Here is serious Rita tonight. A rare sighting, I have to say. Normally I am at the ready to take the piss, or make fun of anything and everything. The result of having had your whole life flash in front of your eyes.
So - tonight I have a few words to say about one of my fellow workers. She left work today after four years. During those four years I can honestly tell you that she spent not one minute of those four years doing nothing. She is one of those most rare people who epitomise the very word 'work'. She worked her butt off. No one in that workplace could have worked more, or better, or harder than Vicky.
And you want to know what? She left today with no farewell speech, no bunch of flowers, no boss present to say "On behalf of the company, thanks so much for all your work", no being taken to lunch or dinner or a drink, no Goodbye card. Nothing. Just Rita and a few others standing sobbing at the lift as she left.
What is all that about? What kind of society are we turning into that people just don't seem to care about (small) things like someone leaving a job?
Vicky really, truly cared about her job, her clients, her fellow workmates. She excelled at the job. She spoke her mind truly and honestly, without hesitation. No going behind your back with her. She laid it straight on the line to you. Yeah - it might offend or upset you - but you always knew exactly where you stood with her.
You want to know something else? She is only 25. She is a Queen amongst us. If anyone wants a reference for this girl, refer to this blog or call me! I will never be able to find the words to express how much I respect her but hopefully these words tonight will go some way towards that.
Good luck Wicky, and I'll miss you unbelievably.
Postscript - 18/6/07
Vickys supervisor quite rightly popped in to see Rita for a say in what I wrote about Vicky's farewell. Being a proponent of fairness, and the right of everyone to hear both sides of any given issue, I think his side should be heard as well - so here it is.
Her manager had booked to take her to lunch prior to her leaving, but she was away sick on the day.
Her team held a team-only farewell lunch for her on 13/4/07, at which time they presented her with gifts and a farewell card, and her Manager made a 15-20 minute speech about her, and her contribution to the workplace.
She returned to the workplace to do some casual work, the day after her official finishing day in April.
She was advised that there was no more casual work after last Friday, but she chose to leave on the Thursday, when her supervisor was absent for two days, thus making it impossible for him to arrange anything for her.
Thursday, 14 June 2007
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8 comments:
Onya Rita! Just talking today about the de-personalisation (erk - sorry for that word!)of the workplace. what a horrible way for that girl to lesve. What's going on?
Rita, I hear your anguish!
She sounds like a fucking Diamond!
Why, too often are a regrettful few, the observers of a significant & inspiring contribution that seems to go un-noticed from the Top Down? Can't anyone else see the effective input these people make?
Perhaps they are too blind-sided by the fact thate these people often challenge there own thoughts & ideas & are threatened by them? I know its a simplistic view but its a common one!
Why cant some people see the contributive value in others?
It makes your heart break some-times.
The workplace just got that bit smaller Rita.
Anon - that's exactly what I want to know. What IS going on?
Gobbler - Thanks for the empathy. She IS a fucking diamond, and my heart IS broken at loosing such a big human being from my everyday life. That was a wonderfully expressive way to put it too - the workplace DID get smaller today.
Sorry to hear about your workmate, Rita.
Lovely word that workMATE. Oh, the Australia we love is being chipped away at.
Vicky sounded like a stalwart.
I've seen this before, Rita.
My missus and lots of her workmates left a department after a new manager was appointed.
Apparently the new manager told everyone in her previous place she was going to sweep the place clean and basically get rid of the older fuddy-duddies.
She wreaked havoc and when the performance actually slumped
within year or so, the new manager was moved on.
Too late for the loyal workforce who had to find jobs elsewhere.
What IS happening.
All the best, Sir Grumpy.
Has anyone found Foodkitty yet? What's this weird new stuff on her blogsite?
Hi Sir G - yes - she will indeed be missed, and I fear that it'll be the same as with your wife's situation. As the song says,"...you don't know what you've got till it's gone..."
Lonie - No - no clues on Kitty to date but I'm on the trail. Hoping to catch up with her on Sunday at a birthday party. Intend to give her the third degree!
Lonie and Rita
Re Kitty's blog, it appears that a clever cookie has seized upon Kitty's discarded blog address, and are now using it themselves (a cunning way to get instant high traffic and google profile).
Kitty's retired.
nellie
I was also a fellow work colleague of Vicky who will miss her terribly. All I can say is that too many people these days have their own agendas and can't see the big picture until they have shrunk it down to a very little picture - too late another one gone!
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