Can we talk about how weird it is to be laid off from a job you enjoy? I’m not going into details because I signed an NDA that prevents me from doing that, and I respect it. I can talk in generalities, and after talking to others who were also part of other company-wide layoffs, we all have some things in common. Let’s explore.
For people like me who know in advance that layoffs are coming, it’s so difficult to stay focused on the work. Deadlines still must be met, and projects that you may not see to the end keep moving forward. What are you supposed to do while waiting to see if you get to stay or go? Put a smile on your face and keep showing up while simultaneously taking the pulse of the job market on LinkedIn and Indeed, refreshing the page like it’s going to personally apologize and offer you something better. Make lots of notes that someone else could use—just in case you’re gone.
I think you have a sense that it’s coming, too. I know I did. In-person employees are often called to their superior’s office. But I worked remotely. My meeting of doom was scheduled via Teams invite. I knew exactly what it meant when it popped up on my calendar, yet I still had to finish that day AND work the next morning until then. Did I actually do anything in those final hours, honestly– no. How could I? I used the remaining time to ensure my work affairs were in order before logging in to the call.
The meeting itself was weird, I’m telling you. People who were normally cordial and conversational suddenly became formal and reserved. Friendliness turned to strictly business. I think I said a sentence throughout the meeting, which lasted about three minutes. I’ve had longer conversations about what to order for lunch.
When the call ended, I sat there, staring at my computer monitor, trying to absorb what had just happened. I wondered if I should send a Slack message to our team, wishing them well and thanking them for being great coworkers. As it turned out, I didn’t have time to do anything because my screen went black. I was removed from all accounts in less than a minute. Just like that– years of work and the people I shared my remote work days with were virtually gone.
That’s when the texts started. The I’m sorry messages. The well wishes. The others who shared stories about their own send-off meetings. The whole thing was weird. There isn’t a better word– just weird.
Everyone talks about numbers, but that doesn’t make it less weird. Even though I knew it wasn’t about my work ethic or performance, my mind still went there in the days that followed. Why me instead of someone else? Truth be told, why not me? Company-wide layoffs aren’t about people. They’re numbers games. Realizing I was just a number was a bitter pill to swallow. I hadn’t felt like a number.
I’m grateful for that opportunity, though. Working remotely was exactly what I needed at that time in my life. I still believe the company is doing great things, and I’m proud of the work I did there and what my former coworkers continue to do. I value the people who worked alongside me from all across the country in our virtual roles. I keep in touch with many of them.
I don’t know how to make layoffs any easier for people on the receiving end. Think about it —you’re forced to leave a job you enjoy and do well at a time that wasn’t part of your career goals. The whole experience can leave you feeling like a failure if you let your mind wallow in it. It’s a confidence buster, for sure.
Now that I’m safely on the other side of a company-wide layoff with a fulfilling new job, that little worry in the back of my mind about another possible layoff is fading, but it still lingers. I never worried about layoffs before this experience. I learned a lot about life, myself, and resilience that I could only get from going through it.
One big takeaway from the layoff experience is clear. We’re all replaceable at work. Even when we think we’re not. Even when we don’t want to be. Even when we’re doing everything that’s expected and more.
So, how should workers proceed, especially those at greater risk of layoffs? Learn your job, and try to bring your A-game every day. Make a difference. Cultivate work friendships. Ask questions. Learn and grow in your field. But understand that it’s your job, not your identity. Make sure to have a life, too. That life is all you’ll have if you ever have that dreaded meeting pop up on a calendar that you never expected. Make sure you know who you are outside those office walls or beyond the computer screen.
There are occasions where the job does combine with life. I’ve worked in places where the staff felt like family —truly, not just a cliche. Those workplaces exist. If you ever find yourself a job like that, consider yourself lucky. It’s a gift.
If you have a friend who experiences a layoff, the best advice I can offer is to remember that it’s a loss marked by grief, fear, and hope. No one asks to be laid off. Even when you find a way to make the best of a bad situation, it’s a tough and, yes, weird situation to find yourself in. It’s real. It’s scary. It’s not fair. Offer help with resumes. Connect them with potential employers. Take them for coffee and listen.
If there’s anything I know for sure now, it’s this: your job can end in three minutes, but your value cannot. Companies reorganize. Budgets shift. Spreadsheets get revised. But your character, your work ethic, your compassion, and your resilience don’t disappear when your login does. So build a life that exists beyond a company email address. Nurture relationships in and out of the workplace. Develop skills. Chase purpose. Because if that dreaded meeting ever pops up on your calendar, you’ll still be you when the screen goes black. And that’s something no layoff can take away.
sharing the stairs 