Do Lay-offs Hurt Our Ego?
I wrote this article for some people from Europe or from a different culture that may envy us, the people living in the USA, for freedom, opportunities and more material advantages.
Many do not know that we pay a price and that is more stress because the job insecurity.
The truth is that in our capitalist world most companies work for profit and in the due process the capital and resources are reassigned continuously.
The destruction and corporate lay-offs are part of economic reconstruction and business optimization.
I learned that from school and my experience.
Despite this is part of my business thinking now, I still have my ego problem being separated and retired the American style.
I worked with hundreds of people at that company.
Some died before retirement, some retired with diploma, cake and coffee.
I paid respect or enjoyed the retirement parties as they timely happened.
Saying "Goodbye" to coworkers or to everybody who touched your life it is a civilized and desirable way to end with your employer.
In fact my direct supervisor did not know about my scheduled separation was for that morning.
The departure "ceremonies" were early in the day and short.
The security person help with my personal belongings and the orientation meeting for a new job application sanitized to some extent the hard feelings to everybody - including the executives.
Nobody was happy doing the separation for sure.
Later, at the new job orientation meeting I asked the instructor, "Why this separation process was used?" He said, "The lay-off process is very common in the USA.
The employee is told that his/her position is terminated and a security person accompanies him/her to the company's door.
This way the company's property, computer data are protected and loud or angry statements from separated people, very disturbing and bad for remaining people morale and their productivity are avoided.
The personal belongings are packed and mailed.
" Later the resume instructor did some counseling and tried to convince me that I am a professional mechanical engineer that enjoyed working with like people for a big company.
After recent separation I should bring happily my enriched experience to the next job challenge.
I have to agree, this is a safe and sane reasoning under circumstances.
That does not mean that every body's ego is coming so fast to a peaceful resolution after separation event.
The American way is to identify yourself with your job.
"You are what you work" is a common belief.
Some separated people died home, dressed for work with past company logo on their shirts, in about one year after their retirement, because the "identity loss" pain.
Certainly I am more than my past job description.
I wrote this article about lay-offs for all of us too.
We have been "dealt" new cards again so to speak; it is up to us how we play them next.
My articles about corporate lay-offs and related economic issues are available at:
Many do not know that we pay a price and that is more stress because the job insecurity.
The truth is that in our capitalist world most companies work for profit and in the due process the capital and resources are reassigned continuously.
The destruction and corporate lay-offs are part of economic reconstruction and business optimization.
I learned that from school and my experience.
Despite this is part of my business thinking now, I still have my ego problem being separated and retired the American style.
I worked with hundreds of people at that company.
Some died before retirement, some retired with diploma, cake and coffee.
I paid respect or enjoyed the retirement parties as they timely happened.
Saying "Goodbye" to coworkers or to everybody who touched your life it is a civilized and desirable way to end with your employer.
In fact my direct supervisor did not know about my scheduled separation was for that morning.
The departure "ceremonies" were early in the day and short.
The security person help with my personal belongings and the orientation meeting for a new job application sanitized to some extent the hard feelings to everybody - including the executives.
Nobody was happy doing the separation for sure.
Later, at the new job orientation meeting I asked the instructor, "Why this separation process was used?" He said, "The lay-off process is very common in the USA.
The employee is told that his/her position is terminated and a security person accompanies him/her to the company's door.
This way the company's property, computer data are protected and loud or angry statements from separated people, very disturbing and bad for remaining people morale and their productivity are avoided.
The personal belongings are packed and mailed.
" Later the resume instructor did some counseling and tried to convince me that I am a professional mechanical engineer that enjoyed working with like people for a big company.
After recent separation I should bring happily my enriched experience to the next job challenge.
I have to agree, this is a safe and sane reasoning under circumstances.
That does not mean that every body's ego is coming so fast to a peaceful resolution after separation event.
The American way is to identify yourself with your job.
"You are what you work" is a common belief.
Some separated people died home, dressed for work with past company logo on their shirts, in about one year after their retirement, because the "identity loss" pain.
Certainly I am more than my past job description.
I wrote this article about lay-offs for all of us too.
We have been "dealt" new cards again so to speak; it is up to us how we play them next.
My articles about corporate lay-offs and related economic issues are available at: