How to Comfort a Person Who Has Been Laid Off
A person who gets laid off often has considerable anxiety about what he is going to do next in life. He might have trouble making decisions about the future, feeling defeated and negative about the job market. Friends and family members can be there for someone to help ease him through the transition of unemployment and provide him with encouragement.
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Instructions
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Encourage the friend or family member who has been laid off. Remind her that she worked hard to get her career started and she can work hard again to get back in the job market. Time can seem to stretch on endlessly during periods of unemployment, so reiterate that the bad times will pass.
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Talk to your friend or family member about his future plans. Someone who has been laid off might have to think about switching careers entirely. Talking about the decisions he has to make might help your unemployed friend or family member gain some perspective. Help the one you care about see the situation as an opportunity rather than a setback.
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Keep an eye on the person's spending, especially if she is in your household. Sometimes when people are laid off, they may be tempted to unwisely spend some of their severance funds or savings due to boredom and stress. The person might take up home improvement projects or go shopping to distract herself. Remind her that she can live comfortably for some time if she watches the budget. Quickly spending reserve money will only result in more stress.
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Show the person you care about him. Keep him in mind when you're looking through the classified ads and report any promising job openings you find. Provide a shoulder to cry on and an attentive ear. Remind him that he is a valued family member and/or friend and that he has much more to offer than just his weekly paycheck.
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Help your friend or family member relieve stress. Take her out for a "spa day" to get a massage and some special treatment. Get active together. Do things that will make her feel good about herself. Invite her to volunteer with you for some local community service. Your loved one might need to take her mind off the job search for a while.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind that your loved one might not feel like himself until he gets another job, so don't take it personally. A person's career can become a big part of his self-esteem.
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Resources
- Photo Credit spa ii image by studio vision1 from Fotolia.com
