Too Old To Work?
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series III, Cycle C
Carol was too old to be out of work and too young to be on Social Security. At fifty, Carol was let go: downsized, dismissed. As an executive secretary for a major firm, she had much experience in management, clerical support, and computers. But the company had been acquired by another firm on the east coast and they were bringing their own executives, secretaries, and support staff. Two-thirds of the company's midwestern office were being given dismissal notices.
Carol was in a panic. She had worked for the company for sixteen years, starting as a receptionist and working her way up to being secretary for the vice president. Her children were in high school and no longer needed her to be home so much. She loved her job: it gave her such joy to be of service to the vice president. They had a great working relationship, but there was nothing that could be done. The majority company was bringing in their own people, and there was no room for Carol.
So Carol thought of a clever plan. She approached the vice presidents and senior managers and asked them if they needed clerical support outside office hours. Could she do some work when the regular secretaries had gone home? Could she do some typing and transcription work for them? Could she file reports on their behalf on the weekends?
Carol's plan worked: two senior managers hired her to do weekend work. It took three months for them to understand what a valuable employee she was: she was hired back by the senior vice president. She had been shrewd, but she had also saved her livelihood.
Carol was in a panic. She had worked for the company for sixteen years, starting as a receptionist and working her way up to being secretary for the vice president. Her children were in high school and no longer needed her to be home so much. She loved her job: it gave her such joy to be of service to the vice president. They had a great working relationship, but there was nothing that could be done. The majority company was bringing in their own people, and there was no room for Carol.
So Carol thought of a clever plan. She approached the vice presidents and senior managers and asked them if they needed clerical support outside office hours. Could she do some work when the regular secretaries had gone home? Could she do some typing and transcription work for them? Could she file reports on their behalf on the weekends?
Carol's plan worked: two senior managers hired her to do weekend work. It took three months for them to understand what a valuable employee she was: she was hired back by the senior vice president. She had been shrewd, but she had also saved her livelihood.
