The Push Back- Covid-19 Redundancy Plan

We are in the middle of a global pandemic and we all know life will never quite be the same again. Sadly for many of us, our jobs & careers will never be the same either. In the UK the Government has rolled out a furlough scheme that pays employees 80% of salaries up to £2,500 per month. However, this won’t last forever and there will no doubt be redundancies. The scaling back of schemes such as this will mean businesses will be presented with stark choices on staffing and a negative balance sheet.

Imagine the scene then, you are sitting in a room or having a video call with your line manager, a representative from H.R., and perhaps a member of your trade union. You know what is about to happen and then it does……..“I am sorry we are letting you go.” You knew that redundancy was in the air but it couldn’t apply to me……..could it? You may be feeling numb, crushed, anxious, and sick to your stomach.  You may try to rationalise the events as necessary to finally get away from a toxic self-obsessed line manager. These and many more emotions are what you feel after being “let go.”

Most of us will experience this issue at some point during our working life. However, with the Covid-19 hanging over us as well and businesses struggling to make ends meet, then redundancy is a sad consequence of these eventualities. In reality, most of us will experience redundancy, the dreaded sack, or be a victim of “downsizing” up to three times in a working lifetime. So what do we do? How do we manage the psychological fallout from not being at work? How do we push back and get back out there into a new and job or even a different career path?

The fall out from Redundancy

During the redundancy period, our frame of reference is generally that not at work = being on holiday = happy days! Initially, there can be a sense of elation of “I am free”. For some, the release and euphoria can seriously delay the need to update the career focus & employability. However, this time it’s different, as we have been locked down with COVID-19  for some time. We have had time to become anxious and stressed about what might be about to unfold with our jobs.  With so much time on lockdown, the feeling of elation and being on holiday have probably passed. It’s understandable that any thoughts of a holiday have long gone and we are just worried about our future working life. Therefore, now is the time to start to plan for all the possible eventualities – and what might happen to our jobs in the near future. Remember, forewarned is forearmed.

Redundancy for older workers (an older worker is now 40+ by the way)  may have a lot of ground to make up in terms of a CV, interview skills, etc. Just to bring them up to the minimum expectations of employers & recruiters. So being a mature worker may bring additional stresses and focus to be in a position to move on positively.

Pushing back from Redundancy

So a couple of months pass stuck at home the CV has been updated and jobs applied for – but no replies or invitations to interviews. Needless to say, some firms are not recruiting at the moment and jobs in your industry are thin on the ground. Generally, an individual may get one interview per ten applications. So this process can erode an already flagging sense of motivation, self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth. Sadly it is common for people who have been unemployed for 12 months or longer to show signs of moderate depression, anxiety, and many other mental health issues.

Redundancy & the lockdown can influence our eating habits that may change. We tend to focus on comfort carb-rich foods to help manage the negative emotions of being jobless. Stress, anxiety, and negative thoughts make it hard to get a good night’s sleep, resulting in fatigue and lethargy. Dame Carol Black (2008) highlights that being unemployed doubles a person’s chance of a major depressive episode and that unemployment. It is also sadly highly associated with domestic violence (currently on the rise during COVID-19) and alcohol abuse. Notwithstanding the increased risk of male suicide, often because of the link to depression. Therefore being out of work can be one of the most difficult, most devastating, debilitating, and distressing experiences that people go through. Especially during a global pandemic.

Get back on the horse quickly

The good old plan and implement model for job searching, CVs, covering letters, etc is a great place to start. This plan or anything that I am about to suggest is not new. There is a good reason for that, as it works. Especially if you need to get your job searching on track quickly. If you have more time then great, but for most people with bills to pay this plan will help. Many, if not all, employability and outplacement services will use the same model. Therefore use the services if you have access to them, if not then hopefully you can make use of the post redundancy plan on offer here.

To set you off in the right frame of mind, getting back to your core skills, abilities, knowledge, and experience are key. Find out the jobs that are available and start adapting the CV to apply online to get yourself moving forward. However, be clear on what you are aiming at for work, little is gained by sending your CV out willy-nilly. You need to be targeted and have a clear sense of purpose.

It’s Good to Talk

All this is all well and good but you may still be feeling, well, pretty angry, depressed and thoroughly hacked off with life. Firstly, find someone to talk to about how you feel. You might not be in the mood to talk to everyone about your situation of course. However, speaking with close friends or partners can help. Once you have had the opportunity to vent your spleen, it’s time to start writing. Write about what just happened to you, how you’re feeling, how does this impact your plans, and what you might do going forward. Is this time to start a business, go self-employed, or change career?

The goal isn’t to come up with a definitive plan or even to write anything coherently. Rather, the goal is to capture the thoughts and emotions you are experiencing right now. Principally so you won’t replay them and ruminate over and over in your mind.

The chance to rebalance your thinking about what has happened may take a few days, so just give yourself a bit of slack. Be kind to yourself, you have experienced a lot. Remember it’s not you that was made redundant it was your job – you are more than just a job. So take heart you will be back in the game and back to work in no time at all. Allow yourself the time to gather your thoughts and look forward to the next challenge.

Time to put the plan in place

Okay, time to get a plan in place. I am sure we all agree that none of us wants to experience the unwelcome effects of unemployment. So here is my ten-point plan to get you back to work in a positive and proactive way.

The COVID-19 Career Jump Starter Plan

1. Find support, enlist friends, and family to help you with your plans. Doing all this alone can be disheartening and demotivating. Find fellow job seekers in online support groups. Or people who may have been “let go” by the same organisation to keep each other in good spirits. Plus the fact there will always be a friendly voice and someone to share the ups and down’s of your job search.
2. Update the CV/Resume – Getting back to your core skills, abilities, knowledge, and experience is key to building confidence, self-esteem & self-efficacy. Highlighting what you have achieved, your legacy, and how your actions changed things for the better. Use the STAR model (loads of other models are available) to demonstrate situations, tasks, actions, and results for your CV/Resume.
3. Update your covering letter skills – not all job applications will need them but even if you use it for your own benefit, it will give you a chance to showcase where you add value. You can play around with your achievements and things about your career or work you are most proud of. Where you made a difference to the business etc.
4. Find out the jobs that are available and start to adapt your CV/ Resume. Be clear on what you are aiming at for work. You need to be targeted and have a clear sense of purpose for your job search.
5. So your resume in tip-top shape, let’s turn your attention to Linked In and social media platforms. There is a great deal of support online for LinkedIn, Facebook profiles, and job searching. In fact too much to summarise in a short plan. Find out what works for you, your industry, and the line of work. Start to find out what the movers and shakers are talking about in your area.
6. Compile a list of companies you would like to work for. Start with five to ten, but no more than twenty for now. Once you have this list, think about people you may know at each company. LinkedIn can be a great help with this aspect of your plan. The company page will show the first and second-degree connections you have at each one. Again check out what is talking about and potential opportunities coming up in the pipeline.
7. Get networking – Depending on your industry you may find local networking opportunities are available to go and meet people. The people you speak to will remember you and what you are looking for if you can make the right impression. Practice those all-important interpersonal skills and perhaps have a go at designing your personal career brand. It’s all about utilising those all-important rare and valuable skills that constitute your career capital. Don’t forget to network on social media also to showcase your skills and expertise in your industry or business area.
8. Sign up to job searching sites and don’t forget to set up alerts on each site as this will automate a lot of your search. Thus saving you both time and energy.
9. Make a list of people you haven’t connected for a while and invite them to for a virtual cup of tea or coffee. This may take you out of your comfort zone and you may well feel uncomfortable with this approach. However, I am sure you don’t want to be the world’s best-kept secret – so be bold, be brave, and talk to the people who can help you.
10. Keep healthy and active. With all this intensive work you will need a healthy body and mind. Be kind to yourself stay fit, eat well and most of all spend time with loved ones to help you through.

Review and Revise your Plans Regularly

After a while start to assess how things are going. Have you got interviews in the pipeline, if not have you received feedback on your CV/Resume from recruiters and HR perhaps. You will need as much feedback as possible to improve your offering. If feedback is not received after an application, then ask for it. Continue networking activities to build a presence. Whether you are experiencing some success or not, don’t stop until you have that all-important job offer in hand.

Keep up with your daily practice and keep networking. Don’t stop applying for relevant job openings. Focus on the things you can control and ignore those you can’t. Finally, treat your job search like a full-time job. Pitch up every day, do the work, then wrap things up and start over the next day. Even dress the part. As sometimes when we are dressed for work our minds will help us re-frame our sense of what we need to do. We are at work, after all, just a different type of work.

Of course, losing your job is tough at any time, but in a global pandemic is tricky. All of us manage the fallout of redundancy in many different ways. However, following a plan and having people to support you will help you get back on the horse sooner than later.

Lastly…………..

Now then being out of work is tough for all the reasons listed above, especially in the middle of a global pandemic. Being unemployed staring at the walls, worry about staying healthy, and supporting your family whilst hoping the phone will ring is soul-destroying. However, with the right support, there are lots of opportunities to help change your situation for the better. The psychological dimensions of being out of work can be difficult to overcome. Especially if you have been out of work with more than a year. Networks begin to disappear, your motivation and self-effectiveness for work can begin to ebb away. However, picking yourself up and constructing a purposeful plan will help you saddle up and move on to a brighter future.

The ten-point plan listed above will give you a plan to get moving. Though please feel free to add aspects that will help you and what is most appropriate for your area of work, business, or industry. However, in most cases, there is still a need for a CV/Resume to get toward that all-important interview so you can showcase your talents and valuable skills to the organisation.

You may need to be very clear on how you add value to an organisation i.e. what do you do to make things better. Is it processes, sales, or quality for example. If you don’t know what you are great how can you tell anyone about it? So practice, plan, and get out there. Be brave, be bold, and change your working life for the better and be ready for the post-COVID-19 world.

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References

Black, C (2008) “Working for a healthier tomorrow: work and health in Britain” Dept of Work & Pensions, London

David Dean is an independent career and coaching psychologist based in Cambridge, helping to make your career and professional life a nicer place to be.

The Homeworking Plan during Covid-19

Needless to say, we are in the middle of unprecedented circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Infections are on the rise and you may be one of many who can or are being asked to work at home. Not stuck squeezed yoga-like into train/underground carriage, maybe a good thing at the moment. Commuting and being in an office in close proximity can expose us to all manner of bugs least of all Covid-19. The best option then to keep yourself, your co-workers and loved ones healthy is home-based working.

However, working at home is not necessarily as easy as it sounds. Without the day to day buzzing around in an office, home working can be a serious challenge for many people. Families, hardware, software, distractions, etc, etc are all issues for the uninitiated home-based worker. So what can be done, what is the best way to approach the opportunity to stay productive, healthy and more to the point sane during our time at home at work during the pandemic?

Where to start

The thought of working at home can, at the outset, be a novel experience. Jumping out of bed and switching on the laptop in front of daytime telly can be quite appealing. Though as with any new way of working we need a plan. A plan that will cover all the bases. Where do we store work stuff, where do we work, how can we manage children when we are in the middle of an important call? How can we stay productive, if there is a pile of washing that can be done? All great questions that will need an answer at some point in the not too distant future, if you are planning to home-based working.

When we work at home we can experience a weird phenomenon, known as temporal and spatial separation. That’s to say, all of the cues around you are saying I’m at home but supposed to be at work. It’s the same the other way round when you are at work, everything is set up to tell you that you are at work – so we behave like it. Hence the reason that the commute is a great thing. A commute helps us move from one headspace to another seamlessly. Home is for family and friends and work is, well for worky stuff. The key then is to get your head around this concept as early as possible.

The Home Working Plan

So we have the concept of temporal and spatial separation between home and work to sort out. Simple, get up and do what you would do to get ready for work. Shirt and tie if you wear one or work clothes, have breakfast and “commute.” May be taking the dog for a walk, go for a jog or just nip down the shop for some milk. Something that helps you get your head ready for work. Of course, we can reverse the process at the end of the day to move from work to home. Ready to do battle with dragons, help with homework and just do home things. You get the picture.

Now then your workspace, where can you set up your desk?. You will need somewhere away from family activities if possible and something you can dress up as a workspace. Not everyone will have access to a spare room but it’s just about making your work station look and feel like one. You do not necessarily need to have a dedicated room, a corner in your living room or bedroom that’s been specially set-up as a workspace will suffice. By creating a dedicated workspace, you can raise your productivity levels and remain focused. The key is to keep the space clutter-free and well organised and give it a professional work orientated feel. It’s about getting your mind located in a place that you associate with being at work. All of the cues around you are about work and not necessarily at home. Try to minimise distractions and decorate the space in a way that helps you feel comfortable, yet productive

Get up and Move

We all know that being sedentary isn’t good and has consequences on the waistline as well as your wellbeing. Sitting at a desk will put pressure on joints and your back. Along with eye strain and headaches from constant use of a computer or other devices. Computer screens seem to suck your soul right out of your eye sockets and can feel like your life’s energy has been drained. How many of us forget the Health and Safety regulations we would apply in the workplace whilst we are at home at work? We still need to be mindful of all of the workstation regulations.

There is plenty of evidence for poor mental and physical health by such practices. On the flip side, of course, we are not being exposed to or exposing others to illness. In general, however, homeworking can exhibit significantly better work-life balance and improved wellbeing, If managed properly of course. In most cases, it’s about making small but meaningful changes to encourage a homeworking routine to ensure your service & maintain your mental and physical wellbeing.

Home Working Daily Plan

So here are a few things to consider when planning your home-based working life without compromising your working commitments but remaining in great shape.

• Up and Atom – don’t be tempted to nip downstairs in your pyjamas, check a few emails and pop back to bed. Get going and rise and shine, have a proper breakfast and perhaps some exercise before starting work. You will find the fresh air and the endorphins from the exercise will charge your thinking and you will feel ready for the day.
• Keep fit – plan in regular exercise during the day. Whether that is exercise at home, going for a run, walk or cycle rides will help to maintain motivation and supercharge your emotional wellbeing for your working day.
• Sit comfortably – Double check your chair to help protect your back and posture. Is it the right height, do you need a footrest, is the space around your desk clear ie no opportunities for slips trips or falls. Are your elbows directly below your shoulders when typing? There are lots of things online to help you with these aspects of home office health & safety along with safe computer use so try not to neglect this area.
• Desk Exercise – Find some doable neck, shoulders, eyes, fingers, wrists, arms and back exercises.
• Build your concentration levels – Working at home presents loads of opportunities for procrastination, so focus up keeping concentration levels up. Control your thinking patterns, try mindfulness meditation, manage your stress and anxiety of working at home. Build-in frequent changes to your working day to not accept the routine of the day.
• Stock the kitchen with healthy snacks and meals –Snacking during work is common across all workplaces and needless to say we’re all tempted to venture into the kitchen looking for something to brighten up a dull afternoon. Keep junk food or unhealthy snacks out of sight and instead stock up on fresh fruits and veg on your trips to the supermarket.

Lastly…….

There are good business & professional reasons for working at, in or from home during these unprecedented times. The key then is staying fit and healthy whilst working at home, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Alertness and effectiveness are easier when you are well and happy with your surroundings at work at home. If you’re working from home a lot in the coming weeks, it may be a good idea to get organised and start to plan your workspace. Negotiate with the family and to make sure when you are working at home you can stay productive.

I hope you find these suggestions interesting and please drop me a line with the activities you engage in whilst working at home to keep body and soul together. With just a few positive changes working at home can be a life-changing opportunity for a better work-life balance and staying free from the dreaded Covid-19 virus.