topic Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced in Community Chat

Random Musing: Being Replaced

tarsmom — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:22:53 GMT

My DH brought this up: A coworker years ago said "take your spoon and stir your coffee - watch the swirling......when it stops, that's how long it takes for "them" to replace/forget about you."

I'm sure he was talking about the workplace - however, I know it's business but there's talk about who's going to replace Alex Trebek.

I guess the lesson is - we're ALL replaceable!

DH / I talk about this now and then because we gave our lives to our FT jobs and now that we're not there any longer..........I guess we've been replaced!

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

Spurt — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:31:00 GMT

We were told by a very smart Assistant Manager that if you think you can't be replaced think again--- She said look recently at an employee who unfortunately was killed in an auto accident (considered irreplaceable or so they said at the funeral)....the company sent flowers to the family and moved on without missing a beat.....NO ONE IS IRREPLACEABLE!!!

As far as Alex's replacement I wonder if they would look at Ken Jennings ---- he is Jeopardy's "Consulting Producer" and also nvolved in the show from the Game Show Network called Masterminds which is a similar knowledge based show....

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

tarsmom — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:32:44 GMT

Spurt - I hope it is Ken Jennings instead of a celebrity person.

Thanks for your post, too!

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

Reconnaissant — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:45:33 GMT

@tarsmom

In your heart and soul you are unique and irreplaceable.

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

Maggie Nolia — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:46:20 GMT

Life goes on.

Just because you're replaced doesn't necessarily mean no one remembers you.

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

Anonymous032819 — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:47:44 GMT

I don't know what people expect businesses to do when a person leaves their position.

Create a shrine to them?

Leave the position vacant forever?

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:57:54 GMT

@tarsmom That isn't always true. My daughter changed jobs over a 3 year time period. The last one burnt her out so she quit and came to spend 5 months helping me (broken back).

Move forward to 6 months total. She has been studying to do something pertaining to the job(s) she quit.

Her old boss from her first job I mentioned had someone from the first office call her to ask if she'd be interested in coming back (it had been a few years mind you since she'd worked there).

She told the person (she knew her) that she might consider coming back for a short time.

Two days later her old boss called her directly. He's the CEO of the company. He said he needed her....the company needed her.

It seems that everyone struggled to try to take her place. (She'd set the entire program up).

Long story...short. She went into her old office today to pick up their computer and to try to get back into the program(s) she'd written several years ago.

Similar happened to my late husband. He and a partner owned a computer company. He was a systems analyst.

He (and his workers) set up the systems for FAA in Oklahoma something regarding the planes. I never understood it.

Anyway, I don't know if any of you remember how everyone was so nervous about what the computers were going to do (or not do) when we went from 1999 to 2000.

They wanted my husband to just be available in case the FAA computers crashed.

My late husband said..."That would be no". He said it would be very difficult for him (and his brain) to get back in to 'try to fix' whatever went wrong.

He was offered a good sum of money to just stand by. He finally said 'if something happened he would do his best to figure out the problem but because he didn't know if it was possible, he would not accept any money for it.

As we all know nothing happened with most computers when we went from 1999 to 2000.

My husband sighed a relief. He told me that he was pretty sure nothing would happen and if it did, he didn't know if he could get back into his head to figure out the program(s) he'd written.

I do understand what the OP is saying though. That's exactly what I kept telling the daughter I mentioned above.

She would call me from her home in Colorado. She'd be so upset because she didn't feel like she was doing a good enough job.

I told her she could quit and come back to Virginia for a few months. This was the last job she was in.

She had to be reminded that much of the time we all think we aren't replaceable, but we are.

She found that out at the last job. She told me they'd hired someone to fill her spot. She was the manager of 16 people.

From what she heard all was going well. So, on one hand most of the time we are replaceable but every now and then we aren't replaceable.

I started working for the government as a GS-2. No one starts working in the government as a GS-2 these days.

When I quit I was a GS-6 way down the line. I never looked back because ..... especially in the government everyone is replaceable.

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

tarsmom — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:59:49 GMT

@Maggie Nolia wrote:
Life goes on.

Just because you're replaced doesn't necessarily mean no one remembers you.

@Maggie Nolia

You're very sweet - thank you! I hope so - I did my best to make a difference to a lot of young people!

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:04:23 GMT

Your post made me think of how I never viewed my job as anything but a job. I was only a placeholder until I retired, then it was someone else's responsibility.

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

Porcelain — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:06:06 GMT

When there is a job to do, often lots of people can do it. We each bring our own quirks and flavor to how we do what we do. And some of us are better at some aspects of a job than others. But with work, the main focus is the end product.

At the same time there is no such thing as replacing anyone. Can't be done. You can bring in another person, but they are just taking over the job. They aren't replacing the previous person because that person's unique combo of characteristics (positive and negative) can never be replicated or replaced.

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

Meowingkitty — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:52:02 GMT

@deepwaterdotter wrote:
Your post made me think of how I never viewed my job as anything but a job. I was only a placeholder until I retired, then it was someone else's responsibility.

Someone once told me "never let in that you can do more because it will be the last time you do so little". To me a job was a job and I came in, did my job and went home. When I left they always seemed to manage.

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

PA Mom-mom — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:53:44 GMT

@tarsmom and @deepwaterdotter . Check out what @Porcelain posted. Good stuff. I was an educator for nearly 20 years, and then I went into the business world. I was well aware of the "everyone is replaceable" motto. But, as an office administrator, I saw some employees who were such assets to the company, their departure hurt the bottom line. One of the main goals of admin was retention. The most valuable employees were those who helped the company to grow and improve. It's hard to replace them.

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 22:04:05 GMT

My first long term (8 yrs.) job outside the home was a resturant. The owner/chef was very tempermental.

My 8th year in January he was just unbearable, worse than ever. Everyone was ready to bail. I talked to his wife, who said she didn't know what his problem was. I said, "well, he's going to lose good people." Her reply was, "well, he will just hire more."

It went like this, me, "so all the holidays, kids birthdays, anniversaries we gave up to work doesn't count?" Her, "not really."

I gave my notice the next shift and she actually asked, "why?"

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

Snowpuppy — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 22:21:45 GMT

The job may stay vacant forever but the work gets transfered to another employee. Ask how I know? 😭

I've never been that dedicated to any employer. I take my job seriously and oroduce results that I trade for a check.

When I need to go, I go. Never a tear shed.

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

tarsmom — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 23:17:39 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
My first long term (8 yrs.) job outside the home was a resturant. The owner/chef was very tempermental.

My 8th year in January he was just unbearable, worse than ever. Everyone was ready to bail. I talked to his wife, who said she didn't know what his problem was. I said, "well, he's going to lose good people." Her reply was, "well, he will just hire more."

It went like this, me, "so all the holidays, kids birthdays, anniversaries we gave up to work doesn't count?" Her, "not really."

I gave my notice the next shift and she actually asked, "why?"

@CrazyKittyLvr2 that really stinks. I was lucky to work for a place that did value us. I, in turn, valued my employees. When they had to come in on their day off, I would surprise them and give them a different day off. Treat people how you want to be treated. I don't know why employers don't realize you get back what you give.

Re: Random Musing: Being Replaced

tarsmom — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 23:24:32 GMT

In banking, it was more 'family oriented". We bought the employees gift cards, candy a cake, etc. for their birthdays and work anniversaries. We had "employee appreciation week" every October, and we surprised them each day with a treat - a gift bag with a candle, lip balm, coffee gift card, snacks, etc.

Our staff meetings included recognizing achievements of the employees, many times by their peers.

It definitely was a primary focus on 'feel-good' for the employees. Very personal.

I worked 12 years with one person who was my assistant. I had a lot of loyal staff. Not so much after the year 2006 - a new generation came in and they didn't care like we did.

We took pride in our jobs and our customers loved us. Later on, unfortunately, not so much.

Glad I"m old now. If I could work 3-4 hours a day, I would. But you can never really go back and hey, I like my free time