Melanie Ehrenkranz is well acquainted with employment uncertainty. Over the past ten years in her career in media, she has witnessed numerous intelligent and talented acquaintances losing their positions during widespread cutbacks.
In 2023, when this occurred, she had a revelation: Ehrenkranz resolved to develop a platform where individuals experiencing job losses could share their experiences and insights. thorny parts Of receiving the news—the humiliation of being dismissed via video call, deciding whom to tell first, engaging in workplace rumors with former colleagues, and naming their support group chat.
To put it differently, everything you wish to share but cannot publish on LinkedIn.
By August 2024, Ehrenkranz initiated Laid Off , a Substack newsletter designed to be “the most awesome spot online for discussing getting fired.” She manages this newsletter alongside her role as the head of content and community at Business Class, where they create online courses for entrepreneurs.
Laid Off readers, who now number over 6,000 and counting, receive weekly features highlighting individuals' layoff experiences and their coping strategies.
"I wish I had this," remarks Ehrenkranz, who is 35 years old, to Make It.
I don't wish for this to come across as gloomy or dismal.
The majority of the "Laid Off" readers are employed in technology, with those from news and media coming second. They are followed by individuals in healthcare, advertising, and finally, retail.
Most people talk about getting laid off in 2024 – from their homes throughZoom, during a group video conference call. via an email Many people who participated in Ehrenkranz's latest survey mentioned that becoming part of the Laid Off community provided them with a therapeutic and somewhat enjoyable space where they could collectively contemplate their experiences.
“I don’t want this to come across as depressing or gloomy,” Ehrenkranz states. “Clearly, it’s a deeply disheartening and traumatizing experience, but I believe we have the potential to build a lively, therapeutic community.”
Reframing the perspective on layoffs and removing the personal blame and shame commonly associated with them can make the situation seem less lonely and stigmatized, according to Ehrenkranz.
She wishes for her audience to notice how "all these incredibly intelligent, awesome, accomplished individuals" share their experiences using their very own voices. "Each one of us is simply trying our hardest. Some may have reached the pinnacle of success. Others have faced layoffs. This can help recalibrate your thinking if you find yourself asking: Why me? What did I do wrong to end up like this? The truth is, you didn’t do anything wrong."
Laid Off’s paying members ($5 monthly fee) gain entry into a Discord channel with more than 700 participants. This group shares both tales of job loss hardships and advice for coping with today's employment challenges. challenging job market .
Shame is being replaced by 'righteous anger.'
The discussions indicate a change in the landscape of layoffs. During the initial stages of the pandemic, many individuals began to separate their sense of self-worth from losing their jobs, and this trend continued into the period following the Great Resignation. job cuts paved the way for a new epoch vulnerability in LinkedIn posts , the chatter around losing your job These days feel a bit more adversarial.
As Ehrenkranz states, "Many individuals seem to be experiencing anger."
It’s nearly impossible to browse LinkedIn without encountering someone you know announcing their layoff," Ehrenkranz points out. "The constant exposure to these narratives, visuals, and 'Open to Work' signs can gradually diminish that sense of embarrassment. Beneath that feeling of shame, however, lies a profound resentment.
The growing frustration is occurring alongside corporations such as Meta and Microsoft indicating they're letting employees go due to poor performance Meanwhile, tens of thousands of public servants have been let go, often citing poor performance reviews, as the Trump administration moves to slash the size of the federal workforce.
However, those who got the pink slips aren't going quietly , and sometimes openly contest the assessments of their efforts.
Posts filled with anger aren't primarily focused on the chaos caused by widespread layoffs; instead, they're more directed towards "the executives who chose to undervalue work that employees felt mattered deeply, or the choices these executives made which placed the company in a vulnerable position, ultimately resulting in job losses for many, yet sparing those at the higher levels from similar consequences."
Moreover, Ehrenkranz states, "People are deeply frustrated with the systems designed to safeguard them when they're unemployed. Healthcare is a major topic, closely linked to employment here, and many individuals are distressed about losing access to care for themselves and their loved ones."
People are figuring out what comes next after a layoff
Ongoing layoffs are unsettling both job seekers and employees holding onto their positions. U.S. employers have reported up to 172,017 job cuts In February, as reported by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, this was the highest monthly figure since July 2020.
And with economists reviving fears of a recession , the competition during the job search might become even more intense.
"When you're competing with so many others who have been laid off for the same position, it makes you wonder if the conventional narratives about achieving success through hard work are really accurate," Ehrenkranz states.
Ehrenkranz suggests that job loss might prompt certain individuals to reassess their definition of success, potentially indicating a shift in priorities or values. changing careers or venturing out independently to launch a new enterprise.
In the Laid Off group, she has noticed an increase in individuals seeking advice on transitioning to a different profession, undertaking additional freelance work, and taking up part-time positions. monetize side hustles Or begin something entirely fresh.
She notes that many people exhibit an entrepreneurial drive following these layoffs, spurred either by necessity or innovative thinking. The primary motivation remains the need to cover expenses.
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