Well. That sucks!

George just got laid off.

It's been a long week, especially the last 2 days. He is the manager over distribution and was told by the boss that he (Mike) needed to cut back employees. Mike's department is already very small. What once had 87 employees is whittled down to 13, and they wanted it cut even more. Obviously the "do not call list" as well as the new ways of getting DVD's has negatively affected this company. So Mike thought and prayed and agonized over who he needed to let go.

Yesterday, a co-worker / good friend of the family called ME, asked if I was home and started crying when she said we needed to talk. I knew. I think I've known throughout this whole ordeal. I don't know why, things just seemed weird to me. So the first thing I said to her as she walked in was, "They're letting Mike go, huh?" After talking a while, we called Mike and told him to come home. He took it as well as could be expected.

We are both worried about this co-worker because she will now have to deal with the boss and he's not a very nice guy. I guess I shouldn't say that. He is a nice guy if you are a female and sleeping with him. He'll even be nice to the whole family if you let your wife sleep with him. Not only is this wrong, it is gross on every level. If you ever met this man your first thought would be, "EWWW!" He is paying two house payments (million dollar homes) of a prostitute friend of his, and another woman who he sleeps with, both her and her husband drive company cars and their mortgage is paid for by him, even though neither of them work for the company. See. Nice guy, huh?

I'll never forget the first company Christmas party we went to. Very impressive. Big group, beautiful setting, fantastic food and fun. He was handing money out like it was candy! Then there was the lap dance. Yeah. A wife of another employee stood up and did a full on lap dance on the boss' lap with her husband and his wife sitting at the same table. Aww. The memories!

So today. The boss sent a henchman, of course. Can't do the dirty deed himself. Told Mike they needed to let him go and they will give him a 2 WEEK severance pay, "Oh, and can you come and work next week?"

Yeah. They did!

So basically a 1 week severance pay when in the past they have given people a week per year they have worked for the company. Ten weeks would sure be a lot different than 2 (actually 1).

I know I sound bitter. I'm not. Angry maybe just because of how this went down. But I'm so glad Mike is out of there. This is supposed to be a family business but the morals of the leaders is non-existent. I don't like Mike having to deal with that kind of person on a day to day basis. And I feel like we will be OK. I don't know how! We certainly don't have a 2 year food supply or a savings, but I am calm when I think about it. And the constant outpouring of love and concern is almost overwhelming! So many people have said they will keep us in their prayers... what an honor. And what a blessing to know that our Father in Heaven knows how Mike is feeling, knows what we are supposed to learn from this, and if we are listening, will tell us what we are supposed to do.

Thank you for any prayers you say on our behalf. Mike has a hard time 'letting things go'. That's been the toughest thing for him as bishop is he internalizes everything. I know I will not only be praying for him to find a job, but I will be asking that he can get some sleep! The man needs a good night sleep!!