Thanks for your service, Rich Paschall
He had been in the business for almost 40 years. The last twenty-seven of those with the same company. He liked his job and thought he was good at it. In just a few more years he would retire. Everything seemed to be on track.
When Carl started in his career, orders were processed with typewriters. Carbon paper was used when multiple copies were required. Details of international orders were sent overseas by telex machine. Everything was done manually and file cabinets were stuffed with files of all the orders and shipments.
Carl made it through all the changes. At first, he thought an electronic typewriter with memory was just about the coolest thing. Fax machines took the place of telex machines and worldwide communication was getting easier. As the decades went on, technology and communications advanced faster and faster, but Carl kept right up with everything. You could never say that Carl was behind the times.
Despite the efficiency of his work life, the same could not be said of Carl’s personal life until recent years. Only as retirement thoughts started weighing on his mind did Carl pay attention to his accounts. For the last few years, he contributed to the 401K plan. He even took out some small CDs for better interest return, since savings and checking accounts returned him only pennies per month, literally.
Then came the problems of advancing age. Bifocals were no longer good enough to do his job. He was recommended to get trifocals but opted for a second pair of glasses — just to see the computer. His hands were stiff and sore and he needed medication for that.
Nerve pain in the feet demanded a drug as did high cholesterol. His blood tests never satisfied his doctor and even when he felt well, there were many pills to take. With all these issues, Carl still carried on in grand fashion and handled his job like a pro.
When Carl got a new boss, they seemed to get along well. She appeared to appreciate his experience and they often had nice little chats. When Carl asked if he could come in late so he could have his annual physical, his boss seemed disappointed. He assured her he would make up the time during the week and she finally voiced approval.
The doctor’s visit showed the usual issues, but also “abnormal cells in undetermined significance.” Carl was referred to a specialist and he had to ask for another morning off. The boss looked quite perturbed when she said: “OK if you must.” Unfortunately for Carl, he did, in fact, feel he must see the doctor.
The specialist was a handsome young man with a sunny disposition. He indicated all the dire situations that may be happening with such a cute smile, Carl still felt at ease. His examination and subsequent biopsy lead to “dysplasia but cells are undetermined.” Carl was recommended to a surgeon.
Again, Carl asked for a morning off. The stares of the boss led Carl to say he would make up his time the same week and he would not ask for any more time off in the coming months. He was greeted with a long and painful silence. “Fine,” the boss stated with an air of exasperation.
The following day was a Wednesday and Carl worked hard all day under the glares of his much younger boss. Whenever Carl looked around, she seemed to be nearby staring at him. Needless to say, it was a rather uncomfortable day. Normally, Carl had pleasant days and nice little chats with coworkers. He never got close to any of them or saw them socially. One young man loved having random little conversations with Carl about anything every day, but he was the only friend if you could call him that. Carl was just at work to do his job.
At the end of that day, just past 5 pm, the facilities manager, the superior to Carl’s boss, invited Carl down to her office for a chat. When he got there his boss was already seated and staring at the floor. The facilities manager began.
“Carl, you know we think you have been doing excellent work for us for many years but…” Then there was a long pause while the manager looked for the words. “Well, business has fallen off some. The stronger dollar means weaker business. We are well behind budget for the year and we must eliminate a position. I am sorry, but we have to let you go.”
Carl was dumbfounded. He planned to work another two or three years and retire. He was not ready for this. His boss continued to look at the floor when the manager spoke up again. She explained about the last paycheck, vacation pay, Cobra insurance, unemployment. She said she would write a nice letter of recommendation. She closed by saying she was sorry, it was not personal, it was just economics. She thanked him for his years of service. His boss continued to stare at the floor.
He returned to his desk, took a few personal items while his bossed hovered nearby and he was then prepared to leave. That’s when she came over and asked for his badge and ID and walked away. “What was that?” a longtime female coworker asked. “I was fired,” he replied. The coworker started to cry. Carl quietly said goodbye, looked around for his young friend, who was already gone, and he left.
After a few days of reviewing jobs online and making a few calls, Carl saw it would be difficult at his age and salary range to find a new position. That night, he lined up all of his prescriptions on the kitchen table, including the container of powerful painkillers for his hand pain. Next, he got a bottle of one of his favorite wines, appropriately chilled. He opened the wine, poured himself a glass and sat down at the kitchen table. There he looked over the table and contemplated his future.
Categories: Fiction, Getting old, Life, Rich Paschall
That’s the way they let Garry go. Age 59-1/2. Took like five minutes after 31 years.
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I have seen it happen a few times over the years. Long time loyal employees are let go, usually to save a few dollars, I think.
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Reblogged this on rjptalk and commented:
A short story of business, life and what they hold for some. Be sure to click on “View original post” at the bottom to head over to SERENDIPITY for the rest of the story.
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…and thanks for all the fish.
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Devalued. It’s https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2149247571761288&set=a.327249493961114&type=3&eid=ARDLU776156DbedV6sWlOYyzIowZLu58qLTL8gLMx0iuWuQmnxxKBwSopWcHZS3weiI5K6ZlniQbFGOb
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That is the way employees are treated today and, unfortunately, quality and service have disappeared with it.
Leslie
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A lot of companies that complain “it’s the Internet or Amazon” stopped offering decent service long before the Internet. They didn’t think we’d notice, but we did.
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The minute someone clues onto that and makes the effort to add good service, that company will take off and become quite successful.
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I hope so, but we are also a generation that does not want to spend more for a product or service.
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I find that if you go to the dollar store, most things are made in China (or off shore) If you go into the expensive stores it’s much the same thing. When things are made here and they are good, I’ll try and support that company.
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Yes, in fact I have seen it a number of times.
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I have too Rich and it is quite discouraging.
Leslie
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Sad isn’t it, but unfortunately reality. It happened to me, but in a human way. Two years too early for official retirement, but my company paid me my monthly wage for the two years I was no longer needed. It was fair, I just lost two years of my work pension. I had seen a lot of changes through to the computer. I realised a lot when I left and I think I was a little naive to think of silly things like loyalty and rising up in the company. Money is the key to it all and profit and being young and dynamic of course.
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I know companies that want younger people because they think they are faster workers. However, I saw younger people spend a lot of time on their cell phones and social media, and chatting in the kitchen, where many older workers would not dare do that.
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In TV, they want you to “look” a certain way. You get old and generally, it’s all downhill from there. Or they decide you are being paid too much and they can get a kid and pay him half that and he’ll be happy to get it. That may be true, but they really AREN’T better. They are inefficient and they do spend way too much time playing games.
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Cell phones have really driven down productivity among some. Nevertheless, many companies want employees they can pay less…a lot less.
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Oh! It’s a very heart touching story. Alas too often the reality. Now returns and profits are more important then loyalty and kindness.
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I don’t know that loyalty and kindness were ever a major force in industry. I think that’s a kind of myth we’ve created for ourselves.
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Maybe in “Good old times “. One does like to think that things were better “way back then”!
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You mean way back then with the 7-day work week and no benefits? Or the decade right after WW2 when companies, desperate for employees, buckled to union demands. We’ve dumped unions and we’ve dumped what unions gave us — like overtime and holidays and a minimum wage.
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They seem to want to count files per desk, profit margins, amount of overtime, etc. People are commodities and corporations are people in this era.
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Yes, and that sad.
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OMG
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But that’s the way it really is.
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I know. It’s horrible.
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Exactly.
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That’s pretty much what happened to Garry and most of his comrades. They were either outright fired or pushed out into early “retirement.” Appreciation my ass.
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My last job changed over my three years there and the new manager was eager to push me out the door. I left because I didn’t need to wait for him to find an excuse to get rid of me, as they did with some others.
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Loyalty and long service are not appreciated these days.
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They haven’t been appreciated in at least the past 20 years. Probably longer.
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When I was hired to a job in the late 80’s, the company seemed to appreciate loyalty and experience, but they were sold in the late 90’s and that was quickly gone. I had a few jobs after that where they couldn’t care less about you.
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No, they are not. Younger people, faster workers are what many companies want.
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Faster and cheaper.
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