I got laid off about five and a half years ago, at the start of Covid. The meeting was with my manager and his boss (who I was also friendly with). I got a meeting invite and asked if we could push it back an hour so I could drive my wife to work, they said sure. I told my wife on the drive that I was getting laid off. Sure enough, I was. They paid me five weeks severance and gave me resources to file for unemployment. It was due to Covid causing a huge drop in money coming in, which was understandable. Honestly, I didn’t like my job, I had already hired a company to rewrite my resumé. So it worked out. At least my boss and his boss had the spine to do it personally. I’ll always give them credit for that.
Man, I was on that manager side, having to lay people off because of some bad decisions from upper management.
I usually do everything I can, like give them recommendations letters, try to get them as much money as possible that they’re owed… Literally bend over backwards.
Everyone takes that news differently. One guy cursed me out, kicked some shit and stormed out. And I just got up and cleaned it all up because brother, I get it.
When I’ve had to let people go, I’ve always believed it important to do it personally. It’s difficult, but it’s part of the duty of a boss to face the person they’re letting go.
I’ve been accused of being cold when doing it, but that’s because I don’t feel like I have the right to show the emotional impact on me when it’s someone else’s life being wrecked.
I’ve also violated company policy several times and given glowing reviews of former staff instead of simply confirming they worked at the company.
Interestingly for me, the bosses I got along with always got fired first. Both companies I got laid off from had several rounds of layoffs, and in both cases my boss was round 4, and I was round 5 several months later.
I got laid off about five and a half years ago, at the start of Covid. The meeting was with my manager and his boss (who I was also friendly with). I got a meeting invite and asked if we could push it back an hour so I could drive my wife to work, they said sure. I told my wife on the drive that I was getting laid off. Sure enough, I was. They paid me five weeks severance and gave me resources to file for unemployment. It was due to Covid causing a huge drop in money coming in, which was understandable. Honestly, I didn’t like my job, I had already hired a company to rewrite my resumé. So it worked out. At least my boss and his boss had the spine to do it personally. I’ll always give them credit for that.
Man, I was on that manager side, having to lay people off because of some bad decisions from upper management.
I usually do everything I can, like give them recommendations letters, try to get them as much money as possible that they’re owed… Literally bend over backwards.
Everyone takes that news differently. One guy cursed me out, kicked some shit and stormed out. And I just got up and cleaned it all up because brother, I get it.
When I’ve had to let people go, I’ve always believed it important to do it personally. It’s difficult, but it’s part of the duty of a boss to face the person they’re letting go.
I’ve been accused of being cold when doing it, but that’s because I don’t feel like I have the right to show the emotional impact on me when it’s someone else’s life being wrecked.
I’ve also violated company policy several times and given glowing reviews of former staff instead of simply confirming they worked at the company.
Interestingly for me, the bosses I got along with always got fired first. Both companies I got laid off from had several rounds of layoffs, and in both cases my boss was round 4, and I was round 5 several months later.