It is amazing how quickly a laid off person becomes nonexistent. No one will contact you to see how you are doing. None of your so-called friends and coworkers will mention your name.
A manager in my group joked about all the empty offices being available for the new college grads.
What have we become?
Remember, you are on your own. Don't count on Facebook or LinkedIn to bail you out. Do your own job research. It is dog eat dog right now.
Had managers say “let me know how I can help”....... I was like , I just got layed off are you kidding.....help my a&@. Give me my job back.
It's a psychological thing - after working in a dark, horrible, stressful place like IBM for years, when you get out finally it's like the sun has come back out and happiness returns to your life, the stress melts away. Psychologically, the people you worked with then are attached to that unhappiness and stress and you shy away from any thoughts of them. It's not their fault, just a human condition. Just be happy that you escaped. Same thing for those still left in captivity after you got away, of course they're going to resent it somewhat, and trained to avoid contact with the escapees by their captors/abusers.
Wow funny I was thinking the same thing the other day .... WTF ! after so many years working my A$$ off at IBM for so many people making them successful and wealthy , after I was RA'd in November. ....crickets ! The people who left and said anytime you need anything don't hesitate to reach out, was a joke (barring 2 former colleagues) and those still left not one person has reached back out to ask how I have been ...yes it is a dog eat dog world and guess what Karma is right ! what goes around comes around !
IMHO:
"friends" at work cannot be friends if they are required to compete against you for raises, bonuses, and to keep their jobs. They may even volunteer "feedback" about you.
True friends will be found outside work, and they will continue to call.
"Screwed", it might be of some comfort to remind yourself that you are far from alone in your situation. Also remind yourself that there is no shame in working to barely make ends meet. Finally, remind yourself that life isn't fair, society isn't fair, political systems aren't fair, and IBM certainly isn't fair. I feel for your plight and can relate. Just hang in there, keep trying, and do the best you can. There's 100% honor in doing that, regardless what anyone else thinks.
This is dead on accurate. Frankly I am more than shocked how since I was RA’d over a year ago after 25 years in my “friends” (i thought) and peers have just treated me as if I died or something. I rarely if ever have heard from anyone, it’s almost like they are afraid if they associate with you they too will be RA’d. Also While I hear other have fared well with the long IBM tenure and being 50+, I can say that I myself have not...It is almost as if I never existed, as if I never had a long successfull career, as if I have no worthwhile or useful experience to land in a job. I am working now to barely make ends meet and I rarely have any invitation for a real interview. It seems I am auto-deselected for every job I have applied for (I would estimate 500 in the last 15 months). My career is seemingly lost now as the longer I am out the less change I have to get back in, my oldest started college two months before I was RA’d and my whole family has been very impacted by all of this. I just am shocked by how screwed I am and how little society in general cares that this is happening to so many others too.
I left before being RA'd. It is true few people stayed in touch, which was a minor let down. Some did though. It is also true that there are lots of opportunities outside IBM. Life not only goes on but improves.
True. But, remember... Karma will follow you. Treat all people with dignity.
So very true. I lady I worked with over a year ago was RA’D . She had 90 days then out the door. The co workers treated her like dirt and her manager had her doing all the work. It was a shame to watch this. I helped her find information and gave her support. Me. Watson has to be rolling in his grave . All dogs have their day, folks working will someday be on the chopping block.
Yup. When you get laid off, you'll quickly find out who your friends really are. And with IBM, it's likely you'll have only a few, at best. You are damaged goods; everyone left is still golden. IBM promotes this mentality by having classes of employees.