Reasonably, how long can we be expected to work surrounded by complete uncertainty before we break mentally? How much longer can this go on before there's a substantial drop in productivity? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm definitely nearing my limit.
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Just because this happens every few years, it doesn’t mean it is normal, or okay. It’s like saying it’s to be expected that your partner will beat the cr-p out of you every few years, that’s what you signed up for. I have had mysterious health problems for a while now, and the minute I submitted my AEOI, my health started to improve. The job market is tough, but not as tough as constant uncertainty, total lack of control over your own future, and the exhaustion that comes from being treated as a cog (in a broken machine.) No matter how many people try to normalize it, this is not okay, and it’s not worth the money - they are paying for your complacency. Get out if you can.
Get a grip. You must be early career. This is typical headcount reduction for commodity price swings. But more importantly it's standard corporate America. Ever watch Office Space? Maybe go talk to HR and see if they'll let you have an emotional support animal and a cry room. This country is full of wimps.
I'm depressed about staying.
People who are very good at their jobs are more likely to EOI, take the package and get another job, usually better, right away. Then their retirement nest egg gets a big bump. A lot of time they go to consulting firms and don't have to deal with the politics of a major. How do I know? Oh, a little birdie told me, lmao!.
“Seems to be a direct correlation between people who aren’t very good job and them being stressed out about layoffs”
Ha! You’re about to learn that one thing has nothing to do with the other.
OP - I feel for you as I've been in the same space mentally. What's helping is me formulating an exit strategy, whether it's through EOI, layoff and what I'll do next. Also, I've been meditating (not something I ever took seriously until my mental health started suffering) and it's actually helping. Also, taking walks and listening to music lift me out of my mental rut. We all know this is a big ask of us employees to endure this catastrophic reorganization. We all know it's going to impact a large majority of us worker bees. So we need to figure out ways, individually to feel empowered in some way. Hang in there and wishing you well as you navigate all this stress.
Seems to be a direct correlation between people who aren’t very good job and them being stressed out about layoffs
Have you tried being entitled and sassy? It seems to work wonders, you might even make it to the LT!
No this is easy.
This is my 5th layoff. It happens every 4-5 years. You get used to it. Getting stressed out doesn't help.
The drop in productivity started like 9 months ago.
The time when it mattered to our ELT was never.