Redundancy during Covid - Support Thread

[Defenbaker]

After being on furlough for months I have just been made redundant from my job as a part time secretary. I had been there over 20 years, and was one of the longest serving staff members. I enjoyed the work and liked most of the people there, so I feel quite down about losing my job.

My redundancy payment is a decent sum, so will tide me over for a few months, but I'm in my late 50s so I think that getting another job will be hard, especially with so many others losing their jobs during the pandemic. Also, I actually feel a bit fearful of putting myself out there, attending interviews, etc, especially with the infection rates rising. For the same reason I'm nervous of doing any voluntary work which would involve a lot of contact with strangers, as I am of an age where I might not shrug off the virus easily. I'm too young to retire, and won't have any pension for years, so I have to get my head around the job search issue. Perhaps I could get a job as a home based typist - has anyone else gone down this route?

Due to Covid, the office had greatly reduced the number of desks, so when I went into the office to return my laptop etc there were very few people around. My line manager met me to tie up the loose ends and I emptied my locker. He said some nice things about what a good worker I had been, and gave me a small card with a gift voucher inside. He was the only person who had signed it. I was grateful he'd made some sort of effort for me, but couldn't help thinking about all the other times when people had left the firm, when they had been made a huge fuss of, had been given gifts and flowers, and a huge card with lots of personal messages written inside. I know that things are different now, because maybe people are loathe to pass a card around and sign it, and fewer people are in the office anyway, but I couldn't help feeling a bit hurt that nobody else had even signed the card. A small thing in the grand scheme of things, considering all the awful things that people are going through right now, but it made me feel like I'd been cast aside without a second thought.

During furlough I had no contact with anyone from the office apart from occasional emails from my line manager, so I am totally in the dark as to who else has been made redundant, although I'm told that others are also going. There was no way for me to talk things through with others in the same boat (if indeed there were any), and there is no way of knowing whether my employer just used Covid as an excuse to justify getting rid of me, so I keep wondering about these things.

So, I'm a bit down about all this, and would welcome feedback from others going through the same thing. Posted in AIBU for traffic.

Ah, OK, so clearly IABU to think anyone would want to share their experiences here and/or offer a bit of moral support. I guess that it's pretty rare for anyone to be in one job for 20 years so maybe there are very few people around who can understand how I feel.

I will get this thread deleted.

I can’t really advise as not in the same position but I know someone who has a job as an audio transcriber, recently started and works from home

It’s horrible to be made redundant especially during these weird times. It’s happened to me before but not during the pandemic (yet) but didn’t want to read and run. The card thing is hard after so many years there. Your job was such a huge part of your life for so long being made redundant like that is horrible.

The thing I would say is that many people I know who was made redundant (Including me to some degree) managed to create something positive out of it in the long run. It’s a weird time I know but is there something you have always wanted to do that you can do now? Even your post maybe helping others who are in this situation.

op

Ah I am so sorry. Can you have a get together when things settle down? We've had a few people leave our work and as soon as time allows, we will book a meal out to say goodbye... even if it is a year late!

@Defenbaker

Ah, OK, so clearly IABU to think anyone would want to share their experiences here and/or offer a bit of moral support. I guess that it's pretty rare for anyone to be in one job for 20 years so maybe there are very few people around who can understand how I feel.

I will get this thread deleted.

This is the second thread today I've seen a poster get uppity because no one has replied within seconds. We don't all sit around waiting for someone to create a thread you know?!

I can imagine it's very sad after how long you've worked there but leaving cards gifts etc are tricky at the moment - how would you expect loads of people to sign it if they are all WFH? so I think you are reading too much into that

Also your "only" in your 50s that isn't the highest risk category for the virus by any means and shouldnt preclude you getting out into the community doing some volunteering etc at least after Xmas

Op, I'm in the same situation, furloughed all summer then made redundant at the end of August. It's rubbish isn't it. I'm the same age as you but I was full time, I'm a lone mum and I still have a small mortgage.

So I'd been interviewing and actually it's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. There are plenty of roles to apply for (I work in marketing), interviews are via zoom or Skype and the DWP lets you sign on online, and just calls you once a fortnight for a chat.

Tips for Skype interviews,

• Throw everyone else in the house off broadband for the duration of the interview
• Join the call 5 mins early so you can fiddle with volume etc
• Dress for the office even though you are in your kitchen
• Lift the level of your laptop or tablet up with some thick books so your interviewer doesn't have to look at the underside of your chin.
• Don't panic if the call drops, it happens regularly. Your interviewer should call you back.

I've just done a 2nd interview for one job and got a first interview for another next week so quite positive really. PM me if you need any help. Honestly, you'll be fine

@ivfbeenbusy. I know we are all having a crap time, but hardly helpful.......

I felt so sad for you reading your post. I’m not going through the same but I can imagine this must be so hard for you. You have lost a large part of your identity - with little acknowledgment.

Your loss is real and many people would feel the same. You were brave to reach out on here.

Be kind to yourself and take things slowly. You are obviously a good employee as you have been consistent and loyal over the years. You will be okay. Keep posting/talking (here or elsewhere) as it can help to validate/ process your experience.

If you feel low for a lot time then think about seeing your GP.

Also and lots of unmumsnetty hugs ((((((())))))))) from across the globe. You are in my thoughts OP

If you are in UK you are entitled to Universal credit contributions based job seekers allowance. Apply on line at www.gov.uk apply today, it cannot be back dated.

Good luck

Thanks for all your replies, this feedback is all useful and I do appreciate it, as I am feeling very isolated at the moment.

@CayrolBaaaskin @quelquechose Yes, I worked there for over a third of my life, and although there is much more to life than work, I think that a person's job is a big part of their identity, especially if it's a job they enjoy. I am grieving what I've lost, but of course it's not on a par with the grief people feel when they suffer a bereavement (which I have experienced, having lost both parents in one year). I'm not bad at writing, and have toyed with the idea of trying to get something published, so that is something I could focus on. I used to write poems when people left the firm, which were read out at their leaving presentations. People complimented me on them, and my line manager sometimes said my talent was wasted working as a secretary. ☺ [Quietly beams with pride at happy memory] So, having made a lot of effort for others when they left the firm, the lack of signatures on the card did sting a bit.

@Mintjulia Thanks so much for all the tips re Skype. I've never done any kind of Skype or Zoom call at all, I just have a basic tablet and don't know anything about video calls, so this is all alien to me. I will have to learn - fast!

@T1me0outT1ny Thanks for the timely reminder... yes, I will apply promptly.

@ivfbeenbusy That's a bit unkind. It had not been just seconds when I made my second post- it had been over 5 hours. I appreciate that people have busy lives and can't always respond promptly, but I was surprised that no one had responded and began to think maybe my post was viewed as being too self indulgent. I'm feeling a bit sensitive about it all, but I need to toughen up.

I'm 59, so more susceptible to the virus than someone in their early 50s (looking at the stats, the death rate triples from 50s to 60s). I will look into voluntary work, but am a bit wary of too much face to face contact with people.

I was made redundant this summer after being with the same company for 10 years and have just turned 50. Thankfully I am a few weeks into a new job and whilst I am a little out of my comfort zone I keeping telling myself it is early days and not to be too hard on myself!

It's not nice being made redundant but it is not a reflection on your capabilities just the difficult times we are in. Keep positive, get your CV up to date, get on LinkedIn with the open to work option and connect with any clients or contacts you might have. Also sign up with several job agencies and take any free courses you can to refresh your skills. Good luck and just remember that you are not old but experienced!

This year I trained as a telephone counsellor (volunteer for a not for profit). All the training was done via zoom and my role is via telephone.

It was very straightforward and no pressure to train remotely. A very kind and supportive training environment.

It really helped me to help other people during the last lockdown. I also made some great (remote) connections with other people doing the course.

Is this something that might help you to stay occupied/connected at the moment. You sound like someone who is good at articulating your emotions.

You also write well - just saying. I’ve also found the best legal secretaries would have been good lawyers - but they didn’t have the same life choices/opportunities as the lawyers.

Also you are not being self-indulgent. You have lost something that was important to you. And you had no acknowledgment from your team etc.

It’s normal to feel bereft. The fact you can identify this will help you move forward, in time.

Try to focus on the bits of your like that are going okay. But, it’s normal to feel down too - you are only human and anyone would feel sad in your place.

@Dobbyismyfavourite Congrats on your new job. It's good to hear that you landed one so quickly - it gives me hope! I can well understand the feeling of being outside your comfort zone - it's scary stuff. I struggle with remembering names, so I'm always nervous about meeting new people - maybe I should just use that cheesy line "strangers are just friends you haven't met yet". If I keep telling myself that, do you think it might work?

@quelquechose That sounds like interesting work - are you able to share more about it? I'm more confident with writing than speaking, but I am quite good at empathising with people, so perhaps I could find something similar. Interesting you mentioned legal secretaries - I didn't. Have we met in RL? Not an issue as you have been so kind, but I'm curious now.

Thanks for your good wishes @Defenbaker I hope you find work soon and sometimes it is good for us to take a step outside our comfort zone. I am finding some days at work a challenge but others just brilliant. I was forwarded an e-mail the other day praising me for my input, it was a huge confidence boost! We are both definitely not too old for a new and exciting job. I'm sure yours is just on the horizon.

I am older than you and interviewed for my current job during lockdown. Interviewing only by phone / Skype was odd but it was fine. And I am really enjoying working for a company that is properly set up for remote working.

@Dobbyismyfavourite That sounds great, your new employers seem to really appreciate you.

@notquiteruralbliss Thanks, that's another post that gives hope to older people that some employers value experience over youth.

I've been looking around job agencies online and there are very few jobs that match my skills, and none of them in my home town or near enough for me to commute to (I drive, but am not overly confident on long journeys). Also, in most cases the pay being offered is a much lower hourly rate - I think employers are using the pandemic to cut overheads by getting rid of older, long serving staff like myself, who tend to be higher paid, have more perks and also might be more likely (statistically) to need more time off sick as they work through their final few years before retirement. I wouldn't be surprised if my job (or something similar) is advertised by my ex employer in a year or so, with a much lower pay rate. I'm not bitter about it, but that is my take on it. In theory, if they readvertise my old job too soon they would put themselves at risk of me claiming a sham redundancy and taking them to an employment tribunal, but in practice I wouldn't go down that route.

There is a lot of seasonal work around, in the retail sector. I'd happily stack shelves, but am wary of working in such a high footfall environment while the pandemic continues. I realise that's quite cowardly of me, but I think it's wise to wait until I get vaccinated before putting myself in a high risk environment.