Apart from the bad English, this sentence is one of many that companies are currently communicating to their employees in an attempt to politely say, “We are making your role redundant”. Currently, it feels like this experience is becoming the norm throughout Australia, with many people knowing loved ones or friends if they themselves have not already experienced redundancy directly. According to a recent media release from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian unemployment rate currently sits at 6.2 per cent. One of our highest unemployment rates to date and with trends showing minimal decline to that percentage in the near future.
So how does this make us feel? Well, honestly there is no one answer that fits all. It will depend on which individual you ask and their situation, experience or circumstances around this topic. Human beings are strong characters and life constantly throws challenges at us, most if not all of those challenges we will overcome in one way or another. But what if it is our career, our financial security, our passion, our future that is challenged? If you were told today that you have been disengaged (aka redundant) how would this impact you? Today? Tomorrow? Next week? Or next year?
Having worked in an industry that is currently still going through large downsizing of staff numbers to better streamline the business for a more sustainable future (yes this is an example of what you will get told), I have experienced both sides of the table. I have been phoned late at night outside office hours to be told “You’ve been disengaged, you have 2 weeks left, your services are no longer required, and please note this is no reflection of your work.” On the flip side, I have had to endure the discomfort and anxiety of waiting to see if your ticket is drawn only to feel a sense of relief that it is not your turn…just yet. Experiencing my first redundancy (at the time) was absolutely soul crushing to be brutally honest. Firstly before I explain why, the important note is that I survived it with only a few tears, determination and no scars. It was a learning experience that made me stronger. So why was it so hard for me? Short answer: I love my career. My career has been a driving force buried deep inside me since I was a child, always aiming high and wanting to achieve in my professional life. Secondly, I am a structured person always having goals and a plan, with plan B and C for back up if plan A goes sour. Suddenly, I have had someone take my career away leaving me to panic, how will I pay the mortgage and the bills? What will I do now? I am so embarrassed. I had two interviews which evolved to two job offers by the end of the week. I commenced in my new role one week post departure of my redundant role. Suddenly, I felt the stars aligned and I was back in control of my career except I felt bitter and angry for losing a role and team I enjoyed, thinking perhaps no one fought for me, or it was a personal vendetta or various other self-punishing thoughts, Why did he get to stay over me? I worked harder than she ever did, why me and not her?.
As more job cuts were announced over the following 18 months through the business and industry as a whole, I became more aware I was not the only one experiencing this. I soon come to learn that some people won’t be as lucky as I was in securing another role so quickly and that they will take weeks or months even to line up work. Furthermore, for some individuals who had retained a position, felt some “survivor” guilt and were unsure how to speak with those colleges who had been made redundant. With these continuing job cuts looming over everyone’s heads, I noticed the behaviours that colleges started to act out. Some individuals would always need to make humour of the situation and when asked, “Do you find this situation humorous?” They would reply that they were actually extremely anxious and humour is their way of trying to stay positive and motivated at work. Some individuals would try to place blame on others for inaccurate information, take credit for others work, or keep information close to their chest to make them appear indispensable and more hardworking than that of their co-workers in order to retain a position. Meetings and lunch room banter became focused on rumours and speculations that cuts are looming with all parties in the room wanting answers to the same questions, Will it be me? When will happen? What will the process be? How much notice will I get?
So how do you manage yourself when you are told there will be a number of roles in your organisation been made redundant in the near future? Put simply, control what you can control. As human beings we can exhaust ourselves just with our own worrying thoughts. Yes, it will be normal to feel potentially anxious, stressed, panicked, emotional, tired or concerned. It is important to learn to acknowledge those emotions and work through them. It is also important that you try to be mindful of others, although they are experiencing the same situation, their circumstances may vary greatly to yours or they may have different coping mechanisms than yourself. In summary, the future is unpredictable, and although you can make plans for the short-term, don’t lose faith in your journey if the goal posts get moved. Instead reassess your game plan and try to remain mindful of those around you.
And always remember to Glo!
K.
