2. Series: The Journey of an Unemployed Male

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Fired: Just Flicked Away

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“One day you are climbing the corporate ladder and feel like you are on top of the world and the next they call you in and flick you out of the company just like that.” Mike Lover

Mike Lover had worked at Intrawest for nearly nine years when he was called in and told that there was no longer a position for him. Mike Lover was a huge fan of Intrawest, he was engaged, loved his job and thoroughly enjoyed being part of a culture that created memories for guests. Now, Mike Lover had become another jobless statistic.

Background:

Like many companies, Intrawest was feeling the economic downturn. Rumors were starting to circulate that employee cuts were coming.

The morning it happened, Mike arrived to find an email from his boss (based in Vancouver) waiting in his in-box. The email stated that his boss would be calling before 10. Mike had heard the rumors that all layoffs would be completed before 10 in the morning – he hoped the timing of the call was only a coincidence.

At 9:30, the Vice President of Shared Services asked if Mike would be available for a quick chat. It was at this point that Mike realized that the email was not a coincidence.

“My heart sank as I knew this was it. I was brought into a room with the Director of HR, the Senior Vice President Controller, the VP of Shared Services, and my boss from Vancouver on the telephone.”

Mike was told that due to the recent changes in the economy the company was being forced to make some tough decisions. Three hundred and sixty-six roles were being eliminated, including Mike’s role. The company had decided to make the cuts predominately in the support functions, or back-office, to avoid any customer impact.

“I was thanked for my hard work, dedication and nine years of service. I was told that this had nothing to do with my performance and everything to do with the economic downturn. I was asked if I had any questions and was then handed an envelope containing my severance package.”

Mike was told that his departure date was set for February 1^st, but that date would depend on the progress of his projects. He was then told that he could take the rest of the day off – paid, if he would like to.

What’s ironic is that this was not the first time that Intrawest had handed Mike a manila envelope. In 2008, after closing a number of retail outlets, Mike found out that his position was also being eliminated. Unlike, this time, Mike was lucky enough to find another position within the company.

This time was different – it was final and it meant that Mike would have to begin his search for his next opportunity.

If we think for a moment about how we start and end our careers – courted by potential employees, trained and groomed to succeed, and then impersonally flicked away when we are no longer required – it is no wonder that employee engagement is one of the hottest topics of the twenty-first century.