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*.
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
This story is from the May 2018 edition of Reader's Digest India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2018 edition of Reader's Digest India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
From the King's Table to Street Food: A Food History of Delhi
Pushpesh Pant, one of India’s pre-eminent food writers, is back with a comprehensive food history of the capital.
Who Wants Coffee?
It’s bitter—but beloved around the world
Prevent The Pain Of Shingles
You don't have to suffer, as long as you take two important steps
The Best And Worst Diets For Your Heart
Dozens of diets are touted as ‘best’, but it’s easy to lose track of the fact that healthy eating needs to be about overall wellness, not just weight loss.
ME & MY SHELF
Journalist Sopan Joshi has worked in a science and environment framework for nearly three decades. His book Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango (Aleph Book Company) synthesizes the sensory appeal of India's favourite fruit with its elaborate cultural roots and natural history. He writes in English and Hindi.
SWITCHED
In 1962, nurses at a small Canadian hospital sent home two women with the wrong babies. Then, 50 years later, their children discovered the shocking mistake.
ECHOES OF THE PAST
A VISIT TO THE ANCIENT BARABAR CAVES IN BIHAR REVEALS A SURPRISING CONNECTION TO A LITERARY CLASSIC
Fathers of the Bride
A young woman finds a unique way to honour the many men who helped her survive her childhood
Fiction's Foresight
British-Bangladeshi author Manzu Islam's works reveal startling parallels to recent political upheavals in Bangladesh, begging the question: Besides helping us make sense of our world, can stories also offer a glimpse into the future?
It Happens ONLY IN INDIA
The Divine Defence Picture this: A tractor in Rajasthan‘s Banswara district,a group of loan agents closing in to seize it and the defaulting farmer and his family standing by.
