Comments on The Job Loss Guide: SURVIVAL Part 2: Job Loss Grief

Thank you so much for acknowledging the grief proc...

2009-09-30T18:48:12.415-04:00

Thank you so much for acknowledging the grief process with regards to the current economic stress - your validation is certain to help others.

As a whole health coach, I am seeing this more and more frequently. It's crucial that grievers are able to get out of the blame game and forgive themselves and others.

If you'd like an additional resource to offer people going through this grieving process, please feel free to pass along this complimentary eBook - www.lemonadenetwork.com.

Danny Fitzpatrick, Whole Health Coach
Co-Author of "Emotional Stimulus Package: Your Guide to Re-creating the American Dream"

I was in a month long training academy, 90 miles a...

2009-08-07T11:40:47.812-04:00

I was in a month long training academy, 90 miles away from my family and friends. The Friday before I was fired, the educators called me in the office and gave me an "education improvement plan". They said that I needed to meet the terms of the plan in order to continue. So, instead of going home over the weekend, I stayed and studied on overdrive. The following week, I was absolutely prepared to test per the terms of our agreement. On the day I was supposed to test, the instructors called me into the office and forced me to resign. I feel like they never intended to allow me to test at all, and my time spent at the academy was just wasted. Logically, I know that this was their failure, not mine. But, I am absolutely heartbroken. I have spent the last ten years of my career preparing for this training, for this job. All to have them tell me to go. It makes me sick.

In my situation, I was given advanced notice witho...

2009-07-29T17:52:20.431-04:00

In my situation, I was given advanced notice without even knowing it.

I worked for a relatively young ad agency and my manager was a hot shot who had been promoted 4 times in three years simply to fill the gap they had. After two years of 60 hour weeks, unwavering dedication and hard work, they put me on a "performance improvement plan" for a minor financial loss that happened on my team while I was traveling to meet a client. I was held responsible as the team leader. I accepted the plan and was determined to do everything I could to right the wrong.

The improvement plan is routinely used for varying reasons and is seen as somewhat of a traffic ticket - they are a pain but everyone gets one at some point. It certainly didn't signify the end of the road for me. I knew of managers who had received several of them in their career.

I made every effort to go above and beyond what the 30 day plan required. When meeting periodically with my supervisor, he would give me advice (or what he called advice) and say, "I hope this helps you wherever you go in life". Apparently that was my heads up on the impending termination that would occur at the end of the “plan”.

What upsets me more than the termination itself was the lack of honesty and clarity. Why did they put me on the plan if they intended to fire me all along? Was the plan the excuse to fire me? Did they want to use the plan as notice, if so, why didn't they just tell me that? It was crapy enough to be on an improvement plan in the first place and now they are saying not only did I fail and deserve the plan but I failed at the plan as well.

The anger, the sleepless nights, the feeling of being worthless, it goes on and on. This situation has dominated my life because I have no closure, no understanding of why it happened. I feel strongly that I didn't deserve this. I wasn't laid-off, I was intentionally fired. Financial, political, I'll never know.

why has nobody responded? my job loss happened 4 d...

2009-06-30T18:45:14.613-04:00

why has nobody responded? my job loss happened 4 days ago with a 30 day notice! ive been there 4 10 years while 2 employees have been there 2-3 years' im devestaed, especiallialy because i work for nuns, they are non-profit which means im ineligable for unemployment benefits.can anyone out there imagine the pain,grief,sorrow and loss that i feel and to top it off i have to go to work for 1 more month and face everyone. the customers and coworkers love me!!!! but yhe asst. manager whos been ter 4 3 years hasnt liked me since day 1