Being made redundant for doing a good job is strange place to be in.
It was my dream job, I had wanted to work for this organisation for 8 years before I finally got a job with them. Then I got a job and spent the first year thinking I wasn’t good enough to be working for this organisation, that I didn’t have the skills and that everyone else was much smarter than me. The next year and a half I found my groove and enjoyed almost every minute of it. I was learning, i was working with amazing people and most of all I was seeing young people stepping up and fighting for the injustices of our world.
Then suddenly on a winters friday I entered a meeting room to find out about some structural changes.
The new structure didn’t include me and many of my colleagues.
I didn’t really show any emotion in the meeting, I was pretty hurt but felt that showing that hurt was not going to change the situation and would just leave me with a headache. I quietly finished off some transitional work and left that afternoon.
The thing that is causing the most discomfort at the moment is that I think I was doing a pretty good job, I’m sure I wasn’t amazing and I know i definitely had some ‘growth areas’ but on the whole I fell that I was making a valued and help contribution to the mission and goals of the organisation and also the kingdom.
I really don’t want to be bitter or have hatred towards the organisation, the reason I wanted to wrok for them for so many years is because i believed and appreciated the way they went about doing their thing. And I still have those same feelings, they are still the organisation that I think has the best approach to community development in poor communities, they still have a great way of doing education in Australia.
I was a victim of a structural change that was the result of a refocus on the organisastions strategies for operating. I don’t agree with all the changes and not just because I lost my job but I would defiantly still love the opportunity to work at this organisation again in the future.
But to be honest being made redundant is still not a good feeling no matter what the reason, So i’m going to take a bit of time to lay low and think and pray about what the future holds.
I hereby unofficially name Friday August 6 as Robert Howie VI TEAR Memorial Day. When you go back as National Director you can officially make the day redundant.
You were great at your job Howie… I was thinking that watching you last weekend at the National Conference. I felt pleased that the “next generation” of committed workers were finding their feet. I was shocked to hear from Steve B about the redundancy. Take care.
Hey Howie, thanks heaps for sharing this. I am hearing both sides but am mostly on yours
. This sux big time and would naturally raise many questions. Prayin for you about the next chapter. It makes me proud to see how God has used you so powerfully as you have made yourself available to the Kingdom. Let me know if you need to do coffee. Bren
I’m really sorry to hear that Howie.
thanks Geoff, Bren, josh and kind of creepy un-named observer.
There are 2 sides to every story and it’s not really my place to tell the other side, I guess the positive is I wasn’t let go for not working hard enough or being naughty. It was a structural change made from a new focus for the work.
Howie, from a large bit of seeing you before you worked for TEAR, a little bit of working with you (which I am very grateful for) and a little bit of seeing and hearing about your work from a distance, I can say that you were a real gift to TEAR over all, and the NSW team in particular.
I’m really sad that it has turned out this way. I know it’s a big loss for you and how much you have given to TEAR. And I think it’s a very big loss for TEAR too.
I’ll always remember having to explain SLAG to Rod Harding! And owe you big time for “This is Reality”…
Supporters of a loving atmosphere for Gardens, probably the craziest PR stunt ever pulled at blackstump….
Sorry to hear your news Howie. Restructures aren’t fun for anyone. But there is life after redundancy. Lay low. Seek His face. Trust Him.
SLAG, little understood and underappreciated, but without a doubt the most subversive PR action at Blackstump.
the best thing about SLAG is we will never know if it was helpful or not
From a far, it seems as if TEAR is wiping out a younger generation of committed, skilled, social justice activists. Whom do they think will replace these talented committed workers made redundant? Such exceptional people as yourself and Phil are not replaced easily. I like your idea of laying low for a while. The space created in your life by this restructure, will be filled with something else: worthwhile & important, and that values the unique skills and person you are.
woah man.
I was shocked and confused and upset hearing the news down this end, so I can only imagine how you feel.
But I tell you what, unless there is currently no one on the lookout for extremely talented and capable staff, you will be snapped up pronto.
Will be praying for you as you seek and discern – and try not to feel shit.
And don’t worry, when i am ND, while it may be fiscally irresponsible, I will re-employ you and all the rest for sure
Blessings mate.
Dont you hate it when macbook automatically inserts your surname without you realising?
Feel free to take it off. I might never get ND if they see I wrote ‘shit’ in a blog comment.
Oh Robert, I am so sorry to hear that. Boo and bottom. Will be praying for you and Jenny as you make decisions for what’s next.
It has been a privilege working with you from inter-state.
I am going to miss your NSW Staff meeting notes, and all the other little things you did to make TEAR a better place to work.
I think you are amazing at what you do, and I am sure you will find a great outlet for your talents.
But this is not farewell, should be in Sydney in September and will try and catch up then..
And how good was the Steve Bradbury alien video..
Strength to you Robert. Don’t lose heart. You’ll find something else good.
On the upside, 19 comments.
ha Tom had over 200 visitors in the last 24 hours..crazy!
I should lose my job more often it brings a lot of blog readers.
That is a sad thing. Perhaps you can come and be a marginally employed hippy with me?
Good luck, we are thinking of you & Jenny
Hey Howie. Remember that being made redundant has nothing to do with how well you did in your job. Stay strong.