With Thanksgiving around the corner, we are getting into the holiday season. The final stretch before we enter the Christmas, New Year breaks.
This is a stressful time for most of us. Between the frantic rush to finish things before the break, family, travel, and the expenses associated with this period is the fact that many companies tighten their belts around this time of the year. Layoffs are not uncommon at this time of the year.
This year is a triple whammy – the usual year-end belt tightening, the aftermath of covid, and the huge layoffs that we are seeing in tech all over the world. This year is particularly bad.
Some of us are luckier than others. Some may have been through this many times, and are prepared (or indifferent). Some may be lucky to not be impacted by the cuts. Some may have strong family and professional networks.
Others are not. Unfortunately some others may be in the midst of personal upheavals. Some may not have been able to visit family overseas for years because of covid and visa issues, and unable to visit anytime soon. And then there are the layoffs.
So if you are one of the lucky ones, here are just three things I urge you to do this holiday season.
- Reach out to friends – show that you are there
- Be open to connections from strangers – lend an ear
- If you are in a position to adjust people’s schedules – ensure that everyone gets to take some time off
I realize that few of us can give strong assurances that everything will be ok, and few of us are in a position to actually hire anyone right now. But that’s not the point – be there for your fellow human being. Just being able to listen, and to say that you are there goes a long way. If you are in a role where you can adjust other’s schedules (on-call rotations, work shifts, …) be considerate and accommodate travel and personal schedules.
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