Job loss: exploring the emotional impact of being made redundant

Being made redundant from your job can feel terrifying and distressing. News of redundancy might be expected, or it could catch you by surprise. Redundancy enforces change upon us, whether we like it or not, and everyone will cope differently with this. In some cases, it can exacerbate existing mental health conditions.

The meaning of work 

Our jobs mean many things to us; some live to work, whilst for others, work is a means to an end. Crucially, work provides us with an income which enables us to pay our bills and to put a roof over our heads. For many people, work gives purpose and structure. It can offer social interaction and a sense of belonging. Work can be a huge part of a person’s identity and a source of pride, and if this is lost, a person may feel completely adrift. How you feel will be very personal to you, and how you process news of your redundancy will be very individual.

The aftermath

In the first few weeks after being made redundant, there will be the practical side of things to deal with, such as ensuring you are claiming any state benefits you are entitled to, taking a look at your household expenditure, updating your CV, and job hunting if you need to start earning again.

You might decide that you can take some time out of work to pursue other interests or take early retirement. Redundancy can happen at any stage in our working lives, so your individual circumstances will impact your decision-making, but in all cases, it means change, and it’s been forced upon you. How do you feel about change? What feelings and emotions does it evoke in you? 

There will be a lot to reflect on and process. Feelings of rejection or self-blame may rise up. You may feel aggrieved at your employer and their handling of the situation. You may want to seek legal advice if you feel they behaved unlawfully. This adds another layer of stress.

Sometimes, when a company goes through a restructure, it can take place in stages over a long period of time, so you might have watched colleagues or teams you worked with lose their jobs whilst you remained in post, wondering if or when it would happen to you. This can create a stressful and miserable working environment as people start to feel under threat and begin to view their colleagues as competition for a dwindling number of remaining positions. This can make the working environment feel hostile and toxic. So, even before your redundancy occurred, you might have been experiencing a lot of workplace stress over a prolonged period of time. It all takes a toll.  

If you gave your all to your job, the redundancy may have come as a massive shock and felt like a betrayal. You could be processing feelings of hurt and anger. It could feel in some ways like a bereavement, with you experiencing a huge sense of loss. Some employers may proclaim that their organisation is like ‘one big family’, so to then be informed that you are being made redundant will feel particularly brutal.

We have explored some of the negative feelings and emotions redundancy may evoke, but we need to acknowledge the positives, particularly if you didn’t enjoy your job or your workplace was toxic. There may be a sense of relief and freedom, coupled with money worries and more complicated emotions. Perhaps on paper you had a ‘good job’, but deep down you felt trapped, incredibly stressed and exhausted, but leaving would have been unthinkable as the salary and perks were so good.

The decision being taken out of your hands might actually come as a huge relief. Feeling a mix of emotions is very common and understandable. Redundancy could spur you on to retrain for a different career, take a career break and go travelling, or spend more time with family. Redundancy can open up new opportunities to do something you have always dreamed of doing. 

Taking care of yourself

It is vital that you take care of yourself during this time of change and upheaval. There are steps you can take to support your well-being, such as spending time with supportive friends and family, doing regular exercise and getting enough sleep. Spend time doing things that you enjoy or that make you laugh. If you have pets, give them extra walks or cuddles. During your time out of work, creating a daily routine for yourself might be helpful, as it will give some structure back to your days. You could take time each day to reflect on how you are feeling and notice how you feel. 

If you feel that you need more support, you could contact your GP or access counselling. Counselling can give you a space to talk and explore your feelings and emotions in a confidential space. The counsellor is not there to advise or give their opinion. During this time, the people around you might be trying to support you by giving advice or looking for a solution, but this can feel like pressure.

Losing a job can bring up feelings of vulnerability and impact self-esteem, especially if your job was a big part of your identity. The redundancy process may have left you feeling distressed, anxious and worn out. It is so important to remember that redundancy can and does happen to millions of people, and you are not alone. If you are in need of emotional support, please reach out.