Layoffs no longer taboo?

BBC article

A BBC article from this week says that layoffs are no longer taboo. Laid off people now freely share the bad news on social media. Like one girl who shared her devastating news and woke up the next day to 100,000 views.

Still, getting laid off hurts; you can feel discarded and expendable. Then there is the stress of finding new employment and paying your bills.

A landscaper buddy of mine got a two-week lay-off notice this week and he was still shocked two days later. He had no clue it was coming. Now he’s angry because people he considers inferior are staying on. For now.

Good news?

Many landscape companies are looking for good helpers on the West Coast at the moment, so I don’t expect my buddy to stay unemployed for long. Leaf clean up season will be here very soon. That’s the good news.

It just takes time to approach, interview and decide on which company to join. But it can be done in the two weeks he has left.

Are you layoff ready?

Getting laid off sucks, especially when there isn’t any warning or hint. You just get hit with it one day and now what do you do? You’ve been discarded and voted off the island. What’s your next step?

I was thinking about this all week. What would I do if I got voted off the island with a nasty layoff? The few times I switched jobs, it worked out fine. My salary went up and there was more fun. Change is stressful but it’s not bad. We’ve learned this during the pandemic.

So, this is what I would do.

First, I’d get a new job quickly by hitting my network. Then, depending on the wage difference, I would pump my side-gigs. That way, I’m assuming, there wouldn’t be a huge income drop. And let’s stay positive. Yes, I’m getting older but who says people wouldn’t pay top dollar for a Red Seal professional. Experience counts!

My resume and LinkedIn profile are both up-to-date; my LinkedIn profile is switched to “Open for work”, not because I have any issues with my day job employer but because it makes sense to stay open to new opportunities. For example, there might extra work in blogging.

Networking is also huge. According to Harvard Business Review, soft links like friends of friends are important; and just as crucial are people who actually worked with you and can comment on your skills. Always network.

I’m also staying active in Facebook groups; and I stay in touch with people in the landscape industry.

Conclusion

Layoffs may not be taboo anymore but they still hurt. When you’re let go you can feel expendable and discarded. But fear not, with experience, education, and a strong network, you can be back in the field in no time. This applies to landscaping on the West Coast where people, good people, are hard to find and hard to keep.

Telling your network about your layoff might be a great strategical move. Ask for help, grow your network and stay current in your industry.

I’m confident I would get through a layoff. You can, too.