Breathtaking in terms of sheer arrogance and condescension. I can't believe she wrote this at a time like this. Losing a job is one of the most traumatic event in anyone's life. There is a sense of being unworthy and a loss of confidence. If there is family to support, the sense of being a failure is not an uncommon thought. No one accepts retrenchment no matter how you package it. Its basically an investment in a company that has terribly wrong.
It best to leave them alone and be ready to provide support when asked. Not write dribble and garbage. What these people need is space. Truly an insensitive moron.
Here are the list of "gems" this idiot wrote;
- "For SPH's case, unions and management negotiated what is
widely considered a generous package"
- "one big boo-boo took place when some staff found out they were retrenched the hard way - when they couldn't log into their computer system after they came to work. It wasn't meant to be thus, but it happened.
SPH bosses apologised for the error."
- "The retrenching of editorial staff
should come as no surprise."
- "Retrench with the head - and then execute and empathise with the heart."
- "I decided to compartmentalise the two parts. Accept the fact of retrenchment rationally. Then try to be there emotionally for those affected."
- "Have a cup of coffee with your colleagues in the canteen"
- "
The second worst hit emotionally, in my view, are the bosses who made the decision on where the axe should fall."
- "I was appreciative that my boss, a key decision-maker in the exercise, told us middle-managers that if there was any "opprobrium" from staff, it should be directed at him."
- "Engulfed with heavy feelings, a colleague and I l
eft the newsroom that Thursday for an early dinner."