You’re Fired

I was fired from my last job.  I ran the Compliance & QA department for a $7.3 billion retailer.  This retailer missed its financial targets for about 20 quarters.  Fed up, a major US shareholder made moves to take control.  To shake off the interloper, the retailer cut costs including 800 mid level managers. 

The process of being retrenched is fascinating.  In terms of timing, it’s done best on a Thursday morning.  That way the media can pick up the news on Friday and management can reassure the remaining workers just as the weekend arrives to calm everyone’s nerves.

I was made redundant on probably the most beautiful day in Toronto, November 3.  The air was crisp and the sky cloudless and blue.  It was a sunny autumn day and the brilliant red, yellow and orange leaves of giant maple trees littered the streets.  I remember purposely riding over the leaves and hearing them crack under my tires as I biked to work. 

Once at the office our departmental EA nervously hoovered outside my door.  She informed me that the Sr. VP needed to see me now.  Seconds later, the Sr.VP phoned me urgently repeating the request.

When I finally stepped into Sr.VP’s office there sitting at her left was the Human Resources Manager.  Instantly,I knew the ax was about to drop.  As the two went through their well rehearsed "releasing you" speech, my concentration shifted to my two year old, a $250,000 mortgage and financial survival.  The meeting eventually ended and they escorted me out the building with a paper bag of my personal belongings.  A terrible end to a beautiful day. 

Being reasonably savvy (and pissed) I immediately contacted my lawyer.  Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of their rights especially immigrant factory workers who don’t speak English and who come from cultures that emphasize conformity and subordination. 

Recently, we had this worker (Asian immigrant woman) in a North American factory "separate" from her employer.  Whether she quit or left under duress remains to be determined.  She contacted our Worker Hot Line to express her frustration. 

MEC Ethical Sourcing policy endeavours to ensure that factory workers are treated according to local employment standards and due process.    Right now we’re encouraging the parties to resolve this matter in good faith.

Canada has a heavily regulated workplace.  There are scores of government agencies and programs to govern and investigate employer and employee conduct.  In addition there are legal implications and potential liabilities for getting too involved in the affairs of our factories.   

The developing world on the other hand is much less restricted.  The laws that regulate work standards are not enforced.  The culture of employer and employee obligations is less defined.  Hence, there’s greater leeway for violating workers rights and correspondingly, fewer implications for intervening in the affairs of employer and employee. 

Workplace disputes are probably hardest on the affected incumbent.  For a retrenched worker it’s not only a temporary end to a career it’s also a blow to the self-esteem.  In other words, the loss is both professional and personal.  For the employer, there’s no personal loss just a whole lot of operational adjustments (e.g., soothing office morale, spreading the work).  Redundancy is another business tool.  No different than a back-to-school-sale or the newest point of sale machine at the check-out.    

We hope the matter between the factory worker and our N. American supplier is resolved satisfactorily.  And no matter what happens there will be hard feelings.  Only time can resolve this.

As a parting note, the next time you’re urgently called to an unplanned meeting on a Thursday morning with your boss and the HR manager – stop, turn about face and run hard!  You’re always employed until you’re served your "release" papers.