It started off as a typical day at the office. You walk in and greet your colleagues with a cup of coffee in your hand. Your workday starts normally – you reply to emails from colleagues and clients about an upcoming project.
Suddenly, you are asked to go in for a meeting that’s not on your calendar. Sure, that’s happened before, no problem.
After all, some meetings must take place at the eleventh hour to tie up loose ends before a huge business presentation.
However, this time it’s different. Something feels off. You find yourself in a meeting room with a poker-faced HR representative, and the next few moments are something you replay in your mind for days to come.
It is as if time has slowed down as your HR representative informs you that you have just been retrenched with no prior warning.
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As you despairingly pack your belongings, you are in a state of shock and disbelief — how could this be happening to you after all your hard work and dedication to the company? How will you find another source of income at such short notice?
Sadly, these types of occurrences are not uncommon. However, dealing with retrenchment is still extremely challenging.
The shock of going from employed to unemployed can be staggering — above the sudden loss of a steady income.
You will feel a wide range of emotions — hurt, confusion and fear, above all else. How will you continue to support your lifestyle and family without a steady income?
The Singapore Counselling Centre says it has seen an average increase of 30% year-on-year of older Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) seeking counselling due to retrenchment and notes that the range of emotions is extreme because the retrenched worker feels the loss of:
- A daily routine and structure: many PMETs find themselves feeling out of place, having been thrown a curveball in their lifestyle
- A work-based social network: some who have been retrenched feel as if they are missing out on their social life since they have formed strong friendships with their colleagues who are now leading different lifestyles
- A sense of purposeful activity and professional identity: several individuals feel as if they have lost their purpose in life, having been fired from their jobs as they are now revoked of their responsibilities
- A sense of security and certainty: many also fear change. They fear the unknown and yearn for assurance that they will be able to adjust financially and mentally
“The initial reaction from many, especially older PMETs who have been in the same job for many years, is that life has lost all meaning,” says the Centre’s president, Dr John Lim.
They feel broken about the dejection but also fearful about change and whether or not they would be able to adjust. Many of them miss having a sense of familiarity and seek reassurance to cope with change.
There are normally five emotional stages of retrenchment:
1. Shock and denial
Some individuals are in disbelief when they get retrenched. Sometimes, denial can be a helpful coping mechanism that helps you adjust. But shock and denial could eventually become toxic to your mental state if you avoid accepting the reality of the situation in the long-term.
Dr Lim cites the example of Michael (not his real name), who was retrenched at the age of 47 because his company decided to discontinue the product line that he was in charge of as it was at the end of its product lifecycle.
Michael had been working in the same company for 22 years, and he had been certain that with his proven contributions and dependability, he would never be laid off. However, Michael soon learned that such was just wishful thinking on his part.
He described the feeling as “surreal” when he was first retrenched. He found it difficult to stomach the fact that the corporation had decided to let him go despite his colossal contributions to the company.
Furthermore, the company and his colleagues had become his home and friends — he was in a state of disbelief that his lifestyle would soon do a 180-degree turn.
For Michael, the company decided not to continue with the product line he was in charge of as they felt the product was at the end of its product life cycle.
In addition, the company felt that Michael’s skills and contributions would only benefit the product line they intended to fold. Thus, one ordinary day, the HR management called Michael into the meeting room and informed him that they had decided to let him go.
As Michael retreated to his desk to pack his belongings, his very first response was shock, closely followed by denial — that it was not happening to him and the company had made a mistake. How could this happen to someone who had contributed so much to the company?
Michael repeatedly tried appealing the retrenchment but to no avail. Sadly, the company had decided against rehiring Michael despite persistent appeals.
“Michael just couldn’t believe that the company he had helped grow, whom he had supported even during its challenges, was now abandoning him,” says Dr Lim.
2. Anger
Anger soon took over. Michael started resenting the Director who approved his retrenchment.
He felt betrayed and enraged by the Director with whom he had worked closely. For a period of time, Michael blamed the Director for his retrenchment.
He believed that the Director had it in for him. “At times, he was furious to the point that he found himself wishing his director would be hit by a truck, and he even felt like burning down the company’s premises,” adds Dr Lim. Michael felt as if the Director had double-crossed him.
Isn’t anger bad for you? Dr Lim explains that processing the aftermath of retrenchment involves going through a range of emotions, often including anger. “Going through stages is good as there is progression. It means you are moving forward rather than staying stagnant,” he elaborates. Dr Lim describes anger as a normal and valid emotion after being retrenched.
Getting angry is a natural reaction to circumstances that are not in one’s favour. He clarifies how anger is a part of the healing process that needs to be addressed for an individual to come to terms with the retrenchment and move forward in his life.
Read More: Worried About Being Laid Off? Here’s How the MyCareersFuture Jobs Portal Can Help You
3. Depression and acceptance
The next wave of emotion for Michael was depression — where overwhelming waves of emotions started making it difficult for him to deal with his everyday routine.
Every day following his retrenchment, Michael felt crestfallen by the retrenchment and his Director’s ‘betrayal’. He struggled to find a light at the end of the tunnel.
At times, he wished he could have turned back to the clock to find where he went wrong and whether he could have done anything to prevent his retrenchment.
Michael grappled between feelings of dejection and grief daily. His depression affected his daily life as well as the people around him.
4. Guilt
Another key emotion Michael struggled with was guilt. Here, he started blaming himself for losing his job — replaying the retrenchment in his head and wondering if he could have negotiated something with his bosses.
He felt apologetic for the small mistakes he had made in the past and pondered upon whether these minor faults could have influenced his retrenchment.
Moreover, he felt blameworthy and ashamed for not being able to continue supporting his family and lifestyle in the way that he was used to.
5. Acceptance and relief
Michael started to realise that these feelings of grief and guilt were pushing him away from his loved ones by driving a wedge between them.
It was these acute feelings of sadness and guilt which spurred Michael to seek help from an experienced counsellor, who helped him realise that retrenchment was not the end of his life.
Counselling helped Michael learn the importance of not blaming himself. Dr Lim points out that this is important to grasp as it can create an emotional distance between an individual and their loved ones, who could provide the necessary support needed for an individual to recover from the negative emotions caused by retrenchment.
Michael eventually came to understand and incorporate the following healing actions/thoughts into his life.
Read More: How to Write a Resume Following a Retrenchment
Key tips for coping with retrenchment
Counselling helped Michael learn the importance of not blaming himself. Dr Lim points out that this is important to grasp as it can create an emotional distance between an individual and their loved ones, who could provide the necessary support needed for an individual to recover from the negative emotions caused by retrenchment.
In addition, counselling taught him that anger and grief were completely normal when coping with rejection.
Eventually, after many counselling sessions, Michael came to terms with the fact that he would no longer be a part of the company he had helped to grow and develop.
However, the incident was still an experience for Michael, who decided, never again, to be bogged down by rejection and retrenchment. Soon after he was fired, Michael came to understand and incorporate the following healing actions/thoughts into his life:
Life can still be fulfilling, even when retrenched
Michael realised that his life and self-worth were not defined just by his career. His retrenchment was not an indication of his self-worth and his capabilities as an individual.
Instead, Michael realized he had countless other opportunities to hone his skills and earn an income. In addition, he learnt the importance of counting his blessings. In his case, he had a loving family whom he could turn to while weekend volunteer work added more meaning to his life.
He decided to focus on the positives and blessings he had in his life instead of concentrating on the pitfalls and negatives. Michael realized how changing his perspective could help him cope when the circumstances were not in his favour.
“Once he realised this, Michael understood that a career setback does not mean the person is career-condemned for the rest of his life. He concluded that one setback did not mean that he had completely failed as an individual.
Moreover, Michael also realised that there are other things out there that he enjoyed and could relate to. This allowed him to accept his retrenchment more and decide to move forward,” explains Dr Lim. The experience taught Michael to be lionhearted in the face of rejection.
Catch up with things you never had time for
As part of the healing process, the key question counsellors ask next is “what have you always wanted to do but couldn’t because of work?” These could include:
- Taking time to review your finances. A clear view of your financial position will help you plan ahead.
- Picking up a new hobby or skill — learning something new helps you grow. Explore courses available on SkillsFuture.
- Exercising — take up your favourite sport again or sign up for a group exercise class. Not only will you keep healthy and fit, but exercising will also help you feel more confident and positive.
- Going on a holiday with your loved ones or visiting places on your bucket list — to reconnect and de-stress.
- Exploring new options— Career conversion programmes such as WSG’s Career Conversion Programmes (CCPs) can help PMETs move into new occupations or sectors.
Think of others
This may seem strange, but during challenging times, such as a retrenchment, it’s important not to fall into a pit of self-focus or pity. Dr Lim describes this as only focusing on yourself and your needs/wants. “Being self-centric at such a time is a sure way to sink deeper into the abyss of depression,” he notes.
A good way of addressing this is volunteering at a charity of your choice, especially one you feel inclined towards.
This allows you to help others with their struggles — which helps put your life into perspective — in areas you might actually enjoy, such as working with animals or contributing to the lives of younger/older people in need.
What value can you contribute to your next job?
Move on with your job hunt. Remember your strengths, such as your wealth of experience and key wins at your last job and weave this into your job search.
“With your retrenchment, you also have fortitude and resilience to add to your next role,” adds Dr Lim. Remember to update your resume and customise it (and your cover letter) for each company you apply for a position. You can do this by visiting the company’s website and studying its values, then asking yourself how you can make a positive difference and contribute to that company.
How long does the emotional ride last?
The length of time taken to process your emotions will vary. This is because a number of factors are tied to this, such as how attached you were to your role, what you perceive to be your future prospects and so on.
Dr Lim notes the importance of giving yourself time and adds that recovery varies from person to person. “Some take as little as a few days to get over it, while some struggle with the emotions for more than a year.
“The thing to remember is that the different emotions experienced are normal. Dealing positively with your emotions lays the foundation for personal growth. You can and will get out of this cycle of emotions.
“If you feel overwhelmed by these emotions, don’t hesitate to speak with a qualified counsellor, coach or therapist.”
While coming to terms with retrenchment may be difficult, rejection is an inevitable part of life. Remind yourself that one setback does not mean you are doomed to be at rock bottom for the rest of your life.
When one door closes, another will always open. Keep an open mind and an open heart – be receptive to new obstacles and opportunities that will come your way.
Need to speak with a professional counsellor? Contact the Singapore Counselling Centre at +65 6339 5411 or email counselling@scc.sg.
