Layoffs and Loyalty

Our organization has been hit with some layoffs -- not the pharmacy department, but the health care organization/clinics where we are located have cut some support staff, including some pretty senior people. I know it's going on all over the country, but it sure sucks. One of the people I know who is laid off has a terminally ill family member. At Christmas, no less. The organization warned us it might be coming, but it's still kind of shocking. Even if you're not affected, you almost have a 'survivor's guilt.' You don't really know how to act.

I think of myself as a conscientious employee. I come to work to work -- not to stand around and chat, not to avoid the jobs I don't like, not to do the bare minimum until I can go home. I get angry at other people for doing those things. I try to be as helpful as possible to my customers and co-workers, whom I value and generally like very much. I have to be at death's door to call in sick. But when it comes to the 'company' or the 'organization' I have always kept them at arm's length, because I know when push comes to shove it's all about the bottom line. They won't go to bat for me. We get the philosophy lectures, the mission statements, the caring & sharing pamphlets -- all that stuff. I've seen it many times and I know it's just window dressing.
When I'm at work I do a good job not as a representative of the company, but of myself. I don't feel good about saying it, but you won't find me wearing a sweatshirt with my company's logo or volunteering at some company-run 'ask your pharmacist' event. I don't feel that kind of loyalty and unfortunately I know it's reciprocal.

I've always been able to get a lot of job satisfaction from pharmacy work. I don't need to work for the World's Best Company to get it. I'm glad to have job security and I truly wish everyone did.