Holy Crap

“Dip tortillas into melted fat”

Our lunch room fridge sounds like the title of a 90s boy band album

I’ve been working for the same Fortune 500 company for 25 years.

Twenty five years

When I first started there, I rose up through management at a slow but steady pace. I kept my head down, did my work, made connections and a reputation as a dependable, solid executive.

Fast forward to 10 years ago during the first of many restructures. My job title was eliminated, but fortunately, I’d made the cut and had a position in a related department. I loathed that work, found it boring and uninspiring. My boss at rhe time was a rigid, micromanager. He was purged 2 years later.

Fortunately, I had some champions in the department who promoted me to a different job. I flourished there. The work was satisfying, the atmosphere was entrepreneurial & I had a large team There was never a day when I dreaded going to work.

Exactly one year ago the woman who had been my champion took an early retirement package. Eight people on my staff of 12 were notified of their job elimination. Their work was now contracted out to a third party. The other four were transferred to other departments.

My boss and I were the only two who remained in place. My new responsibilities included transition to the 3rd party, and another project which, turns out, had legs to continue. Our regular mantra to each other throughout the year was “be essential”.

Yesterday, my boss gave me the news that he is leaving at the end of the month. During our brief call, I assured him that he’ll be fine because he’s brilliant and talented and it has been my honor to learn with him. That was not bullshit.

He started out the call by saying “you’re not affected” meaning, that for the time being, I stilll have my job. I did not ask any other questions because this call was about him.

And, yeah I still have my job. The big project I’ve been working on for the past year is going forward. There’s lots of tactical & strategic work to be done. There are other ongoing projects that I manage that don’t fit nearly into any one job description. So, for now I have a job.

And therein lies my problem. As of this morning I’m not directly reporting to anyone. A VP in my department (to whom I could potentially report) advised that I continue doing what I’m doing and keep my head down until they figure out the new hierarchy.