As with so many places, Roberts Wesleyan College is facing budgetary issues, and we are cutting back in many areas. Unfortunately, that requires some layoffs, a very difficult thing for all concerned. The Library, as with every division, was asked to let go of a full time position.
While we tried to be creative about how to do that, in the end, one of my staff was slated to be released. We agonized over the decision, prayer much, but in the end, it had to be done. I didn't want to news to come to her from anyone else, so I made sure I would be able to be there and talk with her myself, in spite of instructions from the hospital not to resume regular activities until tomorrow. I checked with them and they said as long as I don't lift or stretch, and go home right afterwards, it would be OK.
So there we were in my office, facing the hard news together. She had figured out that it would be her, had worked through much of the angst already. She was stronger than I, laughing about her getting laid off and me being the one crying. She was looking at the good things - she could now go to the baseball games and picnics of the week, and was hoping they could get by without her having to get another job - early retirement!
Afterwards, I met with my staff to plan how to reorganize, to decompress about loosing a team member, to cover the bases while I would be out of commission. Monday we will have our usual summer planning retreat at the Meridian Center. It will be a quiet summer of repurposing staff and laying low. No big projects.
We will miss our colleague. We will continue to pray for her. We will figure out how to do the same work with fewer people. God's grace is sufficient.
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