“Hey, Sophie. Can you please give me a call as soon as you get this?”
I hit the call icon without a second thought.
“I know we’re probably not supposed to talk to each other given the circumstances, but I’m freaking out,” is how he answers the phone.
“Why shouldn’t we talk to each other?” I ask.
“Did you get a call from Mark this morning?” he asks.
“Umm, yeah,” I answer, vaguely.
“I mean, I never would’ve left my old job and taken this one if I knew the company was selling out and merging with Noble. And knowing I’m going to have to interview all over again to keep this position is nerve-racking. I’ve got student loans to pay, and I need the health insurance.” I can hear the panic in his voice.
“Merger with Noble?” I ask. Noble Insurance is the largest insurance company in the country. Larger companies acquire smaller ones all the time, but this would be a merging of two giants in the industry. How has this been kept secret?
Seth doesn’t realize this is the first I’m hearing of it. “It’s wild, isn’t it? My chat box is blowing up since HR sent out the layoff email a few minutes ago. I mean, I understand notifying hundreds of people they don’t have a job anymore would need to be done simultaneously, and email is probably the only way to efficiently do that, but it’s so impersonal.”
I open my inbox, and a new email from HR is gleaming like a neon sign. My heart spasms. I do not need this. “So impersonal,” I agree with a slight tremor in my voice.
Seth must pick up on my dismay. “Oh shit, you’re safe, right? I mean, you’ve been with the company for years and know more than anyone else on the team, by far. They’d be insane to let you go. Mark said half of us were being laid off, but that the rest were either being retained due to tenure or would have to interview again if performance reviews were inconclusive or incomplete, like mine, because I’m new.”
Hope springs eternal. Maybe that’s why HR called? “I’m so sorry, but can I call you back? I need to call HR.”
“Of course. Good luck.”
“You too. Bye.”
“Bye, Sophie.”
Numbly, I hang up.
While the line is ringing with HR, I open the email from them. I’m reading the words,I regret to inform you, when a professional, but mechanical-sounding voice answers, “Hello, this is Mindy Collins.”
I know I should say hello, but I can’t speak. I’m stunned. This is not how my Friday morning was supposed to go.
“Hello?” she repeats.
“Umm, yes, hello. This is…this is Sophie Wren,” I manage.
“Sophie.” My name sounds like relief, which makes the knot in my stomach loosen a little. “My apologies for the confusion this morning and any stress it may have caused.”
The knot unravels completely, and it feels like submerging in a hot bath at the end of a long day. “I’m not gonna lie, the past five minutes have been something I’d rather not have to repeat anytime soon,” I say.
“Your name was on the employee elimination list submitted by your manager. But Omar overrode that list at the last minute and would like to include you in the round of interviews for the final spot on the team. You can imagine the pickle that put me in this morning.” She sounds annoyed, but on her behalf, not mine.
The pickle that putyouin?I think. And now I’m annoyed. With everyone. Except Seth.
“I’ve spent the last twenty minutes playing phone tag with Mark and Omar, trying to get a definitive answer.”
“So sorry to inconvenience you,” I say, unable to hide my irritation.
“It’s HR. Some days are more challenging than others. It comes with the territory,” she says solemnly, because she can’t read the room to save her life.
“Do I have a job or not?” I ask, bluntly. Just put me out of my misery.
“I’m sending out a revised email to clarify. You’re not to log in to company software from this moment forward. Omar Walker’s assistant will contact you via phone to set up an interview for early next week. The decision will then be made to either retain or lay off by next Friday. The good news is, if you’re retained, it will be at full seniority as far as salary, PTO, 401(k), and benefits are concerned. And you’ll be paid in full for next week, even though you’re basically getting the week off.”
“Ah, and there’s the silver lining.” I exaggerate the words, because clearly Mindy and sarcasm are unacquainted. “It’s practically a vacation.A staycation, if you will. Lucky, luckyme.”
