Support your friends and colleagues when they are made redundant

Many businesses have been forced to make redundancy as a result of the country's economic uncertainties following the coronavirus outbreak.

The economic impact of the lockdown restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 has been enormous. Even though the furlough scheme has helped to keep thousands of people from losing their jobs, many businesses have found themselves unable to cope.

Losing your job is difficult at the best of times but losing your job during a global pandemic can be even more difficult. The added pressures of financial worries and the stress of looking for a new job in an overcrowded market can make things even more overwhelming. If you are made redundant, your finances are probably one of the first practical things you’ll be thinking about, and money can be a huge source of stress and worry, it is important to prioritize expenses and create a budget to help you managing your finances while in this situation.

Although redundancy is not a personal matter, it will feel personal to the person who loses their job because it has a significant impact on their life. For most people, losing a job means losing more than just an income; it means losing security, status, and a sense of belonging and if your work colleague has been let go, it’s important to handle the situation properly.

it’s important to be able to be there for and support those who are close to you who may be struggling to come to terms with losing their job, it can be a very stressful situation and sometimes the first step to helping a friend is to listen to them, supporting them and helping them feel calmer.

Whether you're helping a friend or a family member, it's critical to take the time to understand them and be supportive. You can be impartial but supportive by sending resources that may help in their job search, bill concerns or employee rights, helping them being sure they have been made redundant fairly. You may also support them with useful resources like CV writing, preparing for interviews and career advice.