Hey all.
I haven’t written in some time because, well, I wasn’t really all that sure on what to say, or how to say it all.
I originally wanted to write a small piece on 2020 being a “New Year, New Me” – talking about how I had gotten a new job (one that was actually making me feel better about myself for a change), looking into moving down to the Portland area, and really being more positive in life. I felt like I was actually moving forward in my personal timeline. I didn’t feel stuck or stagnant anymore.
2020 was actually starting to feel like ‘my year’.
But then the virus started to spread.
At first, I wasn’t worrying too much about it. Sure, people weren’t following social distancing guidelines as well as they should have at first, and of course I was worried about my mom working so close as she was with people, but I felt if we all were to band together (metaphorically speaking) and really try our hardest, this virus wouldn’t spread any further than it already has. We could’ve had the possibility of returning back to normal.
Oh, how wrong I was.
Yesterday, I found out I was being laid off. Effective immediately.
I wasn’t the only one. I know at least one other person had been laid off as well. But that’s not the point right now. The point is, I believed I was an essential worker. And in a sense, I was. Health insurance companies need receptionists in the office in order to keep things moving smoothly for everyone else.
Only problem is, when the company’s clients are forced to stop working, they’ll need to take certain actions. Certain actions, like cancelling their policies so they can move the money toward things like feeding their families, keeping the lights on in their homes, etc.
And when the workflow moves slower and slower into a trickle, the health insurance company needs to take action themselves.
So, in an effort to try and keep as many people in the company working, sometimes people will need to be let go. Since I was one of the newest hires, it made sense to let me go first.
Am I shocked and a little upset? Yeah, of course I am. Who wouldn’t be? This just goes to show how vicious and rugged this virus is, not only to our bodies health-wise, but on the economy as well.
Will Cross Insurance hire me back? I sure do hope so, someday. They are one of the greatest companies I have ever worked for. The culture within those walls, the people working together to make policies work for their clients, all of it. I haven’t had bosses like the ones I had in a loooong time. I actually wanted to get up early every morning and jump in my car, drive the whole 1 hour and 17 minutes into work, and tackle the projects of the day. I wish every company could take a moment out of their schedules and look at how Cross Insurance worked. How the company conversed within itself, how when a problem reared its ugly head, instead of sweeping it under the rug, the managers actually tackled it and sweated out a sensible solution.
Am I now afraid that no job is safe, including the believed “essential” ones? Yes, yes I am. This whole pandemic has opened my eyes.
We’re in trouble. As a country and a race. I thought I was safe with my job, but I was wrong.
All I can do now is hope this pandemic dies out quickly and pray I can find another job; either that, or Cross will welcome me back with open arms.
L.J. LaBree 