Layoffs are hard. They’re tough for leaders, HR teams and the employees who lose their jobs. But they’re also difficult for the people who stay.
You may have heard of layoff survivor guilt. That’s what psychologists call the mindset of many people who keep their jobs, but end up feeling bad. Initial relief gives way to feelings of guilt, anger, fear, and anxiety. Fearful employees tend to be less productive. Their performance often suffers, too, so organizational impacts linger long after the layoffs occur.
