Did you ever take the new job only to be let go quickly afterwards? I have and it hurts.
However, it’s not any easier if you’ve been there 10, 13, 17, 25, or 30 years and then they lay you off. It hurts, sometimes even more. Sometimes they force you to quit so they don’t have to pay you anything on the way out. Yup, that is a thing.
For all of you that have been through that, I am sorry. My heart goes out to you. Unfortunately, that is part of life. Granted, the part that sucks, but life goes on, doesn’t it?
You trust the people that bring you in and you work your ass off for them in the hopes that they reward you along the way. Whether it’s for 2 months, 2 years, 20 years, or longer. Then they cut you out at the knees!
I want you to remember that some things are out of your control, please don’t take it personally.
In the 1960s, 1970s, and some of the 1980s, companies took care of their loyal workers. They even gave cost-of-living raises. They had a caring mentality.
Unfortunately, that changed in the late 1980s on. Layoffs were common. Companies cared about their survival, not yours.
Hey, the HR teams will care, until they’re told not to. don’t blame them for following orders, besides, they suffer layoffs like the rest of us.
Most companies don’t plan well either, they miscalculate all the time. It’s because management trades experience for the younger, less experienced people who screw it up repeatedly, but they work for less.
Or maybe a consulting firm that comes in only to really mess things up. I see that a lot in larger companies. They pay someone to come in and learn about the company only to make things worse. This is common place in larger corporations.
I get it, businesses need to make money. Shareholders only see profit and loss and employees are a huge expense. Look at any large investor, they took great pride in “trimming the fat” which meant people losing jobs.
So as employees, we really have to look out for number one, which is you and your family, isn’t it? I was always loyal to a fault. To be honest, it’s better to be loyal to people, not to companies.
You really need to look at the people at work and understand who your friend is and who is pushing you to do the job so they look good.
To be honest, I don’t really care if I make someone else look good, I just want a little credit.
Truth be told, work should be a team effort. We all work together and share the glory when things go right. That means we share the pain when things go wrong. It’s only fair.
Were all human, sometimes we fail miserably. don’t lay blame, just learn from life’s lesson and move on.
Remember, you are a survivor!
Here are some things that happened to me:
I came in and they built up the department like we planned, only to let me go because they didn’t need me once the department was built. FYI – they went under a year later because they got rid of all the people that could run the department to save on payroll. I guess that didn’t work out too well. They couldn’t even sell the company.
I came in and within 2 months the executive team had completely changed, only to send me packing. New direction for them and all the rest of us.
I was with a company that shut the division down and let us all go. They were very nice about it and gave us 6 months to find something new. I thought that was more than fair.
To be fair:
- Some companies lay people off, to them you are just a number and this happens from time to time.
- Some companies are sinking, they have to make changes.
- Sometimes they don’t know what they want and may have hired you by mistake.
Let’s sum it up:
Navigating Career Turbulence: Lessons from the Corporate Roller Coaster
- Trust and Hard Work: When you join a new organization, you place your trust in the people who brought you on board. You work diligently, hoping that your efforts will be recognized and rewarded. It’s a natural expectation, we’re all in it together, right?
- The Illusion of Control: But here’s the truth: Some things are beyond our control. Despite our best intentions, circumstances can change rapidly. In the past, companies took care of their loyal employees, even offering cost-of-living raises. Those were the days of a compassionate corporate mentality.
- Shifts in the Landscape: Unfortunately, the landscape shifted. The late 1980s marked a turning point. Layoffs became commonplace, and companies prioritized their own survival over employee well-being. Shareholders focused on profit and loss, often leading to workforce reductions.
- Trimming the Fat: Investors took pride in “trimming the fat”, a euphemism for job cuts. As employees, we must recognize that our loyalty should extend to people, not organizations. After all, companies exist to make money, not to safeguard our livelihoods.
- Navigating Office Dynamics: Within the workplace, sometimes, making others look good is secondary; we deserve a little credit for our work.
- Shared Triumphs and Failures: When things go right, we celebrate together. When challenges arise, we share the burden. Fairness demands no less.
- Moving Forward: Life’s lessons teach us resilience. Instead of blaming circumstances, let’s learn and adapt. Remember, we’re all human, prone to both success and failure. As we navigate our careers, let’s prioritize our well-being and that of our loved ones.
Let’s find solace in shared experiences and emerge stronger!
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