Redundancy positive stories please

[namechange39573]

Being made redundant and feeling really low. I have never felt this crap before I just feel like it won't improve. I can't see how I am going to get another job when so many others are also losing their jobs. I have two children and feel like life is going to be so much harder for them.
Is it normal to feel like this? Think I would appreciate some positive but also honest stories.
What isn't helping when speaking to family members they just acted because I will get about £5000 redundancy like I have won a prize . I'm very thankful I will get the money I know some people don't get anything but I would much sooner have my job.

I was made redundant about 7 years ago. It was awful. The communication was appaling. They hid issues so I had just bought a house and booked a holiday which obviously I never would have done if I knew that was on the cards. They closed ranks and refused to communicate. My actual redundancy letter came before my boss even spoke to me about it all. The letter was full of errors which was irrationally angry at but I guess it was the stress of the situation. I cried a lot during that period and I felt that they didn't fight hard enough for funding for my role (charitable sector).

Get applying for jobs now. It's definitely true that it's easier to get a job when you're in a job. You might have to apply for things that you wouldn't necessarily normally go for. A temporary stop gap. I was so lucky that I secured a job just before my end date but redundancy still hit me really hard. It's an awful process and all my sympathy goes out to you.

I was made redundant 5 years ago. There was about 40 of us in total. They shrunk the department to far less jobs.

Everyone who left landed in a better position, whether better paid or a career they preferred etc. At the time it felt horrendous but even a year down the line most people I spoke to said the redundancy had ended up being positive for them.

So don’t lose hope!

Thank you both I go from feeling positive that hopefully a better job is around the corner and maybe in the future I will feel it was good for me. To feeling crap esp when I hear of more job losses each day on the news.
I think what bothers me more is the fact the company is not doing bad at all. They have been looking for a way to justify reducing our department for a long time. We haven't even been furloughed because they needed us.

Watching as in the same boat.

Hope you find something soon @Pregnantandredundant. I'm assuming from your name you are pregnant. Did they try and find you an alternative role as you are in a protected group for being pregnant?

Hope you find something soon @Pregnantandredundant. I'm assuming from your name you are pregnant. Did they try and find you an alternative role as you are in a protected group for being pregnant?

Thanks. No additional protections for being pregnant sadly. I’m trying to negotiate a solution.

Some things that have made me feel better:

• I’ve had some really low points in my life, at every point life has worked out and I wouldn’t be where I am now (very happy apart from the redundancy!) if it wasn’t for a few things going wrong
• redundancy is almost a rite of passage nowadays that everyone has to go through at some point in their career. Very very few people avoid it
• it’s not personal, not a reflection on how good you are at your job. It’s purely Covid (or is in my situation)

Also I’m the same as you and haven’t been furloughed, so totally get that it’s a shock

I was made redundant and it worked out well for me.

I should say that I owned my own property but didn't have children at the time, so a slightly different situation.

I went out and got some temp office work as soon as I could, and applied for a vocational course to retrain in a different profession and I never looked back.

I realise that the world is a bit different now (this was more than 10 years ago), but I remember my dad telling me that people often go on to pursue what they are more interested in after redundancy, and that really struck a chord with me. Though I should say that I didn't feel my new career path was really what I was interested in at the time, but looking back it was the best decision I have ever made, and wouldn't have done had I stay employed in my prior job.

I hope things work out well for you.

I was made redundant 8 years ago. It was stressful but I got a really big payout - 32k, and I went straight into a new job on more money, so it worked out well for me.
I was in the public sector, hence the big payoff. I found getting work easy (I'm in IT,) it will depend on your industry. Good luck!

I was made redundant at the end of last year after being with the same company for over 20 years. I was devastated and ended up needing counselling because my sef esteem hit the floor and I was suffering from anxiety. I applied for one job (having not had an external interview for over 20 years, got it and started in January and have never been so happy in a job. Sometimes things happen for a reason and the key advice I can give is to stay positive.

I’ve been made redundant twice. Both times it’s worked out fine, I have found a new job that’s been good for my career and family life. Make sure you get a decent solicitor specialising in employment law to review your agreement and ensure you get everything you’re entitled to. Don’t be afraid to ask for extras - I got to keep my nearly brand new laptop and an iPhone for example which was helpful, those maybe written off in their finances. Good luck!