No Man is an Island – unless you get marooned on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere and left with one bullet, one gun and one bottle of rum. 

Traditional marooning is the intentional act of abandoning someone in an uninhabited area, such as a deserted island. The word first appeared in writing in 1709 and is derived from the term maroon, a word for a fugitive slave.

The practice was a penalty for a crewmen, or for the captain at the hands of a crew in cases of mutiny. Generally, a marooned man was set on a deserted island, often no more than a sand bar at low tide. He would be given some food, a container of water, and a loaded pistol so he could commit suicide if he desired. The outcome of marooning was usually fatal, but a few people survived if a ship happened to be passing that way and noticed their signal.

The chief practitioners were pirates of the 17th and 18th centuries, to such a degree that they were frequently referred to as “marooners”. The pirate’s articles of agreements, also known as the Pirate Code, specified marooning as a punishment for cheating one’s fellow pirates or other offenses. In this context, to be marooned is euphemistically to be promoted and “made governor of an island”.

The Articles of Agreement or the Pirates Code

The Pirate Code strived for fairness and equality. People of color were offered opportunity to join the crew and several famous women commanded their own ships. And even without televised debates then, the selection of the captain was quite a democratic process. If the chosen captain performed well and there was booty to share, he kept his job. If he wasn’t so successful, well then they all hung together when captured. On the occasion where they just weren’t finding any ships or bounty to plunder, then the captain would need to start looking for a new position.

Here are two of the Pirate articles that reference marooning as the prescribed punishment:

II. Every man to be called fairly in turn, by list, on board of prizes because, (over and above their proper share) they were on these occasions allowed a shift of clothes: but if they defrauded the company to the value of a dollar in plate, jewels, or money, marooning was their punishment. If the robbery was only betwixt one another, they contented themselves with slitting the ears and nose of him that was guilty, and set him on shore, not in an uninhabited place, but somewhere, where he was sure to encounter hardships.

VII. To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, was punished with death or marooning.

The Modern Form of Marooning

In the 21st century we can now break time into B.C. – before COVID and eventually we hope to have an A.C., but for now we will call it the new normal.

In the pre-COVID-19 (or B.C. period) corporate marooning, a company employee or crew member is thrown out of the office with only a cell phone and laptop and left to sit at home waiting for further instructions. Their crimes are not usually fully explained, but are often the result of corporate restructurings, realignments or downsizing. It was considered more humane to cull them from the regular work force before their termination. In this context, to be marooned is euphemistically to be promoted to “a position in charge of special projects” or as a “senior advisor”.

These unfortunates were still paid a salary, but suffered a total loss of job identity, authority and career-based self-worth.  Though still part of the company, their calls were not returned and their emails unanswered by their previous colleagues.  As one marooned victim lamented “it is as if I never worked there, as if I don’t exist…”.   In an attempt to give the illusion of a future return to status there could be some discussion of future positions or possible job rotations, and an occasional job interview.

During our current COVID-19 environment, or the new normal, employees are already exiled to their homes, so the procedure is a lot simpler. With a cell phone and a laptop all it takes is a simple mandatory ZOOM call and a follow-up e-mail to complete the termination process.

Today it seems it can happen to anyone, even someone who was working at the happiest place on earth or flying the friendly skies. Without even a single bottle of rum for consolation.

With the economic uncertainty, no one seems to be truly safe, so if you are still employed, keep an eye out for any passing ships.

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