Dealing With A Job Loss

AS 35-YEAR-OLD RAJESH* walked out of the HR head’s office, pink slip in hand, his mind was a blur. Suddenly, after working with the company for more than four years, a regular day at work had turned into his last. As he cleared his desk of his belongings and small objects he had used to personalize his workspace, the HR personnel’s words came back to him in snatches ... “IT slump … headcount reduction … have to let go … three months’ salary in lieu of your notice period … encash leave … avail free services of placement agency … effective today …” Before the day ended, Rajesh was out. He dragged himself to the nearby café somehow and called his wife, Nina*.

- Dr Dayal Mirchandani

People like Rajesh are being “let go” for a variety of reasons: poor performance, personality issues, headcount reduction, outsourcing and automation, among them. Most people, even though they are aware of the harsh realities, go through a mix of emotions: shock, denial, self-blame, anger, often leading to insomnia and even depression.

 

If not handled well, the period following a lay-off can lead to withdrawal, whiling away time, binge-watching shows, and in some extreme cases—if resentment sets in—to bad-mouthing, which can jeopardize future opportunities.

HOW TO APPROACH IT