Radio Caroline
You may have read in the papers about the restructuring going on at the Â鶹Éç. In fact, it's not just the Â鶹Éç. Most media organisations are going through a period of change as everyone tries to adapt to a world of on-demand digital services and greater choice.
As much as you can make a sound business case for all of this, it doesn't remove the human consequences or indeed the emotional impact. This week, for example, I've seen numerous e-mails and office posters about leaving parties and farewell drinks. Many close colleagues have opted to take voluntary redundancy and start new careers or new chapters in their lives. We sign cards, scribble glib references to past triumphs and glorious failures and drop money in big brown envelopes to fund goodbye gifts. It's a ritual that anyone who works in an office will be familiar with.
Tomorrow, for example, I'm saying goodbye to Caroline, a researcher in our Events team. There's bound to be tears - lots of them - but I'll just tell people that my hayfever has kicked in early this year. I'll join Caroline and the team at a special lunch, but I won't be there in the evening for the drinks. That's probably just as well. Alcohol can turn an emotional situation into one of melodrama or hysteria. Tongues get loosened and people get silly. Especially me.
Someone once told me that, when you leave the Â鶹Éç, they fill the hole before you've driven out of the car park. It's true. Everyone soldiers on...but that's the nature of employees and organisations. Friends are different. When friends leave there's a scar. Nothing is ever quite the same.
Good luck, Caroline. We think you're great and we're missing you already.
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