We asked Get Ahead readers to send their layoff tales and we are getting mails from employees belonging to different sectors of the Indian economy.
In the 35th part of this series, HR executive Puja Kishnani* discusses how a company calamity translated into losing her job overseas.
Name: Puja Kishnani (*name changed on request)
Company/Sector: Human resources
Work experience: 5 years
Background:
I was working in Bangkok for three years before I joined Satyam Computer Services' Thailand branch; I was in the HR department there. From Day One, I was handling a job which required me to take up calls of prospective employees and handle their visits to the office. All my colleagues hated me -- I was the devil's associate at work.
How I lost my job:
Life was going well up until January this year, when the founder/CEO of Satyam, Mr Ramalinga Raju, spilled the beans about committing corporate fraud. It didn't help that the recession had hit home by this point either. The organisation plunged into a crisis and I got a call mid-week, announcing my last day at work. It was like a bombshell, people were really surprised as I was the only one in the office handling HR and recruitments. And still I was asked to leave -- I just never expected it to happen to me.
Job hunt:
I am still on the lookout for a job. It's been 3 months now and I've not met with any success so far. By God's grace, my hubby's job is secure and we are still financially sound. But I miss my job and my 3-year-old son still keeps asking me why I don't go to office like before, for which I don't have a reply.
Lessons learnt
One thing I've learnt through this whole experience is that nobody is indispensable. Don't think that the worst can't happen to you, even if you're the only person in the office entrusted with a certain responsibility.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh
Do you have a layoff tale to tell?
Have you lost your job? Do you know someone who has lost her/his job recently and is trying to come to terms with the situation?
If you, your friends or relatives have a layoff story to tell, to inform readers about the lessons that you have learnt, please write to us at getahead@rediff.co.in. Your name and identity will not be disclosed unless you want it to.
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