken out, and somebody would get chop the next day! Strangely it didn’t happen.

“Well, who’s going to get the bullet? You or me?” I responded

“I think both of us is going to get it..since we are not doing anything.Haha” He said.

This is because we always spend most of the office hours joking to each other and researching discounted price for computer products.

Today (31/10), both of us had a call out. When i got back to the office, i saw the office half emptied.

“Has everyone going early for the long weekend?” I asked my Engineering Coordinator, Dom
“No, there are all retreched.5 of them,” Dom replied.

(*Pretend to be shocked*) “Is it? Why am I still not get fired?” I joked to him.

“Its serious. I’m not joking,” he said in a serious tone.

Realising how serious it is, i change back to my serious tone and ask who’s being retrench.

“Tong from Electrical department, Yacof from Mechanical drafting department, Loo and Colin from Major project team,” said Dom

“But they are all very skillful employee.” I said, Dom just shook his shoulder.

Then I called my supervisor, Derek. “Yo, Derek, do you know 5 people is being retrenched today?!”

“Is it?” he replied in his usual calm tone.

“Tong is one of the retrenched!” (*higher my voice*)

“Is it?” he replied in his usual calm tone again.

“Din’t they consult you before they retrenched him?!” I said

“They did. They ask me to select between you and him, who is more useful.” He said

“WHAT!YOU MEAN I’M IN THE LIST?!” higher my voice again.

Then we talk for another 10 minutes. He told me that its suposely another guy that is less important to the company and not both of us should be on the list. But unfortunately, he’s in charge of a very big project at the moment and the company can’t just sack him. In the end, he said that I owe him lunch because he saved my job, and I replied that I rather lose the job then.
So, this how I nearly got retrenched.

I always wanted to quit the job to go to work in Singapore but do not dare to take that step. Sometimes I wonder, if they retrenched me, its not a bad thing. At least I’m force to face the fact that I lost my job and force myself to go.

I message my mom about i nearly got retrenched and this is what she replied me, “You better behave yourself, getting a job is harder now.” My mom is the only one in this world that knows what I’m thinking.