There is a word called "instability" that I saw in my managers eyes today.
Even though I knew what was in store, I did not tell anyone. I sort of pushed around folks for a long after outside lunch, which became a rarity after the recession hit us. It was about 6 months ago, we went to a lavish buffet.
First thing in the morning, my manager got hurt in his hand at work. He was showing off, with listening to songs, in his newly bought IPod. Poor thing.
At around 10.30 AM, he was called into the Director's cabin. Then the HR Manager walked in. After 10 minutes I was called in. My Manager had a smug face, no laugh or smile, but a grief stricken face.
Director said to me, "Raju, you will be handling all the activities of your Manager, now he is leaving today to pursue some other opportunities. And thats it." All over.
We both walked out, and the HR Manager, took my Manager to finish some formalities.
There were hushes all around.
HR Manager had organised for my 10 member team, to assemble in the conference room, and I was led there. I was introduced as the new "Manager". I thanked the HR and told the team, that the old (irony) Manager was leaving to pursue other opportunities. We shall take him for Lunch. All agreed.
I spent few minutes with my Manager and continued with my work. I just called the other 2 leads and had a chat on pending work. Saw my Manager, calling his wife, and he probably got yelled at.
Lunch went of with a silent note. It was at the place where my Manager used to "bat" heavily and love that "free chat" served before the buffet. But today, he wasn't in any moods. He thanked all and said that he is leaving to a better opportunity! He was gracious to pay for the Lunch, inspite of us, trying to pay. He said, he owed us for that for a long time.
After reaching workplace, he collected all his belongings, and made a move to the door. He smiled at me. I could see the tears in his eyes, as if it was telling me, something.
He came near me... that time I saw that a new set of visiting cards lying on my table (how fast, or was it planned so fast?), with my designation at "Manager". I picked one, and scribbled my mobile no on the back and gave it to him, and said, "Call me sometime". He went off without saying anything...
At times, Friday the 13th may turn out to be lucky to some!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Lay off
One interesting thing happened at my work place yesterday.
My manager's manager and me went to have tea. Interesting.... talk went around many topics of working only 80 hours a week etc.
I work in a very small office with under 100 people, and you can expect to know anyone and everyone.
Just with 10 years of experience he is called as a Director. And the owner is an MD & CEO with only 9 years of experience. Lucky fellows, they have got a chance to travel to USA and drive good cars.
I had written about my manager's nature in this post. Executive MBA
My managers manager (Director) started asking me about the manager. I told him frankly about him being a slave driver and forcing us to work even on Sundays and Holidays apart from the unwritten law of Saturday work. He talked about our salary (pea nuts) and was checking whether we are doing something extra (like working on the side he says) and was telling about economy and the crisis and such bullshit. He was asking about how internet (hm...) resources being used for personal gains at work etc etc... At least I try to make sure, I am at work. (Also we do blogging for a living, for customers)
All of a sudden, he told me something that I was shocked to hear. (I have heard that the Director was calling people personally and firing them for non performance - who knows the yardstick).
We are planning to let you manager go (lay off), and we want to elevate you. Shocks and smiles. (Ten heads under my control! ha ha but they are my friends...) He would be gone Friday, and in the mean time, make sure that you learn whatever (really don't know what he does) has to be learn't.
Today being a holiday, Director has not come in and my manager is cool and driving nuts here at work, without knowing what is in store.
Should I tell my manager or wait till Friday?
My manager's manager and me went to have tea. Interesting.... talk went around many topics of working only 80 hours a week etc.
I work in a very small office with under 100 people, and you can expect to know anyone and everyone.
Just with 10 years of experience he is called as a Director. And the owner is an MD & CEO with only 9 years of experience. Lucky fellows, they have got a chance to travel to USA and drive good cars.
I had written about my manager's nature in this post. Executive MBA
My managers manager (Director) started asking me about the manager. I told him frankly about him being a slave driver and forcing us to work even on Sundays and Holidays apart from the unwritten law of Saturday work. He talked about our salary (pea nuts) and was checking whether we are doing something extra (like working on the side he says) and was telling about economy and the crisis and such bullshit. He was asking about how internet (hm...) resources being used for personal gains at work etc etc... At least I try to make sure, I am at work. (Also we do blogging for a living, for customers)
All of a sudden, he told me something that I was shocked to hear. (I have heard that the Director was calling people personally and firing them for non performance - who knows the yardstick).
We are planning to let you manager go (lay off), and we want to elevate you. Shocks and smiles. (Ten heads under my control! ha ha but they are my friends...) He would be gone Friday, and in the mean time, make sure that you learn whatever (really don't know what he does) has to be learn't.
Today being a holiday, Director has not come in and my manager is cool and driving nuts here at work, without knowing what is in store.
Should I tell my manager or wait till Friday?
Monday, March 9, 2009
தமிழ்நாட்டு அரசியலும் பல பார்வைகளும்
இன்று நடக்கும் கொடுமை, ஜெயா டிவியில், அருமையாக (கலைஞர் கருணாநிதி குரலில் மிமிகிரி வேறு) நடக்கிறது.
மிகவும் தரக்குறைவாக மேடையில் பேசுகிறார்கள். இப்பேர்ப்பட்ட அரசியல் நிகழ்ச்சி தான் உலகிற்கு வேண்டும்.
கான்ட்ரேக்டுகள் தோழமை கட்சிகளுக்கும் கொடுத்த வள்ளலாம் அம்மா.
அளவிற்கு மீறிய சொத்து சேர்த்த வழக்கில், அந்த 81 கிலோ தங்கம் திரும்பி வந்தால், தமிழ்நாட்டு மக்களுக்கு அர்ப்பனிக்கபோகிறாராம் அம்மா.
சில ஸ்ரீலங்கன் பத்திரிக்கைகில் எழுதும் விஷயம், நகைப்பு ஏற்படுத்துகிறது.
இங்கே ஆங்கிலத்தில் படியுங்கள்...
லன்காவேப்
த எகோனோமிச்ட்
என்னால் சிரிப்பை நிறுத்த முடியவில்லை.
மிகவும் தரக்குறைவாக மேடையில் பேசுகிறார்கள். இப்பேர்ப்பட்ட அரசியல் நிகழ்ச்சி தான் உலகிற்கு வேண்டும்.
கான்ட்ரேக்டுகள் தோழமை கட்சிகளுக்கும் கொடுத்த வள்ளலாம் அம்மா.
அளவிற்கு மீறிய சொத்து சேர்த்த வழக்கில், அந்த 81 கிலோ தங்கம் திரும்பி வந்தால், தமிழ்நாட்டு மக்களுக்கு அர்ப்பனிக்கபோகிறாராம் அம்மா.
சில ஸ்ரீலங்கன் பத்திரிக்கைகில் எழுதும் விஷயம், நகைப்பு ஏற்படுத்துகிறது.
இங்கே ஆங்கிலத்தில் படியுங்கள்...
லன்காவேப்
த எகோனோமிச்ட்
என்னால் சிரிப்பை நிறுத்த முடியவில்லை.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Executive MBA
This is a nice blog for studies in the Executive MBA world.
Each article is worth its weight in whatever precious who reads it!
http://embaworld.typepad.com/
There are many articles that encourage getting that coveted MBA! (part time?)
Also my humble opinion is, as you get older, you may not have that "enthu" to read for exams!
This is like a person I know, who doesn't want to spend on petrol, and doesn't have a car. Takes bus most of the times. Saving the world he says. But equally spends on autos. Bangalore and Hyderabad is fine. Delhi is cool in sharing. But what about Chennai?
My manager is an " idiot ", in spite of being a Manager, where he can afford a car, he doesn't know driving. May be, he is not driving to save money... or learn't it? I have given him drives on my bike to his home after late hours of work.
But there is a mystery in getting Executive MBA. I got one from Loyola, Chennai.
But it is worth, only if you want to flaunt it.
Today is womens day. Hence writing something that can be of use to them too.
Each article is worth its weight in whatever precious who reads it!
http://embaworld.typepad.com/
There are many articles that encourage getting that coveted MBA! (part time?)
Also my humble opinion is, as you get older, you may not have that "enthu" to read for exams!
This is like a person I know, who doesn't want to spend on petrol, and doesn't have a car. Takes bus most of the times. Saving the world he says. But equally spends on autos. Bangalore and Hyderabad is fine. Delhi is cool in sharing. But what about Chennai?
My manager is an " idiot ", in spite of being a Manager, where he can afford a car, he doesn't know driving. May be, he is not driving to save money... or learn't it? I have given him drives on my bike to his home after late hours of work.
But there is a mystery in getting Executive MBA. I got one from Loyola, Chennai.
But it is worth, only if you want to flaunt it.
Today is womens day. Hence writing something that can be of use to them too.
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