William* recalls the excruciatingly uncertain months before he finally lost his job. He had worked in the real estate sector, where his work dried up. Piece by piece his responsibilities were taken away. His company was not doing well, that much was evident. It was letting people go in small batches. If you didn’t get tapped on a Friday, you were safe for the next week.
When You Know Layoffs Are Coming…
Waiting for bad news can take a major psychological toll.
January 12, 2021
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Summary.
When a layoff happens, it is often heartbreaking, but it is not necessarily the most emotionally challenging part of job loss. The months of uncertainty and nervous anticipation leading up to the layoff can take a heavy toll on an employee’s wellbeing and mental health. The author interviewed dozens of men and women from 2013 to 2016, including lawyers, financial analysts, communication professionals, product managers, and public relations professionals. While they are seen as some of the most affluent and cushioned workers in the U.S., these professionals are not protected from layoffs, nor the acute anxiety that precedes them. In the U.S., where job uncertainty and insecurity are increasingly the norm, exploring structural changes like stronger labor laws, parental leave, and Universal Basic Income is imperative to take some of the pain off individuals, who currently carry all of the financial and emotional burden.