There is no doubt, we are in tough times. Recession and redundancy are phrases constantly used across all forms of media, but until it affects you directly you are unlikely to know how you will react and cope.
Last resort
Companies only instigate redundancies when everything else has been exhausted, it’s likely that sales have fallen and costs risen to the point that they are unable to continue functioning at the capacity they were and if the company hasn’t ceased trading completely, then job losses may help keep the business functioning and possibly save other jobs.
It’s not personal
It’s the job that is being made redundant, not you. This is easy said and can seem unfair especially if other colleagues who doing a similar job are staying. Businesses are obliged to give reasons for redundancy and these cannot be related to age, race, gender or be down to ‘last in, first out’.
Emotions
It is perfectly natural to feel angry, upset, bitter, worried and have feelings of inadequacy and loss. Coping with redundancy especially for people who have worked for a company for a long time can feel like bereavement and many will go through a period of grief. Larger companies will bring in career coaches and HR consultants to help and guide you through the redundancy process. Work with them and don’t bottle it up.
Money
How you are going to pay the bills and support your family while you find new employment is the number one worry for most people. Yes you may need to tighten your belt, but the important thing is not to panic and seek financial advice. Support and advice are available from the Job Centre Plus http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/LookingForWork/index.htm, Citizen’s Advice Bureau www.citizensadvice.org.uk and your bank.
Change
Your plans, life, and daily contact with your colleagues will change when a job loss happens and this understandably is unnerving, but change can also be for the better. Try and see this as an opportunity to focus on what you want to do now, some use redundancy to re-train and take a different career path or some will use the opportunity to take early retirement and focus on their family and hobbies. Many people who have been made redundant have at a later stage commented that ‘it was the best thing that happened’ and that as one door closed another one opened leading to new stage of their life.