Well, it just goes to show you that regardless of the HR BS about the importance of people, to Mega Corp you are just a headcount to be sucked dry and discarded. Before I had come in today, they had already sent a broadcast e-mail out around the world to all the senior staff announcing my retirement and praising me for my significant contributions. The e-mail listed my departure date as sometime in late June or July.
This came as a bit of a surprise to me since the retirement letter I submitted specified June 1 as my last day of work.
"We'd like you to stay for an extra 6-8 weeks to train the 2 new college hires you recruited to replace your other analysts and prepare the processes for the fiscal year transition. It would really help us out"
"Gee, I gave you a formal letter of retirement yesterday stating my last day of employment would be June 1. I would be happy to discuss extending past June1. Here are 2 alternatives that could work for both of us:
1) I'll agree to work part time 16 hours a week for the next 60 days (days flexible depending on headaches) to execute the AP612 Ops Review process, continue to train Dustin, to perform the system conversion for the fiscal year 07 rollover and oversee the AP701 ops review process, and to prepare for Jay's arrival and execute his training in July. At the end of 60 days I receive a severence package for my grade and length of service as if I had been laid off. Or
2) I can perform the same services as an executive consultant, time and health conditions permitting, with appropriate compensation "
Without blinking an eye, his response was
"Ok, so it's June 1 then".
It's such a warm feeling that 20 years of dedication to the company that has resulted in a significant deterioration in my health means so much to them. The first new kid shows up next week. This provides me with little motivation to spend a lot of extra time and effort in the documentation, training, and knowledge transfer processs.
10 more days, one of them is Memorial day, I might get some real bad headaches on a few other days and then I'll be free.