01/26/21 at 8:28PM UTC
|Ask anything (even anonymously)…
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33 Comments
Sara Zepeda
HR Business Partner
22
01/26/21 at 8:38PM UTC
Where you the person who laid them off, or are you a survivor of the cut? Depending on the situation, there is a different approach you can take.
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Anonymous
01/26/21 at 8:56PM UTC
Survivor of the cut
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Jessica CardCross-functional Leader
74
01/27/21 at 1:18AM UTC
Oh, just seeing this. Tricky. I'd say update the post, so someone with an HR background can weigh in.
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Gillianne HetrickHR Manager & Non-Profit Director
321
01/26/21 at 9:09PM UTC
Depends on how close you are. For work friends I find reaching out immediately is appreciated.
For acquaintances I will connect after a week or so and will only reach out with a message if I have a connection that I believe will help them in their next role.
I’m interested if someone has a more thought out path for connecting.
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Veronica Bacica
44
01/26/21 at 9:32PM UTC
This is a very considerate thing for you to do. Good for you for wanting to reach out and offer support. It may be helpful to wait a day or two to at least so that your colleagues can process the information. It's unknown how they are reacting to the news (if surprised, not surprised, etc.). After a few days have passed, the colleagues may be ready to think about next steps to take you up on your offer.
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LisaEmployee Communications and HR Specialist
90
01/26/21 at 9:37PM UTC
Give them a few days and then reach out. There are so many emotions that they will feel. Then give them some space to process everything.
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Emma ShahHuman Rights Advocate in NYC
92
01/27/21 at 3:16PM UTC
I agree with this approach. I think you are being so kind and considerate in wanting to reach out, but, I would wait a few days to give them time to process and feel their feelings then reach out via LinkedIn and let them know you are there for them as a glowing reference or for support in the job search should they need it.
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Alisa BlumEnhancing Individual & Organizational Success
67
01/26/21 at 9:43PM UTC
If the layoff was sudden and unexpected, you may want to wait a day or two. I would imagine many people would appreciate that you are reaching out to them.
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Anonymous
01/27/21 at 12:20AM UTC
As a laid-off person last June due to the Pandemic, I would’ve truly appreciated one or more of my former colleagues reaching out to me, and it wouldn’t have mattered when. Even though the layoff wasn’t my fault, I still feel a teensy bit like a pariah when I touched base with them via LinkedIn and didn’t get a reply. You will help their self-esteem greatly by contacting them, even if it’s just to offer best wishes.
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Anonymous
01/28/21 at 2:27PM UTC
I heard from no one when I was laid off. Then when the person I had been mentoring was promoted into my old job, I left a message saying congratulations on the LinkedIn post. I got no response to that. I was trying to show I was happy for her, and maybe she felt too weird to respond, but the whole experience has now left a sour taste in my mouth.
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Cheryl Goldsworthy
13
02/08/21 at 2:18AM UTC
I heard from two people when I was laid off and one of those women was a great reference for me. My lay off was sudden and unexpected and the people who I thought would reach out to me didn't. I was pleasantly surprised by who did contact me.
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Anonymous
01/27/21 at 12:53AM UTC
Having been laid off myself in the past, I’d say the sooner the better. And feel free to send your message again after a couple of weeks if you have not heard back.
Your thoughtfulness is a wonderful thing!
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Jessica CardCross-functional Leader
74
01/27/21 at 1:14AM UTC
Unless you were the manager who had to deliver the bad news, you should reach out right away—letting too much time pass could mean an awkward exchange down the line when you try to reconnect.
It is always a good time to reach out and offer support.
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Jocelyn Lyons
120
01/27/21 at 1:46AM UTC
I think this is a great question, and it definitely depends on how close you were with the person that was laid off. If you were relatively close, I might just send a quick note shortly after you find out to let them know that you are sorry and thinking of them. If you're willing, you could also offer to serve as a reference. I would start with a message that does not require a response, and gauge their readiness to talk by whether you get one (and what it says). Good luck!
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Melissa BoillotPassionate people leader and business partner
179
01/27/21 at 4:31AM UTC
I would encourage you to reach out, regardless of when. Having had to layoff some fabulous people over the years, I can tell you they were touched when colleagues reached out after the fact to check in on them. They have been cut off from a large portion of their social network and may not want to tell their close friends and family yet.
If you worked closely with them, I'd also offer to write them a recommendation on LinkedIn. I have made an effort over the years to both give, and ask for recommendations and I believe that it has helped me tremendously with online credibility. When they are most likely searching for a job, I am sure they would appreciate the kindness!
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Anonymous
01/27/21 at 1:30PM UTC
That is very nice and considerate of you. I would reach out immediately. I am speaking from experience, when people are laid off people act like they are contagious even if the lay off was not their fault. I have experienced this with not only coworkers but friends and some family members as well. Your kindness would be very appreciated!
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Kim EngebretsonSales Process Architect & Chief Problem Solver
42
01/27/21 at 1:33PM UTC
I was laid off 6 months ago, after a 25 year career with a company. I actually took the news pretty well but I can tell you that it was so helpful when former colleagues called, sent me text messages of encouragement or a LinkedIn message. Everyone of those messages was like getting a goodbye 'hug', and the outpouring of positive messages has been something that has sustained me through the job search.
Most people think you need to wait a respectful amount of time but I would encourage you to reach out sooner verse later to share your support but more importantly to remind those former colleagues of their value and worth.
Even today, 6 months later, I'm still touched when colleagues continue to reach out and touch base to help sustain those relationships.
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Jennifer Holiner
14
01/27/21 at 1:50PM UTC
I've been through a couple of layoffs. Reach out. Even if it's to say that you don't know what to say. Let them know you're there to support them. It will mean a lot. There are too many people who don't know what to say, so they say nothing, and that can be worse than saying the wrong thing.
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Anonymous
01/27/21 at 1:51PM UTC
As someone who was laid off in August it really hurt that people I worked closely with and considered friends outside of the office never reached out. So I would say I would certainly have appreciated someone reaching out right away. It's interesting the people that I thought would help me did not, yet others were so helpful in many ways!
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Kimberly Olmo
113
01/27/21 at 3:09PM UTC
Yes!! I had a few ppl reach out, I reached out to a few others. I got the impression the company discouraged them from doing so and in some ways that hurt a lot more than losing my job, losing my connections to ppl I worked with day in and day out for years. It still hurts honestly. It was bad enough to get laid off, then to lose people I thought I was more than co-workers with.
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Anonymous
01/27/21 at 3:37PM UTC
Agreed I worked at the company for 12 years. Longer than any relationship I've had. lol
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Anonymous
01/27/21 at 2:11PM UTC
When I was laid off, there was a weird clause in my severance agreement that I not contact former coworkers except through HR or the executive office. I don't think anyone would have reported me for reaching out to them on LinkedIn but it meant I very much appreciated those who connected with me first.
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Anonymous
01/27/21 at 10:01PM UTC
When my company went through this it was a disaster for those of us who stayed and tried to help. Comments/rumors flew around that you were seen as disloyal to the company if you publicly aligned yourself with the people who were cut.
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Stephanie BrownEntrepreneur with multiple income streams
110
01/27/21 at 2:16PM UTC
Reach out, now and later. As someone who was laid off due to a takeover two years ago after 28 years with a company, I know it is not an easy thing to go through no matter if you expect it or not. No one can tell you how that person is feeling. It is a very lonely time and they will appreciate your kind gesture.
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Sabrina Greenwood-BriggsHR Amazon / Warrior
84
01/27/21 at 3:03PM UTC
Like many others have said above, I'd wait a day or so and then reach out and offer your support. Depending on you level of familiarity could dictate how long you wait, but even just a message in LinkedIn can be helpful.
As for offers of references, I'd be careful on who you offer it to and what you offer. As an HR person, my advice is to always be cautious on that depending on your work role in relation to that person. Many companies have policies about current employees giving recommendations or references for co-workers and you want to make sure that you are not going against the policies. If you were particularly close or friendly, you could offer to be a friend reference and restrict yourself to a character reference rather than a work/professional one.
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Anonymous
01/27/21 at 5:33PM UTC
Thanks everyone, I reached out with a simple "Hi, if I can be of any help introducing you to anyone in my network please feel free to let me know".
Myname
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Susan
32
01/27/21 at 8:23PM UTC
As someone who was part of a mass lay off in a job, which came as a shock as it was sudden. Alot of people are upset initially but then also need to quickly find a new role. Anything you do to reach out is welcome. LinkedIn request with a friendly message of support or offer if there is someone in your network that may know of roles etc. Even if you leave it day or so, do reach out, it's nice to hear.
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Elizabeth White-Peters, MOS, CAP-OM-PM, ACEA & Notarywww.linkedin.com/in/ewhitepeters
28
01/27/21 at 10:38PM UTC
It depends on your pre-layoff relationship and whether you are suffering "survivor guilt". If you were a friend before, I would hope to hear from you in a friendly way..don't gossip about the office! And, worse, don't take our conversation back to the office & gossip. If we were colleagues, I would hope to hear from you via LinkedIn..leave me a recommendation & I'll get back to you sooner than later.
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Jackie GhedineCoach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans
4.17k
01/28/21 at 12:50PM UTC
Follow your heart. If you are reaching out from an energy of love, compassion and support there is no wrong time.
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Anonymous
01/28/21 at 2:10PM UTC
I can’t answer because I was laid off in April 2020 and just one person (only because he sat immediately next to me) reached out to me and no one else. I feel that I was treated as if a layoff were contagious and no one wanted to talk to me. I had been back from maternity leave for one month, upon my return had been greeted like a long last friend, but after the layoff heard from no one.
On the flip side, I would not have wanted much from them in way of communication. Just a “hey I’ll miss you” might have been nice. But for me, more than that wouldn’t have been meaningful to me personally. I say that just to say - know the person and what kind of gesture they might want.
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Anonymous
01/28/21 at 2:48PM UTC
I was laid off in October. Two people reached out to me, one immediately and one a week later. I was very grateful for both. I thought that I had more "friends" at my job.
The sooner you reach out the better. One or two days, just a quick note and let your colleagues reply when they are ready. Even after four months, my pain is still very real and I am still unemployed. You are a kind person to care about your coworkers.
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Julie HaverkateEditor/Writer of Inclusive + Compelling Stories
67
01/28/21 at 11:06PM UTC
As someone who was laid off recently, I think it's best to wait a couple days, so that the person can sit with the news for a minute. But *definitely* reach out within the week. Personally, it was hurtful to only hear from a couple of colleagues post-layoff (to be fair, most of *my* people were also laid off). This article hit the nail on the head for me re: how to approach laid-off colleagues—hope it helps! https://magazine.workingnotworking.com/magazine/i-got-laid-off-how-i-wish-my-coworkers-handled-it
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Kelliew13Event manager in Denver
33
01/29/21 at 6:08PM UTC
I was laid off a few months ago and not a single person reached out. It really hurt. So I would say if you feel comfortable having that conversation with them then absolutely reach out.
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