Flashbacks

I had an incident of PTLS, otherwise known as Post-Traumatic Layoff Syndrome, at my new job last week.

Two people from the HR department of the parent company visited my satellite office for the day. The head of HR immediately went into a closed door meeting with the head of the division. So, of course, I freaked out a bit (ok, a lot). HR + closed door meeting with head of division = layoffs. At least that’s how it happened at my previous place of employment. The big guns shut themselves off in their corner offices and decide who stays and who goes. Nice work if you can get it, eh? And why are some people given the power to make those decisions? What makes them safe from termination?

Crazy thoughts went through my head: Would I get laid off again? You know, last one hired, first one fired. Had I been there long enough to qualify for unemployment? Good thing I didn’t buy that new iPhone. How long will it take me to get a job this time around?

My immediate boss assured there was nothing to worry about. In truth, it may just have been that the HR lady was making her normal rounds of the satellite offices. Apparently, there was a major meeting of the company’s board the same week. Not that there was any formal announcement to us peons. I only knew because I saw a printout at the copy machine.

Actually, nothing much happened, except they bought us lunch. (Our last meal?)

Still…after having been through a layoff, and all the attendant rumors and stress that goes before and after the event, it’s hard not to be a bit skeptical and wary. These days, no one is safe. So excuse me if I’m being cynical. Frankly, I don’t trust any HR person or superior anymore.

It also got me thinking, if you know you are going to be laid off, what can you do, if anything?

After having been through the ordeal, here are some of the steps I took, or should have taken:

Talk to your boss. Admittedly, this is a tricky proposition and one that takes a good measure of courage. No boss is going to tell you are about to be laid off, fearing you might make off with company secrets. Yet, if you do take the initiative and talk to your boss in an honest, straightforward and unemotional manner, perhaps something can be worked out. You can say, “Look, I know the company is in financial trouble and my job may be on the line. Is there anything I can do to save my position? If not, can we discuss the possibility of doing some type of freelance or contract work for the company?” Even if you get shot down, you will always know that at least you took proactive steps to possibly save your job, instead of doing nothing and just waiting for the ax to fall like some powerless rag doll.

Pay off your debts. If you know the end of regular paychecks is near, best to pay off your debts as quickly as possible, even if you have to dip into your savings to do it. Unemployment covers the basics, but not much more. And if an emergency arises and you must use your charge card, at least the balance will be low. During my unemployment I had to buy a new computer after my old one literally went up in smoke. Then, my car needed new brakes (who knew brakes had rotors and that the rotors could, you know, break?). You simply pay the minimum each month until a new job comes along.

And let’s hope at that new job you don’t have any flashbacks. I say one layoff in one lifetime is just enough.