Page 24 - voices-2023-02

THOUGHTS FROM THE SIDELINE

Tough Times

Eldred Brown, DTM, IPDD

The last six months have been a difficult As I shared in a speech I gave to my Intel

time for my employer as we attempt to get Toastmasters club a couple of days after the
back on track after losing our way 6-7 years grim announcement, I have to examine my
ago. First, there was the announcement last personal budget and determine where I can
November that we needed to look for every cut expenses. Will I need to uproot myself and

way we could to reduce our costs. We wanted move to a cheaper apartment? Will I need to
to keep as many employees as we could, but trade my car in for something cheaper, or even
we also acknowledged that we would have for TriMet passes? Will I have to withdraw
to let some people go. Yup. Layoffs. Even a from a Toastmasters club or two? Should I

leader in our Intel-based Toastmasters club anticipate more layoffs? How long will this
was cut loose to look for opportunities with
other employers. At least he’s still maintaining
his active membership in our club, which we

greatly appreciate. It's painful and stressful to
no longer have a job, though.
Thankfully, Intel has finished this round
of layoffs and promises that they have no

current plans to cut its workforce. However,
the company has announced other cost-cutting
measures that we’re all going to have to suffer
together. We’re losing all our bonuses for this

year, and our executives and managers have all
been asked to take cuts to their base salaries.
That will require all of us to adjust our lifestyles
to reduced income. I don’t think anybody’s

happy about that. I suppose it’s better, though,
to take a pay cut if that’s what it takes to keep
my job.

24 ONE COMMUNITY