Dislocated Worker-

Dave quietly shut the door to the HR office. The carpet down the hall was worn almost to the weave. He hadn’t noticed it before. He had always walked this hall with confidence, his head up, looking in the offices of his subordinates giving them a thumb’s up or a wave. He made sure he stopped in an office now and then to give a “job well done” speech. Not a rehearsed set of words, but a heartfelt appreciation.

Now the doors were closed as he walked by. A memo must have gone out; no one wanted to offer him consolation. It was a little disappointing after all these years. He pushed open the door to his office . Jim stood to one side of the desk, a jumble of boxes piled on the floor beside him.

I’m sorry man-.” He started.

“I know. We all are. This is a sign of things to come. I am not bitter, just disappointed.” Dave put a box on his chair and began to take the books from his cabinet.

“I brought these as reference. Dale Carnige, Zig Zigglar. These are written by men who are well respected in the business world. At least they were until the new century came. Now everyone is dispensable. There is no need to train a person for a career; no one will be hired to stay in a position that long.” He didn’t expect an answer. Jim was from maintenance. He was the one called to make sure no one stole or defaced anything before they left the premises.

“Dave, since I have been here, you are the only one who has remembered me on the day my wife died. You always stop by my desk with a kind word and a cup of coffee. It has been four years, but you remember.” He swallowed as emotions threatened to overcome him. “I know I am not the only one you have been kind to. You were at the hospital when Cynthia’s son was in that auto accident. You helped her apply for and get a wheelchair. I am sure you probably found someone to donate most of the financial aid.”

Dave smiled. He remembered getting the chair from the CEO of a local business whose son died. He put the last of his personal belongings in the box. The desk was clean and ready for the next HR manager.

“I have the cart outside. I will bring all these out to your car. Betty wants to give you a little something from the staff. She says you lobbied to get a cafeteria here and then arranged for her to apply and get the job. She’s really broken up about this.”

“Betty Gable,” Dave grinned and winked at Jim who smiled in return. “Betty used to be quite the woman in her younger years. We teased her a lot about her name being similar to Betty Grable. She had legs like the actress at one time. One thing about our Betty, she can cook. Her cakes, well, we all know how good they are.” Jim nodded and rubbed his protruding stomach. It didn’t lap over his belt buckle, but it definitely pushed the buckle to the limit.

The walk from his office took him past many desks. They were all empty. He glanced at the clock; it was ten minutes to five. Everyone wanted to get a head start on the weekend. He had hoped to say good-bye to a few of his friends. The hallway opened to the cafeteria.

“Surprise!” Everyone yelled. There were all his co-workers. A huge cake was sitting on a table.

“It’s not my birthday.” He quipped.

Betty stepped forward and put her arm through his, leading him to the table. “We know. It isn’t that we are happy about this either.” She whispered.

Jim came through the door and pressed the keys into his palm. “All taken care of Boss.”

Mark cleared his throat. “As head of accounting and a longtime friend of Dave’s I want to make a little announcement. We all know that this is not really retirement for you. Times are hard and some of us may be on the chopping block next. You have been more to this company than just an employee and HR person. There isn’t a person here that has not benefited from your big warm heart. There is nothing we can give you that will ever repay you for all you have done for us. We figured it would be just a matter of time when this would happen so we were a little proactive. We have purchased a voucher for you to choose the cruise of yours and Debbie’s choice. Thanks, man, from all of us.”

“Thank you, for a moment back there when I saw all the empty offices I felt bad there was no way to say good-bye. You have been the family I never had as an only child. Debbie and I weren’t able to have children so your children’s accomplishments meant a lot to us. Those of you who grew up in the company came to be my children too. I will miss all of you. Now before we all start salting the cake, let’s cut into it.” Everyone laughed.

“What are you going to do?” someone asked.

“I think Debbie and I are going to go to Mexico for a visit.” He grinned.



* * *

That was four months ago. Dave was seated next to his wife on the deck of their Mexican condo, overlooking the ocean, .

“Honey, I wonder if they still miss you?” Debbie sipped her drink.

“I doubt it.” He stroked the fine leather of the chair. “I worked hard for 20 years to get benefits for the employees. In the last few years the executives have taken bonuses that should have gone to the employees. ”

“I think they underestimated you. All those computer classes they paid for you to take, have certainly paid off.” Debbie twisted her hand letting the sun reflect off her large diamond ring and bracelet.

“All it took was one click from the CEO when he went to check bonus and inadvertently he sent his bonus and the bonuses of all the other executives, to an account that dispersed them to the employee’s 401k and IRA accounts. Hmm I wonder how he explained that to the board members.” Dave gave a hearty guffaw and leaned back on the lounge.