Tell your story#30 The big bad wolf is going down?

Where do I begin?

Context

I work in fintech company that has good job security and reasonable pay. I was relatively happy despite all the challenges like lack of professional growth and little to no benefits. In 2021, there were a number of acquisitions at group level and all of a sudden we were a part of a larger group of companies. There were some advantages to being in a group like having a vast network of people that you can learn from across the group and endless growth potential in your career. On the downside, other companies in the region were bought by the same group. There were 3 other companies that were purchased in my country and we were forced to merge. This was where everything went from ok-ish to VERY not ok-ish. My colleagues and I used to live in harmony, overworked and underpaid but there was no one who bothered us in how we did our jobs. We didn't know that those peaceful days were numbered. Our lives were about to be heavily disturbed and I wish at that time we had had some kind of warning.

New Management

It began by both companies coming to survey our office premises. We had a relatively large office and could easily fit the entire team in it. It was quickly decided that we would have to re-arrange our office for our new colleagues so we could operate as one company. The merge was brutal. The costs of the name change, the rebrand and internal power struggle kept most of us up at night. Eventually everything settled down and we went back to business as usual. We had a wonderful Director called Michelle. Although she was a shrewd business woman, she was kind and blunt. If she didn't like how you did something she would tell you right away and provide corrective measures so you can learn how to do it the right way. Her number 2 was a mean, heartless man called George.

The environment was devoid of hostility but there were those rare occasions when George would pick a fight with someone over something they supposedly did. He wouldn't let the issue go unless the person received some kind of disciplinary action. People began to walk on eggshells. By 2023, George had fired 4 of the company's upper and middle management staff. I don't know why but it felt like he was trying to prove a point. No one was immune to his sadistic ways. George loved to see people squirm under his scrutiny and those that were not his yes-men, he would break their will until they were. Then Michelle was poached by one of the big banks and we were left with George; it has been hell ever since.

Photo by Antoni Shkraba: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-in-a-psychotherapy-session-7579174/

Cut To the Present Day

Yesterday I found out that George has a terminal disease and the doctors have given him 3 months to live. I have mixed feelings. This man made my life hell, he transferred me to a remote area, removed the few benefits I had without telling me why. Every one I speak about this prognosis with is happy. They are unashamedly happy that he won't be here anymore. How bad are you when people around you lack sympathy for your situation because of how you tormented them? Even the most empathetic person in the office is ready to dance on George's grave. Whatever happens to him, it seems that it will soon be his day of reckoning, may he have the strength that we have need to have over the past 4 years since he came to our life. I have a heavy heart that there is little sympathy from me, I just feel bad for his children. The big bad wolf seems to be going down and I feel terrible that I am numb. I hope the hurt he caused was all worth it for him.