Like it or not, layoffs are inevitable. They’re certainly rough for those who have been cut loose but it turns out those layoffs can have an impact on the remaining employees, too. It’s called Workplace Survivor Syndrome and it’s very real.
Here’s Five Fast Facts About Workplace Survivor Syndrome:
- 😓 PTSD? - Workplace Survivor Syndrome describes the range of feelings employees may experience, including relief, guilt, grief, frustration, and fear. Some academics compare it to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
- 😣 Mental Health - A 2022 survey found that 71% of surviving employees felt their motivation drop, 65% felt overworked and 61% were less likely to tell others it’s a great place to work.
- 👔 Morale - One of the major side effects is a blow to employee morale. After all, you’ve lost a valued co-worker who is part of their mini community. Showing up to work can be an even bigger chore without them. It can lead to lower performance.
- 🗄️ Trust - Layoffs can be (and usually are) a blindside. It can lead to a lack of trust in leadership, especially if there is an equal lack of transparency on management’s part. Why bother working hard for someone who’s lying to you?
- 💻 Quiet Quitting - We’ve covered this trend quite a bit, but in short, quiet quitting is doing the bare minimum instead of going above and beyond. Layoffs can make that a widespread problem in any company. If you’re expendable, why bother going all in?
🔥Bottom line: Layoffs are never easy and in some industries they’re inevitable. If you’re faced with them, make sure to take care of yourself and do what you can to avoid falling into these behaviors.
Have you experienced Workplace Survivor Syndrome?
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