Layoffs are a grief process #workplaceculture #workethicmatters #mondaysunfiltered #podcast

Layoffs Are a Grief Process: Rights, Severance, Unemployment, and Reinventing Your Next Act | Mondays Unfiltered Heather and Kristin discuss how layoffs can trigger a real grieving process, including feelings of rejection, depression, and identity loss, especially for mid-career and older workers facing fears like ageism. They share observations from friends’ experiences, note that 5.24 million layoffs or discharges have occurred in 2026 so far (per facts.org), and distinguish layoffs from terminations. The episode covers practical steps for both employers and employees, referencing EEOC guidance on fair, non-discriminatory selection criteria and the importance of understanding severance agreements. For employees, they emphasize internal and external networking, asking about transfers, reviewing severance terms, filing for unemployment without stigma, and taking time to decompress or reskill. They also explore reframing layoffs as an opportunity to reinvent, pursue consulting or fractional work, and reposition as an expert. 00:00 Welcome to Mondays 00:45 Layoff grief begins 01:38 Layoff stats and resumes 03:12 Myths and employee rights 07:29 Employer fairness rules 09:44 Employee survival tips 11:36 Unemployment and planning 13:43 Grieve then reset 16:28 Reinvent as expert 18:00 Consulting path forward 20:37 Closing quote and wrap 23:08 Listener stories and outro Resources: https://www.eeoc.gov/employers/small-... https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many...