Losing long term relationships

June 9, 2009 by admin
Filed under Life Skills, layoff

Unemployed

Those of us with full time jobs, usually spend approximately 40-45 hours a week in the employ of our company. We actually spend more time at work and in the company of our co-workers than we do with our spouse or significant other, unless of course, we work with them.

A thought crossed my mind today. I wonder how people cope with emotions once they go back to work after a layoff? Many people are in denial, or they just get emotionally drained and don’t care. I think people may be wary of relationships at a new position until they are sure there is security there. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me”.

So do people go to a new job with a sense of reservation? At my last three week contract, I focused on work unless I needed to interact. Why go through the effort of creating friendships only to lose them in three weeks? It may not be the best approach, but it was what it was and how I felt. Then I came home on weekends to see family and friends.

At the company I used to work for, the layoffs over the past 9 months or so have been done a few at a time. But recently they notified quite a few of them that “in 30 days you will be laid off”. Now how can that be in the best interest of the employee? Do companies not care? I came across an article today at How I got Laid Off dot Com, called One Long Month. The author describes the feelings of having to sit for a month knowing someone else will be filling her seat after she leaves.

I guess the world is changing. It used to be kids wanted to work where dad did, and get benefits when they retired. Then it was college will get you a good job. Now it’s “anything goes” as long as it benefits the company.

Photo courtesy Flickr by erix!