Hey everybody. In the grand old tradition of things going from bad to worse, I got some interesting and potentially frightening news today. Yesterday my coworker and I got an email telling us that we had to attend a mandatory meeting for which the subject matter was supposedly, "One University, Many Locations" or some other such nonsense. We were a little upset that we would have to take time out of our day for a meeting that seemingly had nothing to do with us, but when we went to the meeting today, we found that it definitely had something to do with us.
Within the first 30 seconds of the meeting, it became clear that this was not just a, "Let's bore you to tears with academic semantics and circular logic" type meeting. It had to do with the massive budget crunch the university finds itself in. As we have already seen, the university has cut some of its sports teams and the dance squad. When a university cuts anything in the athletic department, it's a sure sign that the coffers are officially empty.
So in the meeting today, we were told that the library system with have a budget nearly 10% smaller next year than it did this year. As I have already whined and complained about in other entries: the library system has already made massive cuts in material expenditures (like binding, which seems almost a foreign concept now that we've gone without it for a year) and now they are having to dump payroll in order to limbo in under the budget. What we were told was that with the budget nearly 10% smaller than it was last year, nearly 10% of the staff positions in the library system will be eliminated. There is a staff of 350-something people, which means that 30 or so of them will soon find themselves without jobs.
We won't find out until January whether or not our jobs are safe. We were told that the layoffs (they didn't specifically use the word, but it quacks like a duck, so...) would be based on whether or not certain functions can be eliminated and not on seniority, but we were also told that they would be following the already established ASU guidelines for reduction in workforce. According to those guidelines, the priority of people who are let go are: 1)Probationary employees (I'm well past my probationary period, so this does not apply to me) 2) Employees with recent evaluations on which they scored less than satisfactory (Also not me. I scored above satisfactory and have been breathing a big sigh of relief ever since) 3) Employees with satisfactory evaluations (That includes me).
So my coworker and I were talking about the possibility that we might be losing our jobs, and we don't know what to think. On the one hand, this library is already understaffed and I know the head librarian wouldn't want to lose one of us because it would be a long time before she could have a full staff again, which would be a huge inconvenience to everyone that stays. On the other hand, they hate me and they hate my coworker only slightly less than they hate me. I know that the boss man would love nothing more than an opportunity to get rid of me (Opportunities to get rid of staff members don't come along every day. Normally you have to commit a felony to be fired as a staff member) and I can't help but think that that might play into it. He has the head librarian's ear and the head librarian has the dean's ear and the dean is the one who has to decide who goes and who stays. But on the other other hand, more people in this library system hate the boss man than hate me and that might factor into it somehow.
I honestly have no idea how this will go. There can be an argument made for every permutation of layoffs as they affect this library. None of us could get laid off, which seems reasonable because we're understaffed as it is. My coworker could get laid off and I would end up doing his job and my job and getting paid my same salary despite doing two jobs, one of which normally has a higher salary than mine. This might happen because they would save more money getting rid of my coworker than they would in getting rid of me. I could get laid off. This seems a fairly likely outcome, considering how little people think of me 'round here and how much certain persons wish I didn't work here at all. The boss man could get laid off. This would be better than bread from heaven, but doesn't seem super likely. The only reasons this might happen would be if they offered him retirement (He has been here for over 30 years, mind you) or if the angry mob of people who have grown to hate him over the years pull together to get him out. I wouldn't put my money on this horse, but it's the one I'll be dreaming about at night. If he was eliminated, my coworker and I could easily take over his duties and there would be an immediate boost in efficiency and morale. But this makes too much sense. If I have learned anything from working here, it's that the things that make the most sense are the ones that are the least likely to happen.
Now here's where it gets interesting: if I get laid off, I would get 3 months of paid administrative leave. I wouldn't have to come into work fro 3 months and I would be getting paid for it. That time would be used to find a new job, but I'd still be making money. I would also be compensated for any unused sick or vacation hours accrued before the layoff date. That's really not that bad of a layoff package. When I consider the fact that I don't like this place and I would love to leave if only it didn't provide me job security; getting laid off could easily turn into a blessing in disguise. I could find a job I don't hate and get paid while I look for it. The only thing that keeps me from fully rooting for this outcome is the fact that Megan still doesn't have a job. This both scares me because we don't want to both be unemployed at the same time. But if she got a job soon and I get laid off, that might give us the leverage we need to get into a better career situation for the both of us. On the other other hand, it's been super tough for Megan to find a job and I'm not nearly as employable as she is (Majoring in communication. What was I thinking?!).
So the next month will be nothing if not interesting. If I didn't think our lives were being shaken up enough, they certainly are now. But to end it on a good note: Megan had a pre-interview with a job she applied for recently. It would be with the Chandler Chamber of Commerce (I think it is, anyway) and it sounds like a good job for her. She has applications in at other places and we're always on the lookout for additional ways to supplement our income. No matter what happens, we'll get through it. People are having hard times all over this country and Megan and I are not the worst off people on the block (Actually, I just found out that one of our neighbors from our ward lost their house. It happened a few weeks ago, but I just noticed the for sale by the bank sign on their front lawn recently. As I'm thinking about it, I can think of at least two other families that are harder off than we are). So we'll be counting our blessings and praying for the best possible outcomes to all this stuff.
So here's to hoping that Megan and I won't be both sitting at home unemployed in a few weeks. As always, we are grateful for your thoughts and prayers on our behalf. Things have a way of working out, and I'll put my money on the horse that says we'll make it through the other side of this stuff just fine.