Oh My Gah!!

Worked on Saturday, played on Sunday, read the articles for my paper yesterday.

And then my boss called.

He just wanted me to know that he--and two other people from our small organization--had been laid off. "Not for cause," he said, but for budget reasons. Our President/CEO also took a cut in pay to help balance the books.

On the one hand, this is horrible. My boss was highly successful at raising money for our little museum. He was also fun and easy to work for.

On the other hand, I know that if he had had a better job offer at any time, he wouldn't have hesitated to take it. In my Intro to Non-profit Management class we talk a lot about "heart." And I know that deep down K did not have a soft spot in his heart for the museum or our historic site. It was a job.

On the third hand (ahh, mutant!), I'm pretty sure that his duties will be divided up among remaining staff. And this helps ensure that I will still have a job, since I'll now be responsible for even more areas. My kids asked if I'd be getting compensation for my new duties (hopefully to be outlined tomorrow)--I'm just glad that I still have a job. I'm in no position to negotiate.

I've been concerned that cuts were coming for a month or so now. And I thought that it was possible that I might be considered for termination. I feel that I have the least essential job there. But my job is also partially funded by a grant, which means that I don't cost much to have around. K was the director of tourism and director of the museum. He had negotiated quite a salary four years ago when he came onto the staff. I guess in the end they just couldn't afford to keep him.