Thursday, November 11, 2004

office etiquette question

my work friend, gabe, got fired today - the actual firing happened when i was at lunch, but when i returned from lunch, she was gathering her things to walk the green mile - here's what i want to know:

  • am i supposed to say something during the desk-cleaning-out?
  • am i supposed to offer help?
  • or am i supposed to return quietly to my desk and look like i'm working dilligently so as to avoid a similar fate? (this is what i did, but i felt shitty about it - this is reason number 47,921 why i make a lousy friend; i don't know how to react in even the most basic of situation - seriously, to call me socially awkward would be a gigantic understatement)

it wasn't a complete surprise, there were a billion reasons and we'd all seen it coming, but when it actually, finally really happened, it was a surprise - like when you were a kid and you had a loose tooth and it was just hanging on by a thread - you knew it was going to fall out, you just didn't know when... but now that cube across from me is painfully empty... if anyone out there knows quark express and photoshop and mac and graphics wants the supreme pleasure of working next to me, let me know

posted by Veruca Salt at 3:07 PM |

4 comment(s):

  • ooo!!!

    ooooooooo!!!

    heh

    it'd have to be full time though, huh?

    angie
    blue-us shoe-us

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:17 PM  

  • IT depends on the person and their reaction to being canned. I know the one time I was fired I was so close to tears that I didn't want anybody talking to me for fear I'd start bawling. But a sympathetic look and a quick "call me" is sufficient in most situations!

    By Blogger Unknown, at 6:26 AM  

  • I think the proper thing to say when someone gets fired is, "You were fired? Oh Mylanta! No worries, everthing happens for a reason, plus, it's been an incredible journey. So....you're going to do what now? Good luck, and take care."

    Or at least that's what I'd say.

    By Blogger Paul, at 2:28 PM  

  • or i could just end it with "screw you" - since that and "take care" are interchangeable - paul, you crack me up

    By Blogger Veruca Salt, at 2:34 PM  

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