I’ve watched company after company announce layoffs. I have read the posts from the employees impacted.
It can be devastating news if you liked your job, manager, coworkers, or employer. It can be happy news if you were ready to leave anyway.
And to those who don’t get laid off, it can be terrible news because you now must do the work of those who are leaving. Unless, of course, you have a manager and company leaders who understand you can’t do the same amount of work with less people.
What I missed the most after being laid off were the connections. The social interaction with my peers. I missed our laughter and sharing during staff meetings. I missed the conversations at each other’s cubicle or office where we developed solutions to complex problems. I missed the snacks we brought in for each other during the busy times of the year. The caring and concern for each other, our kids, pets, and parents is what I remember most.
Suddenly that was all gone.
If you are feeling the same, take the time to reach out to others who were laid off. And don’t forget to stay in touch with the people who remain employed at your former employer.
These connections are important to your well-being and to your job search. Some call this networking. I call this being a good friend.
You will have many employers during your lifetime. But the friends you make at the workplace are valuable connections that can become your community of support.
Layoffs are painful for everyone involved. Cry. Be angry. Be frustrated and overwhelmed. Feel all your feelings. They are big and small and uncomfortable pushes toward the new life you will build.
Prioritize what makes you feel good. What makes you smile? Sunshine on your walk in the morning. Sipping coffee or tea as you listen to the birds outside. A phone call to a friend that you haven’t talked to in years. A text sent with a meme that has you laughing.
Layoffs can be viewed as a blessing or a curse. You get to decide.
Your new job will come. It may pay you more or less than you were making before. Know that you will survive the upheaval of the layoff. Each moment is an opportunity to begin again.
Just breathe.
#jobsearch #wellbeing #connection #humanresources #layoffs #hr #compensation