🏢Get Free: The Layoff Is Not Your Fault

Dear GFFs,

You know every issue there’s a soundtrack of the week? Well today’s Get Free is brought to you by the letter ‘W’ and my Bajan sister from another mister, Queen RiRi (congrats, Rihanna on the birth of your baby girl - now that’s real work, work, work, work, work…)

See what I did there? Yes, we’re diving into the nine to five, the hustle, the grind … and you KNOW it’s going to take a minute to get through. Why? Because talking about work and the years we give to our careers means we’re also tackling our time, our talent and the way our identity is tied up in the J.O.B. There’s a lot of getting free to figure out. So take a seat, grab your snacks and fill up your water bottle because we’re going in. (And if it’s later in the day when you’re reading this, put whatever you like in your cup. Salut!)  

LAYOFFS ARE HARD

Saying layoffs are hard is like saying that stumping your toe while half asleep is a real doozy: we all know the deal. If you’ve been in the workforce long enough - five minutes or 50 years - you’ve been impacted directly or indirectly by a layoff. Maybe you’ve experienced the elimination of your role, or you’ve had to watch as colleagues packed up their belongings, or perhaps you’ve been the one to sit on a call with Debbie from HR and tell someone they no longer have a job. Either way you need to hear this:

The layoff is not your fault. 

Say it with me.

The Layoff Is Not My Fault.

The stats around layoffs in the U.S. just this year alone are painful: 

• In June there were 1.8M layoffs and discharges according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Just over 300,000 Black women have left the labor force in recent months - most as the result of layoffs and budget cuts

• And yea … it’s a lot. 

But here’s what we need to remember, even though it’s obvious: Behind every number and data point is a person. Perhaps this is you. 

The layoff is not your fault.

TOUGH TIMES

It has been heartbreaking to talk with friends over the last 12 months navigating layoffs. Some are questioning their skills and talents, even though they are brilliant. Others are in the middle of a pivot, but having to weigh up the pros and cons of a pay cut. Then there are conversations about the humbling nature of layoffs. Or the refrain “Maybe this is my fault. I should’ve got out sooner and not given my career so much of my time.”

Oof. Say it again:

The layoff is not my fault.

Layoffs are so much more than a financial curveball. It messes with who you are and what you’ve invested your time into. No amount of “the role was eliminated, not you” makes it any better and there’s no quick fix to moving forward.

But: one of the most BRILLIANT things I’ve read and watched about layoffs is from Tonja Thigpen, video strategist extraordinaire most recently at podcast company, Wondery (for real, HIRE TONJA, the work speaks for itself through the LinkedIn series and THE GEMS BEING DROPPED in each post and video are real, raw and spot on.)

This bit really stands out:

In short: A WORD! And a reminder: we are more than our jobs and our titles. We have to get free from that. This can also mean making tough choices to leave without being laid off. That’s a conversation for another time.

TWO SIDES TO THE STORY

There’s another side to layoffs which I, sadly, know too much about: telling people their roles are no more. There’s no pity party here for me, making those calls is a part of the job sometimes. But I don’t ever want to be OK with doing this. The looks on faces, the disorientation, the safety that five words can remove in mere seconds: “Your role has been eliminated.” No thank you. And there’s the piece that’s not talked about enough: The mixture of devastation, relief and survivor’s guilt for the team mates left behind. The wondering “Am I next?” The familiarity of a daily rhythm all gone in an instant. It’s hard to recreate that peace, and trust in leadership takes time to restore.

Leaders: 

The layoffs are not your fault either.

As much as we all want to point blame, or absorb blame, we have to get free from that. There are no winners in any of this and you can’t make everything better overnight. 

So how DO we get free when it comes to layoffs? The fear of it, or the reality of it?

If your role has been eliminated

• Know that the layoff is not your fault. Keep the words of Tonja Thigpen in mind. What you brought to the role, you take with you

• Take a beat to rest. Grief is real and layoffs are draining. Don’t act like nothing happened. Respect it and respect how you feel about it

• You have helpers: Take what is useful to you - resume reviews, next steps conversations, introductions, coffee dates. But don’t feel obliged to take help that doesn’t serve you in this moment. It’s OK to say no if you’re not ready

• Talk about your wins. You have a story to tell. Tell it!

If you had to share the news of eliminations

• Do everything you can to maintain your team’s dignity and for them to be treated with respect. Remember those BLS numbers? Every single one is a person

• People will be mad at you. Make sure you have a support system outside of work to vent or cry. And even though words sting, it’s not a personal attack

• Show yourself kindness. When sharing bad news you may have the urge to protect everyone and hold the hurts. You can’t hold everything, you can only do your best

• Remain transparent. People need clarity and information at a time when nothing really makes sense. Keep language simple and straightforward and do what you say you will do

How can you prepare for layoffs?

• Benét Wilson (Aunt Benét to almost everyone) offers the best advice including this gem: Keep your resume up to date. We don’t know what’s coming or when, but we can be prepared. (She’s a brilliant newsroom trainer, writer, editor, guest speaker on journalism and all around wonderful human being. Hire her!)

• Stay connected: Make time to chat with people in your industry, offer to mentor or be an ear for others

• If you’re able, save a little. Replacing a whole salary isn’t easy, but try to give yourself a little cushion or breathing room (I know - easier said than done in this economy or depending on where you live and what you earn.)

• Live your life. We don’t know what’s around the corner, but worrying about it won’t change anything. 

Wherever you land on the layoff Get Free timeline, remember: the layoff is not your fault.

🚀Get Your Life: Things to read, listen to, enjoy🚀

📚What I’m reading: A busy week so not much reading (I don’t think anyone is interested in Hormone Balance for Dummies. But on the real, it’s good!)

🎧What’s on the pod: If you love music and podcasts, Song Exploder - even after all these years - is still a good one. Check out this episode featuring Little Simz talking about her song, Free - a past GFG recommendation. So fascinating to hear how tracks come together. 30 mins well spent

🎵 Soundtrack for the week: More “work” this time from Missy Elliott

✨ If you’ve got a recommendation drop me a line. ✨

THANKS FOR READING!

If you got something out of this issue of The Get Free Guide, give us a follow or a shout out on Instagram and share the love with a friend. We don’t gatekeep around here!

See you next Friday!