what to say when your manager calls with bad news by Alison Green on May 11, 2020 A reader writes: I’m a journalist working at a media company, and my industry has been really hard-hit by the coronavirus. A few weeks ago, management announced company-wide pay cuts, and some of our staff was furloughed. At the time, we were told that layoffs weren’t being considered. Fast forward to today, when I learned […] Read the full article →
I feel terrible about having to lay off my staff by Alison Green on April 21, 2020 The idea of work is stressful as hell right now. People are worried about how to keep their jobs or find new ways to replace the income they’ve lost. For some people, workloads are way too high and for others worryingly low. Video calls are regularly being hijacked by kids and half-clad spouses, or worse, […] Read the full article →
you should contact your laid-off coworkers by Alison Green on April 17, 2020 A reader writes: I wanted to reach out in regards to your advice to the letter-writer asking about collecting cash for a laid-off coworker with an additional tip. I was laid off last week from my job due to the economic impact of coronovirus on our company. I worked at a nonprofit that relies on […] Read the full article →
none of my coworkers have contacted me after my layoff by Alison Green on October 31, 2019 A reader writes: I was laid off a few months ago. My position was eliminated after reorganization, so it wasn’t due to any performance issues. In the weeks that followed, of the 200+ people in the company, three former coworkers emailed to ask how I was doing. Don’t get me wrong, I was extremely grateful […] Read the full article →
what to do if you were just laid off (or are about to be) by Alison Green on July 9, 2019 If you’ve been laid off from your job, or if you’re worried you’re going to be laid off, you might be feeling pretty helpless. It’s scary to be told your job is being eliminated and you’ll be out of work and have to scramble to find a new job. But there are actions you can […] Read the full article →
should I tip off my coworker that he’s getting laid off? by Alison Green on November 29, 2017 A reader writes: The company I work for is significantly off budget, and I have known for about a week that a particular manager (who’s basically a peer) is being considered for layoff as the company is looking to make major cuts. I was brought into the conversation because of the effect his separation will […] Read the full article →
my manager told us we were going to be laid off — but she was wrong by Alison Green on May 17, 2017 A reader writes: The division I work in has four people, plus my manager. Three months ago, my manager called us into a meeting. She told us the company would be going through some changes and restructuring due to financial issues and that layoffs were coming in the spring. She said she had found out […] Read the full article →
I was laid off but my employer asked me to keep working by Alison Green on August 15, 2016 A reader writes: I found out last week that I am being laid off from my job. It was the nicest layoff I could have asked for though, despite the circumstance – I saw it coming as my manager and I have been discussing growth opportunities here, but in a company that’s downsizing and only […] Read the full article →
how do I tell a laid-off coworker that her old job is open but she shouldn’t apply? by Alison Green on March 22, 2016 A reader writes: A former coworker of mine, Padmé, was laid off when we were faced with severe budget cuts a few years back. I feel certain that she would still be working here, if not for the required cuts. However, it wasn’t just a seniority thing; she was chosen as the least best vs. […] Read the full article →
did my employer mishandle my layoff? by Alison Green on June 8, 2015 A reader writes: I was planning on quitting my nonprofit job because during my evaluation my manager criticized me for taking lunch breaks out of the office, ignoring her emails to my personal address after hours, and not working 50 to 60 hour weeks (without overtime pay). Instead, I was gratefully laid off with 30 […] Read the full article →