Click here for a full transcript of the episode.

In this episode, we explore layoffs from the perspective of organizations downsizing their staff, colleagues who survive the layoffs but face new realities, and impacted staff who lose their jobs.

For organizations trying to come out on the other side of layoffs in a sustainable, positive, thriving way, we share some best practices from Employment Law Worldview. They recommend clearly documenting your business reasons, conducting an adverse impact analysis, ensuring compliance with the WARN Act and any local requirements, and preparing legally compliant communications and documentation. We also suggest that you not get so focused on the legal part that you forget these are human beings; be kind, communicate in an empathetic way, and consider offering outplacement support.

Employees who remain after layoffs may experience survivor’s guilt, lower morale, and increased workloads. If you survive a layoff, the Harvard Business Review recommends taking time to process your emotions, checking in on your impacted colleagues, clarifying your responsibilities, and reflecting on whether your values and interests still align with the company.

Last but not least, if you’ve been laid off, there are some steps we suggest you take. Start by giving yourself time to decompress and reminding yourself that this was a business decision and was not about you. Regain your sense of control; you weren’t responsible for what happened to you, but you need to move forward. Come up with a 30-second elevator pitch to tell people what happened and what you’re good at, and ask everyone you know to tell you if they have suggestions of people to talk to or companies to target. Apply for unemployment, because you’re due that money! Approach getting a new job in a balanced way; don’t go at it 24/7, because you’ll burn out.

In this episode’s listener question, we’re asked about team building recommendations for teams who are remote or working in various locations. In the news, we discuss ways to avoid toxic positivity.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Purple Ink
• Susan Tinder White Consulting
• ”How Many People Are Laid Off in the United States Each Month?”
• ”Best Practices for Employers When Implementing a Reduction in Force (US)”
• The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act
• Episode 35, ”Offering Outplacement? Outstanding!”
• ”You Survived a Layoff. Here’s What to Do Next.”
• SHRM’s How to Conduct a Layoff or Reduction in Force Guide
• Episode 197, ”Building Thriving Teams with Games and Play”
• ”How to Recognize and Avoid Toxic Positivity”
• SHRM credit evaluation – the SHRM credit code for this episode will expire on October 6, 2026
• JoyPowered® Patreon Page
• JoyPowered® on LinkedIn
• JoyPowered® on Instagram
• Email JoyPowered®

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