Cross? Relieved? Argh....

[LaCiccolina]

So, Ive spent months agonising about returning to the City. I paid the nursery, chose a nursery, liked the nursery. All family plans in place. Tears in check (just) after crying every day several times a day for most of december. Messages posted on here. Pretty much every eventuality covered....

I go in.

Im put at risk.

WTF? Im not necessarily arguing about the situation (Although I could, at length but maybe not immediately!). Not very surprised. 3 people picked, all mums.... go figure. More in other depts, many upset people around. Just exasperated. Wondered if anyone else just had this happen? Call this a support post, group hug or whatever maybe. I don't know, I haven't thought about it, mostly Im just typing. Feel a bit lost, a bit lonely, a bit bleurgh. Many reasons to be pleased to be honest or relieved. Family all saying the right things. All I can think is two words...two very lonely, very clueless words.....

Now what........?

How much are they offering you?

Could be an opportunity, unwelcome though it is. Depending how much money, you could take time at home, retrain, look for a better job...

Not happened to me but have been in post through redundancy rounds and it was not enjoyable at all. Those who were chopped have all gone on to things that suit them - the shock and stress and upset are horrible but it does make you open doors to a future you never really imagined.

Now what? Well, how about a sherry? Don't do anything in a rush, and separate your entirely understandable crying/ranting/emoting from your focused thoughts on a) getting the best deal and b) making the most of the possibilities.

How frustrating for you! Auntie talks a lot of sense - don't do anything in a rush, sit down and have a sherry, and think through the possibilities. Presumably you have some time to work through what you want/hope for.

Being "at risk" doesn't necessarily mean redundancy does it? I have known people who have worked out their whole post-redundancy future and then been very disappointed.

A lot of people will see it as an opportunity but FWIW I have personal experience. I took the (very generous) package and two years later I am still not sure it was the right thing to do. I could have tried a lot harder for an equivalent role elsewhere in the organisation but the temptation to leave was too great. I am now trying to get back into a corporate role and realistically won't be able to achieve even half the salary i was on before although the roles I'm looking at are interesting. I struggle with being a SAHM - it consumes all of your time so that there's very little opportunity to reinvent yourself or look for something new. On a practical note, once you give up a nursery place it is very hard to get it back again, at least it is around here.