Memorandum - Alberta Today

Today I hit a career status, not an achievement by any means; nonetheless one that will stand out for me in my profession. Today, I have delivered my 200th layoff notice in less than 6 months. Hardly an accomplishment, rather an unnerving stab in my side that is the unfortunate economic condition of Alberta today.

As I sit and provide the "you are now unemployed" letter to this employee, a Father & Husband, a grown man whose eyes well with tears, I realize that he is just yet another ill-fated circumstance of the governments lack of effort, the international oil & gas markets egotistical tactics, and the now unrealistic Alberta dream. 

This "Employee" who has dedicated his career and life to what began as the Oil & Gas advantage, striving towards excellence in his work, has now been told his job is over within a mere five minute meeting. Feeling his efforts a waste and contributions a failure; this Employee has to go home and deliver the same unsettling news to his wife and children.

 200 employees, Mothers, Fathers, and spouses, all delivered the same message "Your position has been eliminated effective immediately". 200 offices boxed up and personal items removed, 200 letters distributed thanking them for their dedication and commitment to the company and 200 "Memorandum" emails communicating to the rest of the company the loss of yet another associate and friend.

 Feeling much like George Clooney in the 2009 paradigm film "Up in the Air", I think of all the travels I have done over the past 6 months throughout Alberta to deliver the same distressing letters to many unsuspecting individuals. From mass layoffs to one-on-one layoffs, Albertans have seen their fair share of turmoil and grief.

200, the sombre number of lives merely in the last 6 months that have been turned upside down. An impact and blow to many communities and families, a devastating statistic that directly contributes to the rising percentage of financial peril, depression, emotional instability, domestic violence, and petty crime in cities and towns across the province.

Today's Government officials are only just beginning to comprehend the harsh reality of our economic state on the working class, though they have yet to sit in one of these meetings and really understand who this economy is affecting. The government is but a year too late to help many Albertans, and there are sadly a few too little who feel for those impacted.

As I shake hands with this employee before I depart the meeting, I can only hope that there will be support at home for this individual, through family and friends and other networks.

I walk out of the meeting room to send off the IT notification disabling access to this now un-employed individual and I can only be optimistic that those (such as this gentleman) affected are not brought down too far and if they are, they manage to remind themselves of the belief that "Every setback is a step forward in the right direction!" and that they will thrive through this tough time, maybe not today but eventually.

As I press send on the general "Memorandum" email notifying the rest of the company that this employee is no longer employed, I can only be confident that the survivor employees will also recover and regain their trust and motivation to work.

Lastly, as I await the arrival of this former employees signed ‘End of Contract’ to be delivered, I cannot help but have faith that there will be financial support available in the interim for this individual.

In today’s economic trenches, one can only hope that people hold feelings of empathy towards those who are dealing with the job loss, hold feelings of compassion for those who may be losing their way, and offer care & support for those who truly need it the most.

Kristina McLean

Human Resources Professional