I have been through layoffs before. In the life I had before teaching, it was a normal occurrence.
And after a couple, you began to recognize the steps.
In a lot of ways it is easier to be the one laid off. First you have the humiliation, then the anger. You are embarrassed to say goodbye. (I did get really angry at the vultures who raided all my notes while I was being talked to - I took them home and threw them away. If they had ASKED I may have given them away. The person I am now would have.) Then the fear you will never find another job. Anxiety as you search. The embarrassment of filing for unemployment. The wonder as you try to figure out what you want to do now - and then finally the joy and relief when you find a job.
If you are a survivor (meaning you still have a job), it is actually tougher.
1) the days (or in the case of school, weeks) of the walking dead. What do you say to your friends as they become introverted (as they should) about looking for a job? I am waiting a day or two and then will start making rounds to give them advice I have learned the hard way. (Hey, it's free advice, worth every penny. Don't want it? OK by me)
2) Then, the realization that your work load has increased. At school, that will translate to more duties, more classes, more students.
3) One that I haven't run into before is doing all this for less money. I know it will be 2% less. But there is another 10% hovering on the horizon that they keep hinting at and won't directly address. Hopefully they tell us that soon.
As Bette Davis said: "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night."
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5 comments:
I'm in a terrible position. My coworker received a letter this week telling her that she isn't being offered a contract next year because her position is no longer available... because it's mine.
I'm giving her a LOT of space. The next five weeks are going to suck for everybody.
There are some times that there are no words.
I wrote earlier of another teacher who was being targeted by the administration and given the choice of resign or nonrenewal. The teachers all told her to resign. Her father (not a teacher)told her to nonrenew and take unemployment.
Now she cannot get past the application process in any county (like the teachers all told her).
I am not saying I told you so - it is pointless.
Your coworker will come to realize you did not take the position. It sounds like they had 2 teachers, one position and someone has to lose.
Being the one who lost - sucks. But it forces you (sometimes) te re-evaluate yourself. Which can be a good thing.
I will write more on this.
But you are right to give her space.
I went to my boss yesterday to ask her to give my coworker the option of resigning. I hope she takes it; she could be a great teacher in a different setting.
oof. I've been on both sides of this situation. Reduction in force hurts, even if your performance has nothing to do with being laid off.
At the end there are the good-bye parties to go through. Although your co-workers mean well, somehow this increases the embarrassment.
My only advice in this situation is get as many letters of recommendation NOW that you can. Get them while you're still there, still part of everyone's work day.
Phillie - I agree (see second post on this). If you are one staying, be proactive about offering references. I asked for observations from peers and asked several before I left for references.
I have made sure that the ones I can give references for have my contact info.
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