Redundancy is more than losing your job – it attacks your identity
With the media and marketing industry plagued with redundancies, and more to come, we need to get better at coping with the sense of grief and worthlessness that can come from losing your job, explains Simon Rountree.
The media and marketing industry has experienced a slew of redundancies recently, with roles at some of Australia’s biggest brands disappearing. Earlier this month, REA Group restructured with around 60 redundancies, and in the past few months alone, News Corp made “around 50” people redundant, Nine made a “handful” of redundancies, five were made redundant at media agency Ikon, and the Dentsu Aegis Network continues to undergo a restructure that involves redundancies. And research states that, in the past decade, as many as 3,000 local journalism jobs have been lost.
So, what happens when we’re made redundant? We live in a world where the benefits of work go beyond just doing a job. Many of us invest ourselves within the roles we undertake and the businesses we work for, and are stimulated by the social, learning, career and economic opportunities that come from this. When we’re made redundant, this is a direct attack that severs our sense of control over our lives.
Statistics show the average human spends just under 80 years on earth, 13 years and two months of which are spent at work – and more than 11 years looking at screens – compared to just one year and three days socialising.
Work provides us with a routine, a sense of control over our lives and security that not only allows us to sustain a certain lifestyle, but also allows us to plan for the future: for example, buying a house, and planning a holiday. Our jobs provide us with an identity that often has a profound impact and shapes who we are.
As the media and marketing industries face ongoing redundancies, we all need to become more familiar with essential strategies to support mental health, confidence and wellbeing if our roles are made redundant.
Be mindful of language
The language we use is extremely important to identify what happened and see the situation for what it really is. Ensure you frame the situation as it happened and make the mental shift from “l lost my job”, which is negative and puts the blame on you, to “the position was made redundant to reduce overheads”.
Create a new routine
A new routine means new possibilities. It’s okay to take a break and possibly have a holiday, or maybe volunteer, while still having a purpose. Your new routine should have a clear purpose: to create a new job, by building networks, meeting people for coffee, updating your CV, contacting recruitment agencies, and so on.
Be open to your identity changing
Things won’t be the same and that’s okay. Your phone may not ring as much or you may not get as many emails but that doesn’t mean it will be like this forever. Spend time reassessing your personal values and look to see how they can guide you with your next steps. In times of change, values provide us with a clear direction on who we want to be and are strongly linked to resilient behaviours.
Understand the value of your skills
Spend time outlining your skills and capabilities, and which are transferrable. Observe the job market or speak to recruitment agencies to see which industries and roles are compatible with your skills. Look to up-skill and accept that your next job may not be like the one you’ve just left (it could be even better).
Question negative thoughts and take time to process
Emotions are there for a reason. Feeling sadness, loss or grief after being made redundant is normal and it takes time to process. It’s normal to find yourself doubting or wondering if you’ll be able to get another job. But by questioning these negative thoughts, you can bring your thinking process back to reality and prevent the potential downward spiral of negativity.
For example, if you’re thinking: “If only I worked harder maybe they would have kept me”, ask yourself, “What proof do I have that working harder would have prevented the financial difficulties the business got itself into?”
Despite its challenges, being made redundant also creates opportunities. The stronger your levels of resilience are, the greater chance you have of maintaining your overall wellbeing and identity.
Simon Rountree is the founder and CEO of Change Ready, which teaches individuals, teams and organisations evidence-based practical skills and measurable tools
This is great, thank you
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It’s a gut wrenching time, a punch in the stomach that truly takes the winds out of your sails. But life will move on and doors will open and hopefully the role you find next is better because you have have a greater understanding of what you don’t like or won’t do. Great words Simon,
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As someone whose role was recently made redundant, I know how devastating it can be – especially if you’ve been a long-serving, loyal and hardworking employee. That said, it can also be a blessing in disguise. Try to stay positive, and open to the unknown. The next job you land could be even better. It might even take you in a new direction that you hadn’t considered but turns out to be perfect for you. While you might not have been ready to part ways with your former employer, they may have done you a favour. You don’t want to work for people who can’t manage their business properly. Take time out to regroup, and then give your skills, expertise and talent to a deserving employer.
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I totally agree. The door that opened for me was a great opportunity that I would never have had if I wasn’t made redundant.
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Stop defining who you are by what you do and your identity wont be so fragile
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It’s easier said than done! It wasn’t until I was made redundant that I realised I was not defined as person by my job or career.
I spent 5 months out of the workforce and became a full time mum and don’t regret a moment. It made me see life a different way. It was timely and all meant to be.
Now I am back in a workforce in a different part of the industry and embracing all learning I can learn everyday.
Life is great when your grateful for what it serves you.
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My take on this, companies should focus more on organization planning to limit redundancies. Future proofing or future planning does not happen much in the media scene. Often you see Media Agencies hiring for the sake of hiring, or hiring to trial out a role and when all fails, people are made redundant.
Also, companies rather focus on ‘RUOK; day which is one day in a year, rather than employees overall wellbeing. I was made redundant and it took a massive toll on me.
Anyway, thank you for sharing. This is a wonderful piece.
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Agreed!
Focus on finding ways to retain people, rather than the after effects of redundancies.
Media Agencies must have a backup plan for business losses etc.
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I have been made redundant twice in my 25 year career. Both times were extremely positive for me. I took time out, I reflected, I rested and I decided what to do next, without jumping out if the frying pan and into the fire.
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I was genuinely surprised at how callous the HR director was at my exit interview.
She said that it was “Just business”.
Probably not the best way to handle your Human Resources.
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I wonder if you were dealing with an ‘HR Business Partner’? It’s a job title that suggests where the HR person’s loyalties lie.
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