Layoff-lite

This is a first for me - I was furloughed today. I wasn't even sure what that meant until recently but I basically have a month off without pay. I keep my benefits (at this point it's only insurance) and am still an "employee" but I can't do any work or use any of my accrued vacation. I am eligible for unemployment, so that's a plus. They're planning to bring me back July 1st but I'm not really sure there's still going to be a viable company to return to at that point.

We had a company town hall with the CEO this afternoon and the news was extremely grim, financially. Unless there's some kind of miracle, it sounds like the company will be out of cash within the next month or two.

So I think my furlough will essentially end up being a layoff...layoff-lite, perhaps? It will be a way to ease me into unemployment with insurance I suppose.

I hope none of you ever have to go through a day like I did today at work. There were a ton of people laid off and the while it was happening, no one knew who would be the next to be called into HR to get bad news. People were crying, throwing up, hugging each other goodbye...it was an emotional roller coaster. This was a really tight group of people and in some ways I'm glad I won't have to deal with the aftermath on Monday while still trying to have some semblance of productivity.

I'll really miss this place but it looks like it's time to move on.