Tell me your positive redundancy stories!

[Bluesky5512]

I found out yesterday that I was being made redundant. My position is being eliminated. I’ve been with this company (tech) for over 3yrs. Gave it my everything, incl frequent international travel and late night US calls. They have me enormous flexibility in return, that I’m really grateful for.

If you were made redundant before and it ended well for you, pls could you share your stories? I have a long road ahead of me, but feeling really down and demotivated.

DH was made redundant many years ago as the last person in therefore first out when recession hit. Much less of a structured process back then.

He was rehired later and within 15 years was the major shareholder in the business.

Use your existing contacts and network like mad. You never know who will prove to be that link.

Good luck.

I lost my job as part of a mass round of redundancies, when our 'parent' company decided it wasn't interested in us any more, 4 years after acquiring us.

The process itself was awful - three months of 'consultancy', uncertainty, misinformation and unfairness.

But...

I'd worked there for 23 years. And it was only after I left, that I realised how institutionalised is become - and also, the real market rate for my skills.

I now work freelance, earning more than I did before with a vastly improved work life balance. My confidence has soared, and at 51 years old, I really feel like the next stage of my working life is going to be the best.

Wishing you every success, OP. Do allow yourself to grieve, and be angry if appropriate - and then look forwards with a sense of your real worth x

'I'd become'

Yes it’s always horrible at the time but nearly everyone who has ever been made redundant looks back and can say it ended up positive.

first time I was quite young and just used all my free time to apply to loads of jobs and network like mad. Ended up in a much more stimulating and better paid role.

second time I was more established in my career and had been wanting to go freelance for years but didn’t have the guts or savings to take the plunge. The redundancy forced me to start freelancing and I was turning down work within 3 months as I was so busy (and better paid). I’ve freelanced for 12 years now and I set my hours to fit around my life and take the summer off with the kids. I earn a lot more in 3 days a week than I would in a similar role full time salaried.

best thing that ever happened to me!

I was made redundant at the start of 2020. It was the first time and I was devastated.

I found a new job which paid £5k more pretty much straight away. I started two weeks before lockdown so I was put on furlough within a month. I was paid 100% the entire time (I wouldn't have been at my previous company). I was then WFH full time.

My "new" company is much more flexible - I work 8-4 which suits me better than 9-5. I don't work Fridays. I'm still WFH most of the time, which my old company stopped as soon as they could.

My pay has increased each year. We even got a Cost of Living supplement for a year of £2000.

My old company went into liquidation in the end.

Sounds very similar to what happened with the company I work for, glad u r happy

I’ve had the most stressful day ever. It’s hard. I don’t know how people prepare for job interviews in this frame of mind.

DH was made redundant, then hired almost immediately back into the same company (a bank) as a contractor on twice his salary. Some years later the bank restructured and he was made a permanent member of staff again...then made redundant.

He'd had enough of the ups and downs so we both retrained in a field that had always interested us. When we qualified, we started our own business working together and had an absolute ball. It was a success from day one and we did it happily until we retired.

Redundancy forced us to be brave and follow our hearts.
Be positive and it will all work out brilliantly for you, I'm sure.

I was made redundant 2 years ago and it forced me to reconsider lifestyle and wider family needs instead of carrying on with more of the same in an organisation that had messed me around a lot. I now freelance and have more headspace to support dd, who has asd and has struggled with school and social difficulties since covid. I have less money but a better balance that I feel very grateful for. That's a very specific kind of positive, but sometimes it takes a push like redundancy to consider a change in direction.

Been made redundant three times, the last time was the absolute charm, I know work in a fabulous environment with great flexibility.

It's scary but it really can open up doors you'd never have even knocked on before.

I applied to this one the day I was paid off, said I was made redundant and could start the next day if needed.

Unfortunately due to cc in 2007 dh got stuck in an awful company but with credit crisis etc he had to stay put people losing jobs all over.

Then after that he was made redundant.

He enjoyed time at home, went to loads of interview and then got a job in a am all company and one that I think treats them well... And he's been given so many more pay rises... It was very very good for him

yes, first time. It’s been incredibly stressful