How To Help Someone Who Has Been Laid Off

If you have known someone who has been laid off, you might not be sure how to help them in their time of unemployment. Reach out to offer support and remind them they aren’t on their own by offering dinner, coffee, or another favor. Encourage them to contact HR to see if there are any ways their former employer can assist them. Provide recommendations and utilize your network to help them in their job search.

By Timothy Mably

As layoffs continue to impact professionals across many industries, you may have to help someone who has lost their job. Sudden unemployment can make you feel isolated and helpless, requiring the support of friends, family, and colleagues — especially during the holiday season.

In November, the unemployment rate was 3.7%, which is close to the lowest number in the past 50 years. If you don’t know someone who has lost their job, you may in the coming months due to the state of the economy.

Reach Out To Them

When Sophie Wolf was laid off from her job in October, she was shocked because she had been there longer than many of her coworkers. She says, “Once I was informed that I was being laid off, there was a lot of crying and self-doubt. I didn't reach out to anyone because my initial overwhelming emotions were embarrassment and shame.”

"Once I was informed that I was being laid off, there was a lot of crying and self-doubt. I didn't reach out to anyone because my initial overwhelming emotions were embarrassment and shame."

Layoffs can cause many people to isolate and grieve the loss of employment privately. Without an obligation to go anywhere, staying home and not reaching out to family or friends is a default mode for unemployed professionals.

With this in mind, be quick to reach out to friends, family, or colleagues who have lost their job. Wolf recounts receiving nonstop messages throughout her first days of unemployment. She says, “My coworkers immediately started to reach out to me as soon as they found out. I think I received 100 texts that day. People who didn't have my phone number reached out to me on social media.”

Sending a text of encouragement is an easy way to show them they aren’t alone. Consider exemplifying your sympathy through a card, a gift, or another form of support. When Wolf was laid off, multiple people showed up at her house with dinner, dessert, flowers, and cards. “It was so overwhelming and I was so grateful for the unbelievable amount of support. The day was such a blur, but as much as upset as I felt, I also felt more supported than I ever had,” she said.

Small gestures can make an impact in a season of uncertainty and doubt. Before someone has the opportunity to recalibrate and consider their next career move, it can make a huge difference for them to recognize they aren’t on their own.

Suggest Contacting Human Resources

If they haven’t reached out to their former employer’s human resources, you should encourage them to consider it. There may be internal support they can provide laid off employees.

Wolf recounts that the HR team offered assistance in a few ways, including personal counseling. They also lent her a computer to aid in her search for new employment. Organizations often don’t want to end things on a bad note, especially when employers are forced to let go of workers with good reputations.

Provide Recommendations

After losing her job, Wolf started to wonder if there were additional reasons for her layoff apart from the state of the economy. She says, “I was creating a lot of narratives in my head after the layoff. ‘Am I not good at my job? Was I not valued at my company? Is a layoff a scarlet letter? Will I ever be hired anywhere again?’”

This mindset is normal for professionals following a layoff, which is why it’s important to offer practical advice. If you worked with someone who has lost their job, remind them of their contributions and work ethic. Help prevent them from spiraling and getting into a worse rut.

“I spent so much of my time and energy on trying to rationalize the ‘why’ behind my layoff. In the end, you will likely never know why your name ended up on that list, and ultimately it doesn't really matter,” said Wolf.

Remind a person who has been laid off that this season is temporary. Encourage them that a new job with a good employer is out there. Wolf says, “It’s so easy to get stuck looking backwards. It's natural to be there, and you may live there exclusively for weeks. But eventually, make it your goal to look forward and find a new company that will want you, appreciate you and understand your value.” 

She was grateful for her friends and former co-workers who spoke to her doubts and helped her job search. “They wrote me recommendations, connected me with dozens of companies, made phone calls and sent emails on my behalf,” said Wolf. “They built me back up and reminded me that I was valued by the people who I worked with and interacted with every day. They helped me get a more balanced picture of who I really was in this shaky time, and their connections, I believe ultimately led to the job offers I received.”

Use your connections from your personal network to help them if there is an opportunity. Sending messages and making calls on their behalf can also act as a personal recommendation for a potential new employer.

“So many people talked about how getting laid off ended up being the best thing that ever happened to them, and that I would ultimately be better off. The truth is, there's just no way that you'll be able to really see it that way until you're out of it,” Wolf said.

Simply being there for someone who has been laid off can have a major positive influence on their mental health and general outlook. By reaching out, making suggestions, and networking on their behalf, you can show that you care, exemplifying that the time of professional uncertainty won’t last forever.

Top Takeaways

What are some ways you can help someone who has been laid off?

• Layoffs can cause many people to isolate and grieve the loss of employment privately. Reach out to them by calling or sending a text to show them they aren’t alone.
• If they haven’t reached out to their former employer’s human resources, you should encourage them to consider it. There may be internal support they can provide laid off employees.
• Remind them that this season is temporary. Encourage them that a new job with a good employer is out there.
• Use your connections from your personal network to help them if there is an opportunity.