We did in Heathrow.
Her name was Hurricane Sharon!
The new manager of Americas Customer Care finally came to visit us in Florida from her home locale in Springfield, Oregon.
Since her visit was timed with this corporate sponsored Customer Service Recognition Days event (pretty banners, websites, and free lunch for a week or so), and, since she hadn't visited us since she took over in September, I thought it was just a meet n' greet. No, it was a meet and make mincemeat! (Okay, not so good pun, you try writing this crap on the fly, buddy!)
With the opening of the Philippines site, and the fact that the calls generated by the Hamlet release were not as huge as expected, our mere existence as a team of 26-30 reps was in focus. And it didn't look too good. The last couple of weeks it has been dead. At times, 15 to 20 minutes between calls. Great for us since we had more time to do other things like socialize, screw off, surf the web, polish toenails (dammed cubicle-neighbor Jennifer and her noxious fumes!). But bad for the company, paying our US wages when all the work is being done by teen-aged Filipinos making $2 an hour.
Well, on Wednesday afternoon, after Sharon had been here but a day, Jill called us into a meeting saying how she was embarrassed that Sharon was noticing people away from their desks while not on break, chit-chatting and having fun, surfing the web, etc. (Yea, this Sharon is really old school call center rigid mentality...ala Convergys...Kemmy and Jill never wanted it to be that way) Jill said that Sharon could tell Jill that they had to let 10 people go and it would have to be done. That, if we didn't want to stay in our job, we could be replaced by a rep in the Philippines in a heartbeat.
It took only one day for it to happen. About 10 of the temps were called in to a meeting with Jill and Sharon. They were offered to stay on for 1 more week (till the 26th) but after that, their assignment would end. Some opted to take the release immediately.
Among the casualties, Jeff and Mike, the 2 gay guys just hired 3 weeks ago (stupid huh, I agree, but they thought we'd be swamped).
Erica, one of the long-time members of the team...she'd been with us since spring last year...almost an "Original" (speaking of which, I am the only remaining one who wasn't an OSG convert, of which all of them are either coordinators or management (except the elusive Lisette))
Jim, the fat older guy, himself with a plethora of health issues...he'd been hoping to go perm for the health insurance.
And many others. Like all disasters that rip through a community, the "survivors" can be seen trying to express sympathy for those lost, yet difficulty concealing their joy at having been spared.
The big question though: Is the hurricane season over, or are we fragile remaining few, yet in for "The Big One"?
Her name was Hurricane Sharon!
The new manager of Americas Customer Care finally came to visit us in Florida from her home locale in Springfield, Oregon.
Since her visit was timed with this corporate sponsored Customer Service Recognition Days event (pretty banners, websites, and free lunch for a week or so), and, since she hadn't visited us since she took over in September, I thought it was just a meet n' greet. No, it was a meet and make mincemeat! (Okay, not so good pun, you try writing this crap on the fly, buddy!)
With the opening of the Philippines site, and the fact that the calls generated by the Hamlet release were not as huge as expected, our mere existence as a team of 26-30 reps was in focus. And it didn't look too good. The last couple of weeks it has been dead. At times, 15 to 20 minutes between calls. Great for us since we had more time to do other things like socialize, screw off, surf the web, polish toenails (dammed cubicle-neighbor Jennifer and her noxious fumes!). But bad for the company, paying our US wages when all the work is being done by teen-aged Filipinos making $2 an hour.
Well, on Wednesday afternoon, after Sharon had been here but a day, Jill called us into a meeting saying how she was embarrassed that Sharon was noticing people away from their desks while not on break, chit-chatting and having fun, surfing the web, etc. (Yea, this Sharon is really old school call center rigid mentality...ala Convergys...Kemmy and Jill never wanted it to be that way) Jill said that Sharon could tell Jill that they had to let 10 people go and it would have to be done. That, if we didn't want to stay in our job, we could be replaced by a rep in the Philippines in a heartbeat.
It took only one day for it to happen. About 10 of the temps were called in to a meeting with Jill and Sharon. They were offered to stay on for 1 more week (till the 26th) but after that, their assignment would end. Some opted to take the release immediately.
Among the casualties, Jeff and Mike, the 2 gay guys just hired 3 weeks ago (stupid huh, I agree, but they thought we'd be swamped).
Erica, one of the long-time members of the team...she'd been with us since spring last year...almost an "Original" (speaking of which, I am the only remaining one who wasn't an OSG convert, of which all of them are either coordinators or management (except the elusive Lisette))
Jim, the fat older guy, himself with a plethora of health issues...he'd been hoping to go perm for the health insurance.
And many others. Like all disasters that rip through a community, the "survivors" can be seen trying to express sympathy for those lost, yet difficulty concealing their joy at having been spared.
The big question though: Is the hurricane season over, or are we fragile remaining few, yet in for "The Big One"?