People Who "Get It"

You know who I'm talking about, right? Certain people just have a great head on their shoulders and they just "get it". They have a solid understanding of life and their place in this world. They are plenty ambitious and kind and generous and forgiving. You know....THOSE people.

I made a decision to start looking for another job quite a while back. Had I continued with that company and their current health benefit structure, I would have been forced into debt for my health insurance needs in less than 6 months. In fact, I told my boss, straight up, that if I were to receive a job offer for the exact pay I was receiving THEN, and they had a better health package, I would run with it. It wasn't that I didn't like my job. I LOVED IT. The people were absolutely awesome and, from a technological standpoint, a lot of fun. Banks have lots of money and cool toys to play with for IT geeks. The fact that I had recruiters banging down my door didn't make things easier. So I went on a few interviews. Once I saw the pay they were offering and their benefits packages....well, the writing was on the proverbial wall.

In my exit interview I completely roasted the HR department for their horrible benefits. No, seriously. I have friends who are independent contractors who have better health insurance than what I had. The benefits others companies offered was completely shocking. So I left. And so did others. IN DROVES. The IT department is currently hemorrhaging employees. My bet is no less than a 25% turnover rate in the last 12 months.

That was five months ago.

I still keep in touch with my many friends. When I said they were great people, I meant it. We talk often and go to lunch. I am concerned about these people and their families. The company had gotten SO much heat about their insurance from employees, that they decided to do a few things to improve morale - like putting an Xbox in the lunch room.

Really???

Take the $400 you spent on the Xbox and put it into my pay check, and you'll see my morale improve. Duh.

Last week they held an "All Hands" meeting for all employees. When someone brought up health care benefits, the "executive" on the call basically said, "Tough luck. This is what we have and it ain't getting any better."

Really???

You thought you were hemorrhaging employees before? You're about to see a biblical mass exodus. I'm talking Moses-leading-the-children-of-Israel type of exodus.

THEY JUST. DON'T. GET IT.

Certain folks just seem to be in tune with what happens around them. They're aware of others' needs and see the bigger picture. They can sense happiness and sadness and are good listeners. They can sense danger and evil and know how to avoid it. They get it.

I have a certain skill. Lisa might call it that "guy" feeling. I believe I may have spoken about it before on this blog. When her sister was dating guys, I could generally tell, right off the bat, whether this guy was marriage material or not. Certain guys would evoke a good feeling. Others, not so much. But some would evoke an immediate emotion akin to the "fight or flight" response. Something like a "DANG-stay-away-from-that-guy" feeling. For the most part I'd come away from those meetings saying to myself, "man, that dude's a $@#%&*!"

Anyhoo....what is it that makes certain people clueless and others more sensitive? I have my own opinions, but would love to hear your thoughts first.