Nowadays, layoffs have become so common that almost every other day you hear news about another larger corporation planning to fire their employees for their own benefit. And if you aren't among those lucky ones to land a job as CEO of a major US Company, then chances are you might be a victim of a layoff as well. However, I’m sharing my story here today, to tell you no matter what happens, there is always hope for something better.
I was a distributor and promoter of America’s largest pharmaceutical company, McKesson Corporation. I was loyal and worked at McKesson for nearly 4 years. The job was good as I got to meet new people and also promote my company’s products and services. However, it was on January 17th, 2014, when the company announced that it would be planning to lay off 140 employees.
With regards to the law, the company filed a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) with the Department of Labor and Workforce Department. Upon receiving the news, I didn't really feel scared and thought “There was no chance the company would let me go”. However, on March 14, when the time arrived, I learnt that I was on the list of the employees being laid off by the company.
At that moment, I was completely broken, but I don’t blame myself. I could never plan for a loss of income or even imagine what would could happen if I was out of a job. So, that’s when I decided to speak with my manager, only to learn that he thought ‘I wasn't exactly useful and could find a better job elsewhere’. I felt completely demoralized and as a result was under mental stress.
It was during those days that I learnt coping with a layoff isn't easy and involves a lot of trauma. Nevertheless, with the help of my brother I was able to get back on my feet, secure a good job with a reasonable pay and fight the fear of layoffs. However, one thing is for sure: I can never trust a company like McKesson Corporation again.