We were all waiting to go into the room, one by one. The structure charts had been published, consultations held, and we had a pretty good idea of what was coming for each of us. As Emily left the room, she was ashen and tearful. She knew what was going to be in the letter but it was still a shock to sit across the table from someone you have worked with for years and hear your role was no longer there. What she heard was, she was no longer wanted.
Receiving news of redundancy is never easy, and none of us know exactly how we are going to respond until that moment, however well we may have prepared. We have seen people shrug it off, we have also seen people express anger, or withdraw completely. We are not saying this to be alarmist, more so to highlight how immensely personal and stressful the loss of your job can be. Everyone knows we are living through an extraordinary period. We are facing the deepest recession in peace time and there are significant job losses happening in all sectors. However rationally we understand the situation it doesn’t mean receiving news of redundancy will be any easier.
There are three interrelated facets to consider if you are having to cope with redundancy:
- Health and well-being
- Sense of identity
- Financial security
Health & well-being
Don’t be afraid to acknowledge your emotions and allow yourself space to grieve. You are not just losing a job, you are also potentially losing your daily routine, familiar rituals, friendships and established relationships, a sense of purpose, and a sense of security. Little wonder that redundancy can impact your self-esteem and confidence.
Be kind to yourself and allow time for adjustment to your new situation.
You may be familiar with the notion of change or transition curves, as shown above they help give a sense of the stages you may pass through when dealing with a significant life event such as redundancy. The diagram highlights the interaction of your internal and external environment and that you are moving from what is familiar into the unknown. This won’t be a nice neat process of moving from denial to commitment, you are likely to move backwards and forwards between the four elements. Some people talk about experiencing aspects of all four areas in a single day.
There are a number of actions you can consider when you are ready to manage your transition, don’t try and force it too soon:
- Get some support – New initiatives are springing up across the sector, like the #AllofUs Redundancy Care Campaign so keep your eye on social media. If you are a union member that can also be a source of support such as that offered by BECTU. You might think about creating your own mutual support group, particularly if a number of you are being made redundant by the same organisation
- Build your networks – make sure your social media profiles are up to date. LinkedIn is particularly well used by the cultural sector at the moment
- Focus on what you can control
- Seek redundancy coaching – make use of your employer’s employee assistance programme if it has one. There are a range of coaching directories online, but the best way to find a coach is often via a personal recommendation
Think about your physical as well as your mental health, exercise and eating healthily can help with managing your stress as well as boosting your energy. Sounds obvious but how many of us headed for comfort food and alcohol in the early weeks of lockdown!
Sense of identity
Psychologists talk of ‘role theory’ or ‘work centrality,’ as concepts that explain some of the complexity behind the impact of losing your job. You are not just losing a range of responsibilities and tasks; you are also potentially being displaced from valued social networks and a sense of purpose.
One of the common experiences of people who have been made redundant is asking yourself ‘who am I now?’, you will need to go through a process of reinvention and development to help you move on. Try to think of yourself as a one person business, what sort of business do you want to be?
We tend to live in a society where one of the first questions asked on meeting someone new is ‘what do you do?’ This can be very painful as you look to move on. Try and find others in a similar situation who understand what you are going through and that can share experiences with you. One of your early challenges will be finding new ways to define yourself. This might include:
- Stepping up your creativity
- Trying a new hobby or spending more time on your current hobbies
- Spending time outdoors – gardening, walking, cycling and so on
- Volunteering – this might be an opportunity to try out new areas of work
- Planning new projects or collaborations
While these may sound trite, they can help you manage the transition and find a new purpose while you decide on your next steps in terms of employment.
It is easier said than done but try and find ways to keep positive:
- Maintain a routine
- Develop a manageable job search
- Build connections and collaborations
- Focus on your positives
- Try and keep on track by sticking to your positive intentions
- Network for new employment
- Consider your career development overall – do you want to find something similar to what you have done before or is it time for a career change?
Financial security
Given the context of Covid-19 it is probably unlikely you have been able to do much forward planning financially so there are a number of things you’ll need to do as soon as possible:
- Understand your rights and make sure you are getting an appropriate redundancy settlement
- Review your household budget and make any savings you can
- Get advice on any benefits you may be entitled to and start the claimant process
- Deal with any problems you might have making mortgage, rent, loan or credit card payments. Prioritise any debts you have and talk to the relevant lenders to explain your situation
- If you receive a lump sum payment as part of your redundancy work out how best to use it, consider taking professional financial advice. Try not to let it get absorbed into your normal current account
- Take into account any additional losses you may have including pension, healthcare or life insurance. Remember to restart them in future as soon as you get the opportunity
- It may sound obvious but try not to use spending as a means of easing your anxiety and improving your mood
- Take a look at the Money Advice Service worksheets to help you through the process
The Yurt Academy diagram shows a process of development, a bit like pebbles in a pond. This is useful because it highlights that the process is less like a neat sequence of steps and more like a series of overlapping responses, some of which may be happening at the same time. Research shows that the experience of redundancy is something that can live with us for many years.
In an ideal world you will be working through a supported process that helps you move from uncertainty to optimism. Give yourself time and don’t worry if you feel like you move up and down through the stages. As we’ve said before this is a big life change and there may be setbacks along the way.
This is a complex and wide-ranging subject and a single post can only cover so much. If you have questions about particular areas of redundancy please let us know, we don’t have all the answers but can certainly direct you to the appropriate guidance. We will be picking up the three facets of coping with redundancy in more detail in future posts.
Dawn & Susan
Related posts:
Some of the resources and links we shared in yesterday’s post for freelancers may also be useful in terms of sources of support.