When an employer decides to lay off employees, they are often trying to reduce expenses. You are a number on a spreadsheet. It is cold and calculated.

As the leaders decide how to communicate with the employees who are being laid off, they can choose to treat you like a number or a person.

If you are a number, you can’t login to your email. You are left wondering what happened. You find the answers on social media and call work friends to figure out what the heck happened. Your manager, HR person, or senior executive are silent. Or you are sent an email saying you are laid off and how to return your computer.

If you are a person, your manager sits across from you in-person or on a video call sharing the decision. You know they care. You feel respected and you have time to process the bad news. You are allowed to collect your personal items. You have support to help you now and in the future. Your sadness is recognized. Your disbelief and fear are recognized. Your tears or anger are recognized.

HR is visible in the process and senior executives are sharing the bad news, the rationale for the layoffs, and they demonstrate empathy and compassion. They recognize those laid off and the employees who are not laid off. They know this is hard. They don’t sugarcoat the news, and you know they care. They show up this way on the day the layoffs are announced and for weeks and months after.

If you have been laid off and treated like a number or a disposable piece of equipment that is worn out or broken, know that you have skills and experience that other employers will value.

Take the time to grieve the loss that you’ve experienced. And then take a deep breath and take the next step on your journey. Update your resume and optimize your LinkedIn profile. Networking is the key to getting a job these days. Tell everyone what you are looking for.

You are enough. You matter. You are a person who deserves to be respected, appreciated, and considered.

There are employers who would love to have you on their team. Or start that business you have been thinking about.

Go share your “awesome” with the world. We need you.

#jobsearch #layoffs #humanresources #pay #compensation #leadership #rewards #empathy