Well kids, I along with a few hundred of my co-workers have been “made redundant” as the Brits say. I guess, according to the oh-so-personal way of notifying me – via email – that my services are non-essential. So I will join the rest of you in the unemployment line and filing a wage claim etc.
I will miss Heller Ehrman but I won’t miss the mind games, the sloppiness of its communications or lack thereof in its final days. I will miss my closest co-workers as well as the ones I’ve been able to meet – virtually – as part of this project.
What will I do now? I am not sure yet but your old Cruise Director is feeling a life change coming on. And part of being connnected with oneself is knowing when those changes come and capitalizing on them. Some have told me that I am a Polly Anna looking a the glass half-full but I don’t have a choice. I can be bitter or I can be better. I choose better.
What I won’t stop doing is managing this blog. There are still crew members on the S.S. Heller Ehrman and my fear is that their fate may be worse than mine or that of others. They may come in one day and get an email like we did and then have to leave, without a final paycheck or accrued vacation.
Heller Highwater will still be here for all of you – ex-Hellerites and Hellerites. And for our other readers and we know who you are: those at other law firms in a similar position as Heller Ehrman LLP and those who just want to follow the saga of the S.S. Heller Ehrman.
No recap today – just too much actually. But I will probably be posting over the weekend if I get info.
For tonight’s entertainment I’m presenting something I’ve been saving. Let me warn you this is not an easy one. And I’ll also say that I am not an overly-spiritual person but I am very grounded and centered in my sprituality. There are times when you just have to let go and let God, Goddess, Buddha, Mohammed, Flying Spaghetti Monster, Ceiling Cat or whatever your preference is. Please take a look at this film about Hopratio Spafford who lost his son, his business and most of his family yet after all that could see the glass as half full.
On the Lido Deck, with subdued lighting and lots of cocktails with umbrellas is The Innocence Mission with It Is Well With My Soul.
Best of luck to you Drone.
Although I was one of the many laid-off staff within the past year, I’ve been reading this blog, monitoring the news, and most importantly keeping in contact with my former Heller colleagues. It’s easy to advise “keep your chin up and move on” but I know there is a grieving process to go through. So, let that phase happen, then look ahead to new life adventures. If you’ve saved your money, take a long sabbatical or retire. If you’ve spent your money, take a short breather, collect unemployment, and make your new full-time job looking for a job. You are not alone, and there and many resources out there. Many of us ex-Hellerians have found even better, higher-paying positions. Don’t be ashamed of having Heller on your resume. Everyone in the legal community knows the scoop. Heller staff are known as quality workers. (Management, not so much.) Also important: be active, not passive. Don’t wait for recruiters to call or for someone to seek you out to offer you a job. Break out of your bubble. I’ve already helped 3 staffers secure new jobs because they networked with me. And I still know of more opportunities … when are you going to touch base?
Wow….
They actually expect me to come in next week, and I am actually going to do it.
At least you can get unemployment. Without a termination date, I can’t even get that.
To say nothing of my 90 hrs accrued vacation time.
Heller Drone – God bless you and speed you on your way to a better place. (No, I don’t mean the one with the fluffy wings and a harp.) You have been a lifeline here and we are all grateful!
Thanks also for not abandoning this blog. This place is the best! As I’ve said, it’s been – and will continue to be – a lifeline.
Ditto Heller And Back! I too was one laid off in the past year. I have many friends who still remain. For me Heller was home amongst family and I would have retired there. I’m here to tell you that HAB is correct, once you go through the grieving process you will land on your feet. Having Heller on your resume is still a positive as you will see. Personally It’s been painful for me to watch as I was part of Heller long before the Phyllis Gardner and VLG debacle.
Drone,
You should be proud of the service you provided to many here. Such a blessing people could find a preserver in this sea of crap. I’m not an employee, but my husband is and as such as been invited to “stay” but he’s no fool. :)
If you are feeling a life change, how about a colonic? It’s crazy, but once I got out of all the “shit attached to shit” it changed my life – I left legal 3 years ago and haven’t regretted it since!
Come on down, I’ll give you a freebie. :)
Drone, You rock. You seem to have a great attitude about the whole shitty situation and are looking forward rather than back. You are even helping other Hellerers–I’m impressed. Hope to read more once I figure out Google’s free wifi in Mountain View.
HD – you had to go and make me cry with “It Is Well With My Soul.” I wish you the best of luck and I truly believe things happen for the best. Yes you will be sad. Yes you will be angry. But this too shall pass. At some point, when you are ready, start thinking about what you would really like to do with your life from now on. The possibilities are indeed endless. Ok enough with the deep stuff. Thank you for all you have done for us Hellerites and Ex-Hellerites. And thanks for the nightly entertainment! I particularly loved Cindy und Bert and also Plastic Bertrand.
Man, I’m glad I was proactive and got out of there at the end of last year. That sounds like a really ugly situation. Speaking from experience, change can be a little scary at first, but it can also be really challenging and rewarding. A lot of it depends on your perspective and what you make of it. Good luck to you Mr. Drone and to all the newly liberated ex-Hellerites out there.
I resigned today, effective today, just checked my Heller email (still works) and FINALLY received an email from the dissolution committee that I will be employed after Oct. 10 (8 hours too late). The lack of communication or miscommunication really pissed me off. I had already secured employment and thought I was being a loyal employee by staying on for an extra week and cleaning up. I had already started packing up all the files to send to storage because I didn’t want anyone else to be stuck with it. In 9 days, I had already cranked out 95% of the work, which typically takes a whole month to complete. When I didn’t get the “email” to stay on early this morning, I immediately advised my new firm that I can start on Tuesday. I don’t necessary blame my supervisor for the misunderstanding but when I advised her that today was my last day, she actually got “annoyed” with me. I am not the type to leave work unfinished but now my co-workers in SF are burdened with an extra load all because of the poorly written emails. “They” really screwed things up.
I worked my ass off today to complete the rest of the work and didn’t get a chance to say all my good-byes and I am deeply saddened by that. To all those in NY that I didn’t get to say “good-bye,” “good-luck” and give a hug to, I will miss you!
HD,
Please stop “speaking for everyone.” I am part of the everyone that wishes you would shut the hell up and let the due process take effect. We obviously have enough A/R to cover our work, so stop trying to screw all of us.
I haven’t seen much evidence of “due process” so far – just illegal acts by an immoral committee.
“I can be bitter or I can be better. I choose better.”
Well said, HD
Cruise Director
Please do continue “speaking for everyone.” The person who is “part of everyone that wishes you would shut the hell up and let due process take effect,” is either a member of the misinformation contingent or has nothing better to do other than wish you would go away so he/she doesn’t have to be involved in the long process of achieving the proper and legal outcome for us. The reality is that “due process” is achieved only when action is taken; action is taken through dissemination of information, not by sitting back and waiting for information to come to you (which is what the Dissolution Committee hopes for — hear no evil, see no evil = less output of funds to the minions. I have lost my 2008 raise, my arbitrary holiday bonus and my accrued vacation. That might be ok for HD sucks, but HD sucks does not speak for the majority.
I bagged a gig with a local firm for much more money along with a lower billable requirement less than three weeks after leaving Heller. In fact, I was tendered an offer the next day after an interview. One partner I interviewed with asked me whether I was loyal or a fool for staying with Heller until the (almost) bitter end to which I replied “both”. He laughed and the rest of the interview was a breeze.
The key here is that having Heller on a resume looks good, unless you’re in management.
Staff: keep your head up and don’t lose faith-you’ll be okay.
Management/Shareholders: enjoy your conversations with Hilter and Stalin in due time as your reservations in hell have been confirmed.
Nickname: HD Sucks (10 October 2008 at 11:44 pm)
You’re an ass.
Well, my redundancy (yes i’m a Brit) came about two weeks after the mortgage was accepted!
Now that’s timing :(
Heller Staff Deserves Better–give me a break, comparing shareholders to Hitler and Stalin?? What about the shareholders at the Madison office who wouldn’t take an offer unless their staff had an offer too (I read this on Above the Law; not sure if it’s true but that’s what was said)? No,I’m not a shareholder or an attorney, but someone who knows life isn’t all black and white–
Heller Staff Deserves Better: comparing shareholders of a law firm to Hitler and Stalin?? That is totally misguided. You do not deserve better.
Dear Southern Rings aka Clare:
You left this same comment twice. We get it. You also left the same comment over at Above The Law. We get it.
Perhaps you can come up with something original next time.
HD Rocks, Give him/her a break. He/She is doing everyone a favor of getting the info out. Yes, as long as you have Heller on your resume. You will not have a problem to land on feet. Good luck to all you.
Clare and southern rings is not the same person. Southern rings just copied my first sentence for some reason. I may be bored enough to post comments–but not bored enough to post twice under different names.
Dearest HD,
I am not, nor have I ever been Heller. However, my best friend “the wood worker” was, until 10/10. He is devastated.
Both he and I have benefited from the info and wisdom in this blog. Thanks are not enough.
Words are not enough to express our appreciation.
I support him and all of you to take the good with you and “take the high road” in future endeavours.