An Open Letter To My Former Employer

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So, XYZ Company, after my five years of servitude and loyalty
you close the doors, you dissolve the department
with less than a day's notice, because, hey, that's all we deserve-
And it was no accident you announced right before Memorial Day
So you don't have to give us holiday pay
And of course you think that's fair
You would rather deny a dozen people their livlihood
Than deny yourself your vacation home in Hawaii
Or your Montana ranch, or your private plane
At least, you avoided the hyprocrisy
Of pretending to be sorry.

And what of our bonus, XYZ Company,
that you promised, oh so ardently!
Oh dear, so sorry, quarterly revenue goals
were missed by thatmuch
so whoops, can not pay bonus after all
And it would be super great if everyone
Could just develop group amnesia
that we ever said it was 'absolutely' on the way-

Oh, XYZ Company, you scammed us, you flim-flammed us
You lied and you know it and we know it
We were betrayed like an unfaithful lover
Burned like an untrue friend
But there is no illusion here of friendship, or respect, or trust
Or even professionlism

You have no future, XYZ Company, for you are dying
diseased, corrupt, and caving in,
squeezing pennies 'til the end
And I am glad to be long gone
When the collapse comes
When the avalanche of your ruin is complete
And you are done-

Submitted to 'The Gem that Slipped through the Cracks' contest on 2/09/21
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh

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John Watt

Date: 4/29/2022 12:24:00 PM

Ah, the poetic pen allows us to vent our indignation at corporate ineptitude and unfair treatment like nothing else... to give your division less than 24 hours notice, to short your final paycheck, to deprive workers of a paid holiday they had worked for, all point to greed, unprofessional leadership, and a lack of humanity. Your venom and sarcasm are administered in justifiable doses in response to this breach. I liked the 'group amnesia', the 'scam/flimflam', and the 'betrayed like an unfaithful lover' lines the most. Hope you never have to experience such betrayal again ~ John

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 4/29/2022 7:21:00 PM

They were not paying their vendors either, and there was at least one lawsuit that I know of where a terminated employee sued claiming he was fired for his religious belief (he was Muslim) at least I made some good friends there that I'm still in touch with-

Edward Ibeh

Date: 2/10/2021 1:34:00 PM

Nice to discover this great write, but I was asking for a poem with no replies whatsoever. Congrats for placing in my contest nonetheless, Michelle:-)

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 2/12/2021 12:47:00 PM

I am glad for the placement, Edward, thank you

Gary Radice

Date: 2/10/2021 1:26:00 PM

"This is the working hour we are paid by those who learn from our mistakes" Tears For Fears / "The Working Hour" I bet they texted everyone too..no individual meetings or even letters..

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 2/12/2021 12:46:00 PM

I'm not familiar with that song, will have to check it out! And we did have that final meeting, where the HR person (who had been with the company only a week, and she quit soon after is what I heard) told us the department was eliminated and it was our last day - and the final paychecks shorted us too -

Gershon Wolf

Date: 6/4/2018 10:38:00 PM

Ode to Corporate America... Ode to Unbridled Greed... Michelle, somehow what's happened is all for the best, at least in the long run...Here's to a 'quick recovery' and to a short job search. ~ Gershon (on the brink of a lay- off myself in Chicago).

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 6/17/2018 4:22:00 PM

Not really an ode since I'm not praising them but thanks for your well wishes-