How to Counsel Someone Who Was Just Laid Off
Along with divorce, serious medical illness and the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job is one of the most stressful and disorienting events of an individual's life. The worker is placed in a position --- often with no forewarning --- in which he must rebuild his professional career while worrying how he will pay his bills. Friends, coworkers and family members of someone recently laid off can help him cope.
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Instructions
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Wait for him to reach out to you. Unless you are a close friend or family member, wait for the individual to speak to you before offering unsolicited counsel. A person who has just been laid off may wish to have some time to himself before attempting to discuss the situation with others, so wait for him to make the first move.
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Help him figure out what he needs to do before he leaves the workplace. Before attempting to provide emotional support, concentrate on logistical matters. If the person needs help filling out his exit papers or carrying supplies to his car --- or, if he drove a company car, needs a ride home --- offer your assistance. These situations provide you a chance for a one-on-one conversation.
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Offer to help with his job search. One of the first things a newly unemployed person thinks about is where he can get a new job. Support him by offering to help him with his job search. This assistance can take several forms, from keeping an ear to the streets for open positions, to hunting down jobs leads, to acting as a reference on a resume.
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Explain that it wasn't his fault. A person who was laid off frequently feels guilt and shame. Instinctively, many laid off employees feel that they did something to bring on the layoff, when the causes were economic. Gently remind the individual that he did nothing to bring this on himself and has no reason to feel guilty.
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Remind him that he has marketable skills. When a person is laid off, he was dismissed because of changes in the company. Odds are that the skills he used in attaining the position can be transferred to another company or even another field. Remind him that, although temporarily unemployed, he still fills a role in the workforce.
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Check in with him frequently. Some unemployed people may attempt to detach themselves from normal social interaction. Don't let them. After a large break in their routine, laid-off workers need continuity in the rest of their lives. Call and schedule coffee every couple of weeks.
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