“Today is your last day. Here is your paycheck. Blah Blah Blah.. Cobra Insurance.”
That’s all I recall hearing. Everything after that was a blur. My manager walked me to my office and stood at my side like a soldier with a solemn look on his face, watching as I collected my personal things. I can recall the shame and embarrassment I felt as my fellow colleagues whispered and watched closely. Some gave me hugs, some cried, and others looked away as I was escorted out of the building.
I had been working for this particular company for over 2 years. During that time, I had been mentored carefully by my manager, received a promotion, and grown close to several colleagues on the team. We would go to happy hour together and text on the weekends about our activities.
Around a few months prior, things slowly began to change; Managers spent long hours in closed-door meetings. Staff meetings became filled with ambiguity as the annual employee events and gatherings we looked forward to were no longer existent without explanation. Eventually, rumors regarding mass terminations began to swirl.
Within time, the first round of layoffs happened. We all watched our colleagues get escorted out of the building as their access to the system and building was revoked. With gut-wrenching dread, we waited because we knew that, within time, we could be next to be called into the conference room to receive bad news.
Layoffs and terminations can be just as painful as the death of a loved one. The feelings of abandonment, uncertainty, frustration, and wrestling with what the new normal will look like while trying to determine the next steps can strike us hard.
If you find yourself in this situation, here are a few tips to help you cope:
1. It is ok to grieve – It is perfectly fine to feel sadness, anger, guilt, and shock over this. Accept these feelings and give yourself time and grace to deal with them. Journaling and therapy can be helpful.
2. What is this experience depositing in you? Every experience, whether it is good or bad, deposits something in us. An essential step in healing is identifying the deposits. For example, being laid off taught me how to cope with uncertainty and to trust in God for direction regarding my next steps.
3. Use the time while you wait for the next opportunity wisely- Ask yourself what you will do with the time in between jobs. Perhaps you can take a class, learn a skill, visit some museums, or start a business.
4. Find community– It is best to be around people who understand what you are going through and can help you cope. Find meetups, church and/or community groups filled with people who are experiencing similar situations so you will know you are not alone
5. Seek Help– If you begin to feel as if you can’t control your emotions or they are leading you to dark places and thoughts, please seek help. Visit our website for resources.
6. Get that side hustle moving– Regardless of what your employment status is, any time is a great time to start looking at ways to supplement your income and prepare for the unexpected. With time, the side hustle can hopefully become your main thing.
Our hearts go out to all of those impacted by mass layoffs and federal contract changes. We stand with you.