How I stay positive: “At least”
No matter where you are in the job loss experience or the job search process, always find the positive: the reasons to be thankful. Don’t spend your energy being angry. I know this is easy to say but hard to do. We have to teach ourselves to think this way. Everyone involved in your termination, including your managers, are impacted by having to deliver that news. This isn’t easy for anyone involved, and you aren’t alone.
However, I still find myself going down into this angry, negative spiral.
At least I’ve known for a few years that I would be laid off eventually, and I knew that my managers and the other business divisions that I worked with had been advocating for me to stay employed. I think of them when I get frustrated, and I think of my friends who have already been laid off. Especially the ones who have been unemployed for way too long.
When my remote work accommodation was revoked unexpectedly, I was angry and very vocal – but working from home was also very isolating. At least I could have some in-person, social interaction. After six years, maybe things would be different.
It didn’t work out; my long-term health condition worsened. At least I had a couple months of being in the office, which gave me a temporary sense of independence and normalcy that I didn’t have working from home.
When I was filing for the medical leave to address my health, at least I was assigned a dedicated case manager by our third-party medical leave administrator, and she became a friend. She answered my questions and empathized with me as we navigated what is always a very complicated, sensitive process. We got to joke around. She knew all of the challenges that we encountered, and we met those challenges together.
At least I have some savings to cover my bills while we work out compensation.
At least a potential severance package gives me time to update my resume, apply for jobs, and start to network. Most importantly: a few more months of prescription coverage while I apply for Medicaid.
Even though I haven’t moved formally into displacement, at least our Displacement Operations team are real humans that I can speak to, who are helping me start-to-finish through this devastating and stressful time. I remind each person every time we talk. They have always been very honest, direct, clear, and knowledgeable.
At least I’ve been unemployed before. At least I’ve already been on government assistance. I already know the shame that comes with that. I’ve never applied for Medicaid before, but at least that’s an option that’s available to me now.
At least we do have services to help us, which we all pay for through taxes.
I’ve always been very honest about my experiences. I’ll do the same as I apply for other government assistance programs. We all need to remember that we aren’t alone. As a culture, we need to learn that there is no shame in accepting these benefits. We pay for them through taxes.
So thank you, neighbor. Thank you for helping me to feed my son 20 years ago when I couldn’t. Thank you for supporting a program like the Health Insurance Marketplace, which kept me alive during those years. Thank you for your donations to non-profits that provide services to our fellow neighbors in need of assistance. Thank you for the volunteer hours that you contribute to local non-profits.
And for those who feel the shame of being in this situation for the first time, I see you. You aren’t alone. And I encourage you to share your story. For years, I’ve heard a lot of dialogue about “those people” and it’s infuriating – because I am one of “those people.” Let’s put a face to “those people.”
