8 Hacks to Cope with Ongoing Mass Layoffs Within the Workplace
November 2023 has brought on a new wave of mass layoffs. You may not be able to control who is laid off and when, but you can control how you prepare for and cope with layoffs when they occur.
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Layoffs in November 2023 Alone:
Amazon - ‘several hundred’ (Source)
Advance Auto Parts - 400 employees (Source)
Chewy - 200+ employees (Source)
Citigroup - Still being determined, but could be up to ‘10% across a number of Citi’s major businesses’ (Source).
These are just the few I cared to research. There were other layoffs among media giants in Hollywood. There are likely others I did not see, or that are yet to come.
Of course, these November layoffs are not the first to occur. They are part of a long list of others that have occurred since 2022. Hundreds of thousands of people have been laid off in the US alone over the past year.
I have been blessed to not be one of those people, so I cannot fully empathize with the fear, anxiety, or depression that these individuals may have felt. However, I do understand the sorrow and fear that I felt when my fellow colleagues were swiftly shoved out the door. If the heaviness was great on me - a survivor - I shudder to think about the heaviness that those let go had to feel.
I cannot help you avoid a lay off. I don’t know that playbook. I have seen great individuals let go because they simply held the wrong title. I have seen less accomplished employees maintain their job because they held the right title.
What I can do is help you:
Prepare for a suspected layoff.
Interact meaningfully with those who have been laid off.
Take effective action if you are laid off.
If You Suspect Layoffs:
There are a number of reasons you may suspect layoffs within your company:
Other companies have started layoffs.
You pay attention to macro economic factors that suggest an economic downturn.
You notice a change in management’s mood around the office.
These are three reasons, but there are countless others. Regardless of how you gain your suspicions, there are steps you can take to prepare yourself.
Review the successes that you have experienced while in your current role. You have likely experienced success in your current role. Perhaps your team shipped a product that increased customer retention by 10%. Maybe you were the top sales rep of 30 reps within the company for three months straight. Maybe you implemented a new process that reduced warehouse injuries by 30%. Honestly, I am just making these numbers up. But the point is, you likely have provided quantifiable value during your tenure. Now is the time to revisit that success and record it. It is important to get this information organized before layoffs happen. Once layoffs start, if you are one of the chosen, then you will likely lose immediate access to files and data. This may prevent you from getting accurate measurements of how you performed.
Freshen up your resume. Reviewing and updating your resume is easier when your mind is clear and active, and you are not pressed for time. If you wait until after you are laid off, your judgement may be impaired. It may also be easier to settle for ‘good enough’ in terms of format and presentation of your resume as you rush to get it into the hands of potential employers. Being in the right head space and allocating the proper amount of time and attention will set you up for greater success.
Understand what’s available. I am not saying to apply to any jobs. You can if you choose. But it certainly doesn’t hurt to get an insight about what companies are hiring, what positions are available, what the pay could be, as well as the possible benefits. Understanding these pieces now may help you to prioritize your efforts if you find yourself without a job.
If You are Not Part of the Layoffs:
Take empathetic action: Your recent coworkers are going to struggle emotionally, and in many cases, financially, over the next few weeks to months. It can be difficult to know how you can help. But there are small gestures you can do that will go a long way.
Proactively send a recommendation. This could be as simple as logging into LinkedIn and leaving a “recommendation” about your colleague that will be helpful to potential future employers, or actually sending a recommendation to someone in your network. The latter may not be as common of an opportunity, but the former can be done without much effort.
Offer a Meal. If you have the means to do so, make or purchase dinner for your colleague. He or she is going to be too stressed and worried about the future to think about what to make the family for dinner just hours after being laid off. Often times the colleague will refuse the meal, but will appreciate your genuine effort to support them. In some cases, the person will accept the meal, and they will be extremely grateful. The output of the offer is not what is important (providing a meal), but rather the outcome (your colleague receiving meaningful support beyond ‘thoughts and prayers’).
Keep yourself in check: It will be easy to outburst angrily and point fingers. You are in a vulnerable state, and it happens. It is understandable. However, it is important to avoid serious contentions, finger-pointing, or gossiping while you are in a state of turmoil. You may say or do something regrettable. You could lose trust with your employer or coworkers. If you need to vent then talk to someone removed from the situation, write in a journal, or scream into a pillow. After you have had time to clear your head, then consider if you need to have direct conversations with management or coworkers about the situation. If you still feel so inclined, you will at least do so with a clear head and judgement.
Allow yourself to heal: You did not lose your job, but you were still affected. It is valid and justified to be upset, angry, scared, sad, or feel any number of other emotions. You need to allow yourself to feel those feelings, without judgement. If you don’t allow yourself to feel and process your emotions, you may carry that baggage with you for a long time, which may cause you unintended consequences down the road. Don’t let your future self suffer because your present self won’t indulge in proper self care.
If You Are Part of the Layoffs:
Allow yourself to heal: I know I gave this advice above, but it is even more applicable here. If you don’t allow yourself to heal, you may carry around the fear, anxiety, and impostor syndrome for far too long. You need to allow yourself some time to confront, consider, and complete your traumatic experience. Give yourself the proper self care it deserves.
Work smarter, not harder: I am going to rely on another’s insights for this section. Mark America Smith, someone I follow on LinkedIn, has put together some helpful tips for landing a job. Here is the original post as found on LinkedIn. Give him a follow for other great tips. (He also has his own Substack if you are interested).
Below are his 3-steps to increasing your success of landing a job:
Identify 5 positions for which you would like to interview. You can use Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Indeed, or any other job board. The source doesn’t matter.
Once you have identified the 5 positions, look through your closest connections on LinkedIn and send them individual messages (you can start with 5 individuals and then expand as needed). In the message, ask your connection if they would be willing to assist you. Provide the list of 5 positions, including the hiring company, and explain why you are interested in those positions. Provide reasons why you would fill those positions well. Then ask them if they have any meaningful connections within that company to whom they can introduce you.
Once you have received an introduction, do all within your power to not embarrass the person that introduced you. This doesn’t mean you have to accept the position, nor that if you fail to get the role you have have caused embarrassment. It just means that you do your part to act professionally, gratefully, and honorably throughout your interactions with the company.
Summary:
Layoffs happen. They are frightening, sad, and anxiety-inducing. Not always will outstanding job performance shield you from falling victim. Even though you may not be able to prevent yourself in all cases from being laid off, there are proactive and effective steps that you can take to prepare for layoffs before they happen, and cope with them after they occur.
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