Got a whatsapp message from group ex-it sometime in May 2013. A friend I knew during my IT life in this conglomerate returned to her Creator. She had a successful corporate life during time I knew her. IT Manager at PDB. We followed our way and eventually lost contact circa 2004/2005.
Alfatihah for Puan Nurul Noriah. Semoga puan lebih baik di sana.
We were having a dinner at a new outlet in Taman Melati area fronting MRR2 when somebody followed the waiter who came to us to show the bill. She was a familiar face I knew. She could have been another customer, but she was not.
"I own this outlet, a franchising business."
"Part of retirement plan, he he. I am not going to work until 60. Aren't you?" she added.
She was a successful senior manager in the corporate office, and I was pretty much surprise, or may be I am the one left behind in planning for the future, about her involvement in 'other' business, whereas we are not allowed to do moonlightings.
She sought for the feedbacks about the foods served, in the name of improvement, same way OPI people at corporate office do after the event.
"Bit salty, I mean my bakso."
Afiq and Syahirah said nothing but the way they looked at me I knew they wanted me to say 'sikit sangat'.
Lesson learnt:
START PLANNING EARLY FOR RETIREMENT. In my case, only one year left.
Title for my next short story? Ha ha but very catchy. Indeed it is.
Yes this creature is very friendly and cool. It has 9 lives too.
I like the cool part. Thats why many has gone under my Forte tyres. Kesian.
In my Miri house, there are >10 cats of various colors, mainly grey, as they are offspring of Michelle.
Adam and Ummi like them so much. We travelled to Kuala Belait in Brunei every month or so to buy cat foods. Way much cheaper than in Miri. Smarheart pack of 7 kg, cost RM62.90 in Miri, but only BND18 or about RM45 in selected shop in Brunei.
Lessons learnt:
Brunei is tiny place with good and beautiful people.
An operation engineer, female, less than 2 years in the organization was in relationship with a local technician. She was sweet and friendly that many could have fallen for her easy style and could have easily mistaken her charming approach as something serious - something called love, probably. But not what she thinks. False hopes, probably not that false, I dont know, was given. The technician was on cloud nine, until time came for the engineer to make decision. Change of heart. She realized she needed somebody equivalent, an engineer too, as a life partner. She found the operation engineer she thought could make her life meaningful, unfortunately working on the same platform with the technician but different shift. The poor technician could not take it and demanded promise to be fulfilled.
In one incident at Miri Airport, upon her arrival from KL, he grabbed her into his car, but somehow let go when others watched. The case was reported. The company conducted internal investigation. HR stepped in. The solutions were to immediately transfer her to another sister company in Semenanjung. Her new beau was tranfered to another platform.
Lessons learnt:
1. Never underestimate the power of love.
2. Old ways of transfering problematic people to faraway location may not work these days when email and whatsapp know no border.
Attrition rate in this organization is not alarming, less than 1℅ for the first quarter 2013. But when technical engineer left, one with critical skill and well-trained, HR people felt bad. The cost of recruitment is not worth it.
During one of exit meeting, one of the reason quoted was the manager did not deliver the promises, not helping at all when approached. Yes middle managers are overloaded in this company, I am one of them. Organizing Staff Appreciation Dinner, developing offshore technicians KPI, leading HR team in due dilligence for brownfield takeover are some tasks I am expected to complete in May 2013. So when the resigning staff said his manager is one of the reason he decided to resign, I am not surprised at all. I have 7 staff under me, all running on auto mode. Except junior staff who need handholding a bit longer.
