My company just had another round of layoffs. A SIGNIFICANT amount of layoffs. My department was also affected, sadly. I'm not really sure how many were laid off in my department because we have people all over the U.S. that I don't know.

It is so sad that this happened 2 weeks before Christmas. I understand why, but it still makes me sad because I think of all the families that are affected by this.

I also felt really bad for our executive. I've said this before- I really like him and respect him for many reasons. One of which is that he's very sincere and REAL. This had to be very hard for him as well. I've had to let people go before and I cried. Not very professional, to be sure.

One of the people let go was a 50 something guy that sits in my row. He's always been a mystery to me because he mumbles to himself as he walks around. Oh, and he's the one that I mentioned some time ago that pulls his underwear up so high it looks like he's wearing a thong. A thong underneath pants pulled up to his arm pits.

He doesn't really talk to people either. His desk was a MESS of paper and old computer parts. I don't think there was a square inch of emptiness on top of or underneath his desk. I'm not really sure what he actually did during the day, and from what I understand- I wasn't alone. But that didn't seem to bother anyone. He was just kind of like a fixture in the department.

I suspect he has Asperger's.

He was at home recovering from a cold when he got the call that he was laid off, so came in yesterday to collect his stuff. Think about it. A pack rat with Asperger's cleaning out 12 years of stuff. It's not like moving to another department, because he had to sort out what was his and what belonged to the company. Page-by-page.

As per company policy, a manager had to stand there while he packed his stuff. Normally this is a less than 1/2 hour task- but this took pretty much the whole day. The manager was really kind and respectful- and PATIENT. The security guard, on the other hand- not so much. He kept asking, "are we about finished here?"

It just made me, and the other folks in my row, sad to hear him rambling about things that made no sense for the most part, while he sorted through 12 years of stuff.

Employee: You know- you should always have a spare 'x' just in case you run out
Manager: Yes sir, I totally agree
Employee: Hmmmm, I wonder if someone might be able to use this (this being some outdated piece of equipment)
Manager: That's a great idea, I'll check with people in the department.

He left several hours later, carting off MANY boxes of 'stuff'. I think my personal effects would be one box, if that. I have a new-found respect for the manager responsible for watching him pack his stuff. I don't know this guy very well, but now I know that he's a really good guy.