copyright Roger Bultot
“Don’t take this personally, it’s not about you.”
Despite the rumours about downsizing, she’d not believed they’d choose her. She’d never failed at anything, and she’d worked hard at making herself indispensable.
Ever-present, ever-helpful, all over everyone.
Everywhere.
Yet as she cleared her desk, the relief in the office was palpable.
Relief that it wasn’t them?
Or relief it was her?
As she lugged her cardboard-box towards the exit, half-hearted calls of “don’t be a stranger, hey?” rang in her ears and she began to understand.
She’d thought what they needed was more of her.
In reality, they’d wanted less.
Friday Fictioneers calls for stories of 100 words in response to a weekly photo prompt. Our host, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields presides over our activities each week. Thanks for being there, Rochelle.
castelsarrasin 
All too real….I’ve seen that happen a few times
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As a former HR Manager, so have I. 😦
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I’m sure
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Such is life, another career ruined.
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Indeed, Michael. Thanks for reading.
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Every faithful workers greatest fear.
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I agree.
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Oh wow…that last line was unexpected…
they needed her less…and all that she worked for just went against her
Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says
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It’s horrible being made redundant, especially when you’re older.
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Dear Sandra,
That last line, as you would say, is a cracker. (This is a good thing, right? It’s meant to be. 😉 ) This story struck a nerve with me, as I worked for a store director who had one purpose. House cleaning. Those who lost their jobs had the audacity to have longevity and/or higher wages. It’s only due to my friends lawsuit and legal aid that was able to retire with over 20 years employment. Well written as always…your story, I mean.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I remember the angst you went through at the time, Rochelle. Thank heavens that’s all behind you now. Thanks for reading and your lovely comment.
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All too real, Sandra, yet sad each time you hear about it, no matter the reaction of co-workers. Hope you have a wonderful day and week, although I imagine I’ll see you later today. 🙂
janet
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Thanks Janet. So true. And if I don’t get this WordPress Media Library issue sorted out, I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of each other on WPC. 😦
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😦
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Really well done. The relief of the other people in the office is a nice touch, implying that she was physically disfigured (by smallpox scars, maybe?). Elegantly written and engaging.
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Maybe it was just her ‘in your face’ -ness that put them on edge. Thank you for your comments.
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Love the truth – it doesn’t pay to work too hard, very often it goes unappreciated
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So true. Thanks for reading.
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Fluent and well written, Sandra.
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Thanks Penny.
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How very sad. The line “don’t be a stranger seems falsely said.” I don’t believe anyone will miss her.
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I think you may be right, Alicia.
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So extremely real… it’s not always the best that are kept… there is a reason that business will decline.
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“Don’t be a stranger” sounds exactly the same as “we can still be friends”
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It never ceased to amaze me, as an HR Manager, the agenda that some people had when it came to getting rid of people. 😦 Thanks for reading Bjorn.
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“Don’t be a stranger” inevitably means the opposite. Very sad and nicely written.
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It does. Thanks for reading.
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A few of us have been through this experience, and suffered the crisis of confidence that follows. Funnily enough, earlier this year I volunteered to take redundancy at my job and they wouldn’t let me go – sort of a back-handed compliment I suppose!
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🙂 A compliment, but not very convenient if you really wanted to go. Thanks for reading.
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This was all too real for me. I’m one of those who makes herself indispensable and then resents it. I’d rather it be me resenting myself rather than the whole office!
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You’re probably right there Dale. 🙂
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Well, that’s crushing! You can just imagine them all bitching about her when she’s out of the office. Office politics – hideous, just hideous. Nicely captured Sandra
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Thanks Lynn. 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂
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Sometimes these things are meant to be. Who knows what awaits her beyond the office walls?
Click to read my FriFic
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Hopefully appreciation lurks somewhere, Keith.
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I think your story strikes a nerve with everyone. Good job!
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Thanks Rosemary.
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An excellent cautionary tale — it’s so hard to know whether what you’re doing is appreciated or actually working against you. You painted her disappointment so well.
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Thanks Joy.
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Another stark reminder of our frailties. This disease called greed hits anyone. Even those at the top.
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Thanks for reading Kelvin.
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Very true. Clever with the title… a rash on the stones.
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Thanks Ted. 🙂
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i can relate to this story as it happened to me, too. she can learn to move on as i did.
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Wiser too, probably.
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Make you think that what you think you are might be totally different than what others think you are. This could be part of a college course. Well done.
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Thank you, Mike.
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Ouch! This is more like an epidemic than a rash at the company where I work. Earlier this week, they ushered the head of R & D to his car. Lately, they’ve been showing several of the old timers the door. I wish they’d just pay me to stay home. I could get a lot of writing done if I didn’t have to worry about making a living.
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In that case I hope you don’t lose your job, big ears!
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This working business gets in the way of a whole lot of fun. Thanks for reading Russell.
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Expertly drawn picture of the ‘Me’ culture, and the cruelty and selfishness of people we think of as friends.
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No friends in business, I was always told. 😉 Thanks for reading CE.
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The “half-hearted calls” was an excellent touch–adding insult to her injury.
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You captured a sad every day reality very beautifully, Sandra.
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Since she goes off carrying the ruins of her castle with her, one can only hope she will not try to bebuild with the same stones.
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Oh, ouch, that bites hard. An all too real reality for far too many these days, for sure. Great write.
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I feel really sorry for her 😦 She was trying so hard (okay, too hard as it turns out, but still).
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Such a sad reality , especially, in the corporate world.
Great story and title, Sandra.
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I wonder what her motivation was, to want to be indispensable. Craving love, appreciation, acceptance or power? Great character study, Sandra.
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Oh wow. Many many years ago I was one of the first to part of a “workforce reduction”. It’s so hard not to take these things personally. I feel for the woman in your story.
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Ooof! I’ve seen good people leave before, too. (Some for better opportunities, some not.) You made me remember a lot of those. The half-hearted farewells — to want well for someone, but not enough to lend a hand in the meantime, or even keep in touch.
I can’t help but wonder whether a workplace relationship is genuine, or just based on some geographic/space-time/circumstantial convenience. What do you think?
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I loved this, Sandra and you really captured the difficult nuances of the office and also what can happen when you try too hard to win friends and influence people. I feel so sorry for her and wish someone could’ve explained the need for breathing space before it was too late.
xx Rowena
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This was really sad and all too real.
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I can relate to this, a little too well 😦
Nicely done.
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Ouch!!!!
Not nice to be that person.
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That poor person, I feel sorry for her. Reading the comments, I feel like I led a charmed life. Great writing, Sandra, as usual, with that painful twist in the end.
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Excellent story as usual dear. It’s true for mothers also,sometimes. painful.
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this was wonderful – the title was very fun – and then what you gave us in 100 words – the sobering self-awareness depiction – very cool.
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