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You might be wondering what to say (or not say) to your colleagues who have been laid off recently.
It can be a tough situation for everyone involved, and it’s important to remember that everyone is dealing with the news in their way. Some people might be ready to talk about it, while others might not want to discuss it at all. Be sensitive to your colleagues’ feelings and give them the space they need.
Here are a few extra tips on how to approach the situation.
Ask how they’re doing
Your colleagues are probably going through a lot of emotions, so asking them how they’re doing can pave way for conversations. Whatever you do, don’t say any of the following:
- This is God’s plan for you.
- You have the freedom now that you’re unemployed.
- It’s not that bad. You will find another job in no time.
Do offer to help
What can you do to be helpful? Well, for starters, you can be a listening ear. Let your colleague know that they can talk to you about anything they want. You can also offer practical help, like looking out for job openings or helping them update their resume. But be careful not to overstep your bounds. If your colleague doesn’t want your help, don’t push it.
Keep in touch
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It can be tough to know what to say to a colleague who has been laid off recently. On the one hand, you want to be supportive, but on the other hand, you don’t want to make things seem worse than they are.
Here are a few tips for maintaining contact with your colleague after they’ve been laid off:
- Send them a text or an email now and then, just to check-in.
- Keep the lines of communication open. Let them know that you’re available to talk if they need to.
- If they’re going through a tough time, offer to help out however you can. Whether it’s talking on the phone or taking them out for coffee, let them know that you’re ready when they are.
Avoid platitudes
So often, we default to platitudes, which don’t help at all. You want to be a good friend, but you don’t want to seem like you’re minimizing the person’s experience. Here are a few tips for what to say (and not say) to your colleagues who have been laid off recently:
- Don’t say “I’m sorry.”
- Don’t say “It’s for the best.”
- Don’t say “Everything will work out in the end.”
- Do say “I’m here for you.”
- Do say “We’re all behind you.”
- Do say “It’s tough, but you will get through it.”
It can be tough to know what to say to a colleague who’s been laid off. You want to offer your support, but you don’t want to say the wrong things and make matters worse. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re talking to someone who’s been laid off: be understanding, offer your help and support if they need it, and don’t make assumptions about what they’re going through. Remember, every person reacts differently to being laid off. Just let them know that you’re there for them if they need anything.
