Quick disclaimer:
I am writing this to share a human factor of the global situation we are all in, and for others who might feel the same way to let them know that they aren’t alone. It’s healthy, and you will be ok.
I had been wanting to write a post for a while about everything I am experiencing with Covid-19. And I will make a lighter one after this about the working from home, challenges balancing the kids school (check my Instagram for that fun) while my nurse wife continues working in the clinic, staying on top of meals for the little parasites that don’t stop eating, and just trying not to lose my mind.
But there has been one thing that stands out and will become the defining center piece for me during the Corona Lockdown of 2020.
The professional toll corona took on so many million careers and dreams.
The latest Goldman Sachs forecast predicted a 9% contraction for the first quarter of this year in the USA and a 34% contraction in the second quarter. This large drop in GDP is consistent with 19.8 million jobs lost by July. While this number seems staggering the personal perspective is far more eye opening. It wasn’t just jobs that were lost, it was the time invested into the respective companies that was stolen by this microscopic devious bug. I write this as one of the many in the hopes that this story resonates with others in this situation.
I Was Let Go From My Job
Let me tell my story..
Since I joined Similarweb 3 years ago, I learned a grew a tremendous amount, and I know without a doubt, that I was able to make an impact on the business (data driven is a core value after all).
And yet, here I am, writing a “layoff blog post” because a global pandemic has forced them to make some tough calls.
Which I get, by the way.
Companies Need To Make Tough Calls
These things happen. Business has to continue, and a business has responsibilities to share-holders and finding a way to sustain itself when it sees a threat. If this is how they choose to do it, well, that’s a bit above my pay grade.
But I do get it.
And I am not angry at Similarweb for laying me off. In fact, I am quite thankful and appreciative for my time there, all the opportunity I was given, the personal accomplishments I achieved, and the friendships I made during my time there, which I consider some of the closest in the world.
I have every intention on staying close to the company.
Redundancy is a Different Kind of Layoff
During my lay off meetings, it was made very clear to me that this had NOTHING to do with my personal performance. This was due to the global situation, and in an effort to cut costs there was a consolidation of teams which created a redundancy in the organization.
So I want to be clear.
I am not angry. I wish I had the chance to leave on my own terms with dignity & with the chance to make a proper goodbye.
I do wish all my accomplishments could be shared to give an accurate representation of reality.
Because I am proud of all my hard work, and what I helped build.
But then the virus. And what I am trying to prevent is the corona virus changing the perception of the last 3 years of my professional career.
Sometimes, for different reasons, people need to leave the team. I recognize and accept that I am no longer a part of the team. But the distinction I want to make is between myself and someone dismissed for poor performance or a dozen other reasons that are not redundancy.
Redundancy is Not The Same as Poor Performance
What hiring managers and companies need to understand is that redundancy is NOT the same as poor performance and should not be treated the same. And while I think (I hope) I will be okay, there are many others in the same boat as me that may be judged a bit too quickly, and there must be a way to make this distinction.
What I am left wondering is:
- What can companies do to help ensure there is no confusion?
- How can they differentiate reasons for parting ways?
- What can companies do to better assist their colleagues who leave on good terms, yet still have to be dismissed for reasons beyond their control?
What I would like to personally find, is a way to ensure that the work I did and the team I helped build, are not forgotten, tainted, or misconstrued.
There are many others in the same situation and while our time at these companies may be over, that shouldn’t reflect anything about our personal accomplishments, the relationships we built, or the time we poured into the growth of a company. When this GDP contraction reverses from the ending of Corona, we will collectively find ourselves in a new normal with companies that have reinvented themselves to become more adaptive to such situations. I like many others are super excited to join a team and company where our impacts can be felt, and help grow the company well beyond it’s pre corona goals.
Wishing everyone much luck and gratefulness. It will be ok. You will be ok.
And you are not alone.
We got this!