NORFOLK
Six employees of the Chrysler Museum of Art were let go on Tuesday, including the directors of communications and special events.
It was about saving money, said Bill Hennessey, director of the museum.
Tuesday was the final day of the Chrysler’s fiscal year. “As part of our start of the new year, we are facing what all kinds of institutions are facing, and that was the difficulty of getting a balanced budget,” he said.
The six lost positions were the equivalent of five full-time jobs, he said. “This is about finances and strategy, not individuals. The way we look at it, it’s positions we’ve eliminated, and there were some unfortunate, unlucky folks who were in those positions.”
Those staff members included Teresa Sowers, director of communications; Kay Barbini, director of special events; Erin Lopater, visual resources manager; and Phoenix Ackiss, exhibitions lighting technician.
Dee Todd, a part-time kitchen manager, and Gail Winn, a part-time development officer, also lost their jobs.
“It’s not really a layoff. That implies the position is still there. Call it strategic realignment, which is what it is,” Hennessey said.
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I think the language used was only meant
to show that the employees did nothing wrong. Only that the budget did not allow for those positions.
Yeah, I agree with you,
Yeah, I agree with you, baobabs. It comes off as a little bit cold. "We're not eliminating anyone, we're just eliminating their jobs. See? It's OK" His attempt at nuancing it made it worse.
How Rude Teresa Annas
Very tacky to include the names of the fallen.
No, technically, Mr. Hennessy,
it's called "a firing." Am I the only one who finds Mr. Hennessy's demeanor/language to be a bit technical, legalistic, cold, detached and otherwise matter-of-fact? Geesh. These folks just lost their jobs and he's making a point of correcting the record about these not being "lay-offs!" I.E., while he wants you to know very well that they've been canned, he also wants you to call it "structural re-alignment!!" This is rich, folks! You can't make this stuff up! And I thought these arty types were usually empathetic and communal (read: warm). Ooops, I guess Mr. Hennessy didn't get that memo!