I wrote this poem when I got made redundant from Verizon in November 2015. Still relevant today.
It Was my Final Day – The Bard of Verizon
It was my final day.
I looked around the office.
At all the empty desks.
I could tell.
The building was now an empty shell.
Where is everyone ?
Tom, Di-k and Harry my good friends all now gone.
I wondered if ?
Just like me they had been hit by a RIF.
I shake my head in disbelief and want to cry
That must be the reason why.
Meanwhile at Verizon HQ.
Fran Shamo's latest financial report was sadly nothing new.
We must do something radical to improve our profit margins as they are still down
He said with a frown.
The board racked their brains for hours.
And even more hours.
Until Lowell McAdam jumped to his feet he had a brainwave.
"Eureka I have the perfect plan.”
"That's why I am the top man."
“How about if..."
"We have another RIF ?"
There was whooping, smiling, laughter and high fives all round.
The company’s profits would soon rise a solution had been found.
Lowell McAdam then said "Ring The Bell for a job well done we deserve some praise."
"Let's also award ourselves a well deserved 20% pay raise."
The board couldn't care less.
If the RIF made their minions lives a mess.
The poor Verizon staff.
Unlike their leaders could neither smile or a laugh.
Once they were many now they are just too few.
Lowell McAdam's grand plan would give them all more stress and work they could do without.
That much they knew.
Their future is not going to be that bright.
All doom and gloom probably describes it just about right.
And yes they work under a cloud constantly worrying if ?
They are going to be a casualty of yet another Verizon RIF.