This is not the appreciation statement for long service award as you expected after you served your organization for 5, 10 or more years. This kind of award is very rare nowadays.

To me “Thank you for your service” from management is when your service no longer required in the organization. This happens 3 times in my careers.  1st time was whole department no longer required, 2nd time was whole manufacturing plant sold to supplier and this time around is moving the business out of Singapore.

We knew the company is closing down in June, initial plan was shutdown partial operation in August but the plan have changed several times ,retention bonus confirmed quite late in the sense.

After the initial communication session, I have gather all my staff any advise them to look out for new opportunity as soon. I have to let go 3 out of 6 staff I managed.  This is not a fair ratio from my manager I have protested and submit my own name but nothing changed.

I had the intention to leave in the first batch with or without new job offer. I have 1 staff shared the same though. The rest look out for opportunity on their own.  I ran through my contacts and try to ask around for suitable company which need same technical expertise my team possessed. I have even write my staff a recommendation letter to the company interested.

The date for 1st batch is keep speculating in the company. For several weeks the name list is keep bothering my mind. Until 1 of my staff accept new job offer and give my resignation letter in the end of June.  Looks like I have all the 3 names to submit.

On one of the Friday which management need to finalized list.  I have another big headache on the name list again. This time around I have 2 other staffs who is considering the offer and myself also waiting for the last decide from CEO who interviewed me.  Now I have 4 names instead of 3.  And not one willing to stay back even after disclose the retention bonus plan. After many rounds of communication with my staff and management.  We make the management clear that no one willing to stay in the company without future and end up 4 of us get into the list.

Even after we settle the name list, the date is still uncertain. 1 of my staff in the list even prepare resignation letter to me.  I told her that I will hold for another week as I don’t her to lose the compensation package. In the end I’m right and managed to treat my team a buffet lunch couple of days prior to separation.

Last team photo before D-Day

Last team photo before D-Day

Messages to Team,

I’m really appreciated the support given during the AMS project. Your excellence support provided will always in my mind. Today is my last day in Company and it’s exactly 3 years after SX go live. I choose to leave AXXX as I do not wish to associated something without any future. I choose to move on. May be some day somewhere we shall meet again. Keep in touch.

By the time the last day come. I didn’t even know this before hand, when I noticed it when affected staff was called in 1 by 1.  My feelings mixed, I thought I was well prepared but in reality still have a little bit of shock and feel unreal.  Partly due to I have yet to land a jobs offer.  I don’t know how long I can motivated and sustain financially without jobs. I estimated to spend at least 2 months to get new jobs offer.

The first 2 rounds of  “Thank your for your service” I did not received any compensation from company except the short notice in lieu payment.  The employment was transferred to new party with year of service carry over.  This time around is the payback time for accumulated 9 years of service. I received my biggest pay check in my life.

My biggest pay check

My biggest pay check

This check will help and ride me through the downtime.

At the end of 3 weeks, I managed to received several offers and decided to select the current company which is stable and offer me new roles in managing Business Process.

In this 3 weeks, my Niang Zi was giving me full support and be very sensitive in asking my progress of job hunt. I greatly appreciated her support and compensate her handsomely.