This is an unprecedented time. You may already be aware, but more than 1 million Canadians have lost their jobs in March 2020 according to the latest Statistics Canada report (Turnbull, 2020). Our unemployment rate is now sitting at 7.8% and this is the lowest rate we’ve seen since April 1997. Most of the job losses that have been reported are from the private sector and the most prevalent age group affected are those between the ages of 15 and 24 (Turnbull, 2020). That’s a lot to take in. What’s worse is that these numbers will worsen and we will see even lower statistics when data from April 2020 is taken into consideration.
Covid-19 has disrupted lives globally. It has changed our daily life, our routines, and our definition of normal. It has caused us to physically distance from others, stay inside as much as possible, reflect on our priorities, and be thankful for our blessings.
If you have experienced an employment lay off or are suffering from job loss, I want you to understand that you are most definitely not alone. Many Canadians have experienced some form of job loss in their lives, and especially now with the statistics being what they are, you need to understand that you are not alone in this.
In some ways, being laid off can feel like any other serious loss in your life. It actually ranks as the highest on a list of different significant life events including major illness, divorce, and even a death in the family (McKay, 2018). This actually isn’t surprising because our jobs may make up the most of our daily lives – we spend majority of the hours in our day at work, it is how we earn an income and financially support ourselves and our families, it may be the result of a long educational path where our jobs allow us to reap the benefits of our hard work, and it may be what we feel is our true calling, our life’s work, our vocation. It’s easy to understand how job loss can greatly impact our emotional well-being and how it can mean so much more to an individual than simply losing their job. There is also a cycle that we undergo with job loss and some of the stages are similar to what we see in the grieving process: denial, anger, frustration, and adaptation (McKay, 2018).
Many people who undergo job loss feel a sense of embarrassment and shame. Even if they were victim to a mass layoff, they still feel that their lay off was personal. They still feel the shame tied to job loss (Davies, 2020). The reality is that it is not personal, and that shame should not be there. Most companies simply make these decisions by looking at an HR organizational chart (Davies, 2020). Asking you to rid yourself of the shame you feel is easier said than done, I understand, but you still have to work hard to reframe your thoughts surrounding your layoff to see that it is not personal and that shame you feel is hindering you not helping you.
If you find yourself laid off right now, please take the time to feel your emotions, whatever those may be. Some people may feel scared, sad, angry, anxious, surprised, or even relieved. You may feel all of these things and the feelings may come in waves, similar to grief. As important as it is to feel these emotions, make sure that you don’t wallow in them for too long. It’s important to release those emotions and then to move on.
Be smart about what’s on the horizon next. Why were you laid off? Are you slated to have your job back when Covid-19 passes? If you were told that is the case, is that actually realistic considering the impact Covid-19 has had on our economy and labour market (and will continue to have)? Many employers who are able to hire back their staff may have to do this in waves. It is very likely that everyone will not be getting their jobs back right away when this passes, and if they do, it may take quite a long time. Additionally, your role may look a lot different. Instead of a return to normal, we will very likely be adjusting to a new normal. Consider other questions too. For example, is downsizing a potential trend in your industry? Are you in an unstable role? Is your role on track to become automated? What is the employment outlook for your role in your field?
Take this time to reassess your values, your goals, and your career path. Were you in a job that you genuinely enjoyed? Is this where you want to continue working when this is all over?
If you were contemplating a change prior to your lay off, NOW is the time to take a deep breath, put that fear aside, and jump into something new. You have to take the time to recognize the reality of our situation and see the silver lining here. This may have been exactly what you had been asking for all along. A break. Time to catch your breath. Time to reassess. Time to focus on you and where you’re headed. Time away from that job that you haven’t really been connected to for some time. Time to forge a new path. Time to be happy in a new career that brings you hope, optimism, light, and contentment.
Don’t look past our current reality. Reflect. Recognize signs. Be brave. Commit to the career you’ve always dreamed of. Now is your time.
You are not alone in this period of uncertainty and unknowns.
I’m here when you’re ready. Sabrina
References
Davies, A. (2020). It's time to eliminate shame from our job loss response. CareerWise. Retrieved from https://careerwise.ceric.ca/2020/03/02/its-time-to-eliminate-shame-from-our-job-loss-response/#.XpTHx0BFxPZ
McKay, D.R. (2018). Coping with job loss. The Balance Careers. Retrieved from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/coping-with-job-loss-525766
Turnbull, S. (2020). Record one million job losses in March: StatCan. CTV News. Retrieved from https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/record-one-million-job-losses-in-march-statcan-1.4889552
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