redundancies are going to be made and I'm absolutely terrified

[farewellfigure]

Hi. Our company has just announced that in our department, they are going to have to cut 2 of 10 of us. It's all very sensible, has to be done, I can't argue with their logic. However I am absolutely petrified that it's going to be me. I don't want to have to change. I like my job and the people I work with. I am treated amazingly well (I have it cushy to be honest) and after having DS I was allowed to go back 3 days a week, and 2 of those I work from home. I know I've been incredibly lucky. I've been there 17 years. If I have to leave I will either be forced to go freelance which terrifies me, or look for another job. What employee is going to want to take on someone who wants to work part-time at home, who has to drop their child off in the morning and pick them up again at 5.30, who can't drive. Oh god I am un-employable. I know there is no point in worrying because it might NOT be me, but 2 in 10 is not good odds and in the wee small hours I lie awake worrying. I'm putting a brave face on it in real life, but the next couple of weeks are going to be hell until we find out.

I've just realised I haven't asked AIBU. I'm in such a state! OK AIBU to not want to change, to be terrified, and to want everything to just stay exactly the same as it is.

Oh bless you, you sound in a proper panic

First of all, you have an 80% chance of keeping your job - good odds right?

THis happened to me last year, almost exactly in that I had moved from a full time to part time job with the same company, working 3 days a week instead of 5. Redundancies announced. Horrible stressful time as 7 of us competed for 5 jobs. I wasn't successful, I was made redundant.

I joined Linkedin, sent out CV's, contacted recruitment consultants etc and was offered another job pretty much straight away. I am so much happier in my new job, I can't tell you how good it was to be away from the old office, the atmosphere had changed and it was awful. We blew my redundancy money on a holiday

I now work full time, but made it clear at interview stage that due to dh being away a lot, I pretty much have sole responsibility for my kids and unless I had notice I would struggle to work before 9 and after 5. This was accepted without question (although to be fair I do occasionally take work home if it's needed urgently for the next day).

Working full time isn't ideal and I'm hoping to cut my hours eventually, but I wanted to let you know from the other side that it doesn't always work out badly.

Good luck :)

There's no point in panicking until it happens. Which is easier said than done, I know. So YANBU, it's a normal reaction to change. But all you can do is keep calm and hope for the best but prepare for the worst. So IIWY I would get my CV together, just in case.

No matter how many people tell you not to worry you obviously will. It is only natural. I have been in a similar situation myself and it is an awful feeling when you know that this is looming and it could be you. Especially when you have been in a job a long time.

But honestly, life goes on and, if the worse does happen, try to think of it as the beginning of something rather than the end.

Are your company likely to provide any sort of outplacement assistance? I was made redundant last year from a large company. I had only been there 7 years but some of my colleagues had been there for more than 20 - almost their whole career. The company paid for a specialist provider to come in and do workshops and one-to-ones to help people write CVs, discuss interview technique, work out what they wanted to do next, start their own business etc.

Back in 2004 I was made redundant from a smaller company and there they had someone from the HR/recruitment department spend a whole day giving a workshop on job-hunting. That was really useful as there were some people there in their late 40s who had had the same job since they were graduates so were totally out of practice at job-hunting.

If they don't provide anything see if you can get this advice elsewhere. Maybe Connexions can help.

Thing is, in both these situations, everyone finds something else eventually. Take it from me, when you have been through it once it will not seem like such a big deal if it happens again.

Good luck!! Get working on that CV cos even if you don't need it this time it will make you feel better to do something positive.

Thanks for the positive comments guys. I guess I surprised myself having such a dreadful night's sleep after having been quite positive and up-beat in the day time. My subconscious came to the fore in the wee small hours. A lot of people in my profession work as freelancers. It's just a bit nerve-wracking not going where the next mortgage payment is going to come from.

I suppose I'm a bit panicky as there are very few jobs near where I live and I'd probably have to commute to London. I just cannot do that every day, leaving DS at breakfast club and picking him up from a childminder (or whatever). That would be my worst nightmare. But needs must I guess... the mortgage will have to be paid somehow!

Firstly, after being there for 17 years, you would be entitled to a good payout if they let you go. Which may or may not factor into their unconscious thought process, but does give you a financial cushion if it is you.
But in the short term, worrying about it won't change anything, or make them less likely to keep you on. As it is really early stages, you might find they ask for volunteers and the decision is made for them (and that is often the easiest way to go for companies, because it saves them time, money and stress among staff)