Dealing with Employment Survivor's Guilt

[Unaffiliated]

Anyone ever felt really guilty for surviving after a round of layoffs by an employer? How normal is it to feel this way?

My company just had a round of cuts, including one from my department but not me... and that has left me feeling really bad about it. Generally, I already have this weird thinking of "if something bad HAS to happen to someone, let it be me". And in this case, I feel like there are many good objective reasons why it should have been me instead.

For one, I just started working eight months ago and have no prior relevant working experience, let alone much knowledge about how things work in the company specfically. The person who left had been with the company as many years as I have months. Secondly, I have no plans on staying a long time with this company anyway. I'm the only one in the department who's single, with no friends and family around, and so am willing to relocate to most parts of the country, even the world. Every one else is older, has their families and seem content and settled in this little town. They would be really hurt about getting let go; me, not at all. Also considering those reasons above, my anxiety issues return, wondering whether anyone (especially the laid off employee) is going to hold that against me, even though I had no direct involvement in the decision.

I guess this is more of a vent. But would be interested in hearing similar stories, if you have any to share.

[Professor Chaos]

I survived layoffs for 15 years. Finally got mine this past October for the simple fact that I had been around so long and was making too much after all my yearly raises. I had an interview last month with a company which seemed like a done deal as it was a perfect fit. Their main contractor and his employees were all people my prior employer had laid off 6 years prior. I'm pretty sure he said something to block me from the job. I had nothing to do with their layoffs corporate made the call and I tried to fight it but some people will always hold things against you in the business world regardless.

[G✇JI☈A]

Yeah it's hard to not feel guilty when it happens. But you just have move on.

What's worse when the fired employee tries to make you feel guilty. This happened to me once.. Some co-workers were temporary laid off.. So they came back after a few weeks. Upon return one of them complained to me 'why weren't you put off instead? You don't have kids or a mortgage to pay'. I just wanted to tell her to ship the hell off. But I kept my thoughts to myself.. Since I have to work with her everyday. But come on... I need to pay the rent, eat and pay for shit too.

[Sparkybob]

Yes it is common that's why there is a name for it in psych called survivor guilt. It's a real issue when workers get fired and the remaining employers are less motivated to do their work.

[willywonka666]

Jan 23, 2016 21:48:46 GMT -5 Unaffiliated said:

Anyone ever felt really guilty for surviving after a round of layoffs by an employer? How normal is it to feel this way?

My company just had a round of cuts, including one from my department but not me... and that has left me feeling really bad about it. Generally, I already have this weird thinking of "if something bad HAS to happen to someone, let it be me". And in this case, I feel like there are many good objective reasons why it should have been me instead.

For one, I just started working eight months ago and have no prior relevant working experience, let alone much knowledge about how things work in the company specfically. The person who left had been with the company as many years as I have months. Secondly, I have no plans on staying a long time with this company anyway. I'm the only one in the department who's single, with no friends and family around, and so am willing to relocate to most parts of the country, even the world. Every one else is older, has their families and seem content and settled in this little town. They would be really hurt about getting let go; me, not at all. Also considering those reasons above, my anxiety issues return, wondering whether anyone (especially the laid off employee) is going to hold that against me, even though I had no direct involvement in the decision.

I guess this is more of a vent. But would be interested in hearing similar stories, if you have any to share.

Kinda sounds like they kept you because you may not be making as much as someone that had been there longer-I'm just assuming, but I know Wal Mart is doing that to their full time employees

Unless that person is crazy, I wouldn't sweat it. They've been around long enough to know the score. All you're doing is trying to put food on the table

[Red Impact]

When I was a journalist, I used to work on the records desk. Someone on the crime desk needed to change jobs for family/stress related reasons, so he and I switched jobs. As part of anoher round of layoffs (the second in 3 years), they completely eliminated the records desk. Meaningmy entire old job was laid off, and I survived because someone medically needed to change to a less stressful job. I had that for a while.

[Evil Homer]

ny job also had a large number of people laid off. No I dont feel guilty, I did nothing wrong

[DiBiase is Good]

When I first started working at a cinema many years ago, it was in the middle of them having a "clear-out" of Staff. It was slightly different because it wasn't due to cutting back on workers to reduce costs, more getting rid of staff who were for one reason or another not what they wanted. I always felt bad as I was working with people who had seen a lot of their friends and workmates sacked and I was doing "their" job. Then I had a conversation with some of the older Staff about it and although they were talking about their friends, they were amazed they had lasted as long as they did working there.

[Unaffiliated]

Jan 24, 2016 18:49:42 GMT -5 willywonka666 said:

Jan 23, 2016 21:48:46 GMT -5 Unaffiliated said:

Anyone ever felt really guilty for surviving after a round of layoffs by an employer? How normal is it to feel this way?

My company just had a round of cuts, including one from my department but not me... and that has left me feeling really bad about it. Generally, I already have this weird thinking of "if something bad HAS to happen to someone, let it be me". And in this case, I feel like there are many good objective reasons why it should have been me instead.

For one, I just started working eight months ago and have no prior relevant working experience, let alone much knowledge about how things work in the company specfically. The person who left had been with the company as many years as I have months. Secondly, I have no plans on staying a long time with this company anyway. I'm the only one in the department who's single, with no friends and family around, and so am willing to relocate to most parts of the country, even the world. Every one else is older, has their families and seem content and settled in this little town. They would be really hurt about getting let go; me, not at all. Also considering those reasons above, my anxiety issues return, wondering whether anyone (especially the laid off employee) is going to hold that against me, even though I had no direct involvement in the decision.

I guess this is more of a vent. But would be interested in hearing similar stories, if you have any to share.

Kinda sounds like they kept you because you may not be making as much as someone that had been there longer-I'm just assuming, but I know Wal Mart is doing that to their full time employees

Unless that person is crazy, I wouldn't sweat it. They've been around long enough to know the score. All you're doing is trying to put food on the table

Yea I'm pretty sure one of the reasons I was kept is that I'm probably paid less.

Also helping cope with the guilt is the fact that I did let the boss know I am not planning to stay for very long. I think I'll be fine with the remaining colleagues as long as I don't suddenly leave voluntarily within a year or two.