There is no point hiding your head in a redundancy bushel! (My experience of Redundancy)

Member Name: berrydelight

Product:	My experience of Redundancy
Date:	01/10/09 (77 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The opportunity to try new things, you might have been shoved but its new!

Disadvantages: Lack of income, strain on relationships

This is my first non dooyoo miles review but I felt it was important to share my experience to others. This review is not actually about me but my partner who is waking up today to his first day ever of unemployment following being made redundant. I will be using this review to offer some hints and tips on how you can prepare and also support one another during an inevitably stressful time, I can only hope some of you relate my comments and offer support to others that might be going through the same thing.

**History**
We have all been guilty of getting comfortable with our jobs, feeling as safe as houses and then along came the 'recession' and we all began to get a little worried. I work in the property industry so was half expecting some shred of gloom on the horizon, my partner is (was) a trainee actuary so I wasn't in the slightest bit concerned, a needed commodity as far as I was concerned. We have been together for six years having met at university and my partner (a few years older than me) secured a job and moved to Glasgow leaving me to finish my studies before following him some time later, living together for over two years now we have the benefit of a mortgage, joint income and for a while a very nice lifestyle. My partner being a man earned significantly more than I do, in fact he was bringing in two thirds of our income, he would point out it is more to do with his work ethic, intelligence etc but we all know that is not the case!
Last year I was stood in one of my tenants office units when my phone rang, I answered and he delivered the news he was being made redundant with immediate effect. To say my world seemed to cave in doesn't come close. It was incredibly unexpected and until we saw eachother that night the whole thing made no sense. A decision had been made to phase out jobs in the Scottish office over the next year to avoid making redundancies in London. I was staggered, shocked and pretty distraught. My partner on the other hand seemed to develop a passion and motivation I had never seen in him on the phone to recruiters and companies and generally displaying enthusiasm only reserved for Liverpool FC. I was impressed and still feel very fortunate to have such a work committed partner.
Long story short he has been kept on for the last year until the office closed yesterday. He has some interviews but no job offers and so as of today our worst case scenario plans are in place. We got lucky in having the last year to prepare, although I still do not feel you can completely prepare for the strain and pressure the next few months will undoubtedly provide. We have also been fortunate as he received a redundancy payment which will at least take the heat out of our mortgage payments over the next six months. However our lives have and will have to change, the pointers below are meant as a guide and assistance to anyone else who will be helping their partner through this tricky times in the coming months/year.


My top tips

1. Allow your partner space
Now it has happened your partner is likely to want some time to chill out. The emotional rollercoaster of the last few months/days does take its toll and although the temptation is to be at them immediately about securing another job they should also be allowed to mourn for the one they have lost. This is easier said then done and I am not a saint, voicing my concerns when he has been playing the x box and not job hunting has caused a few arguments but I do try and step back every now and then and consider what he's going through, what he's thinking and provided he isn't intending to live like this forever I can put up with some no work celebrations.
Likewise anyone who is out of work for a long time is much more likely to experience feelings of worthlessness and depression. Hopefully it wont come to that but if it does than Im ready and the other tips come into force with more significance!

2. Support one another, listen and continue to love them
The last year has been hard for us as we have waited for the inevitable but it has brought us closer, it is him I love not his job or his job title. This has really hit home for me and despite having some really low moments as I realised holiday plans are out and fancy meals will be a thing of the past as long as we have eachother we will get through this. In addition you should be ready to support one another as your partner may decide its time to move on and try something new, how accepting you are of this new career may well depend on what it is but my advice would be at this stage to smile and nod, hold their hands and wait for the lunacy to pass. Alternatively it could be the making of you, starting a new company and setting up on their own could be the best thing they ever did. Most of all listen to eachother, your likely to share the same fears but keeping them bottled up just allows them to manifest and get worse.

3. Make realistic financial plans
Our income is now dramatically reduced. As we have had a decent amount of warning we know who is going to pay for what and what the redundancy money will be used for. Yes its painful to spend it on electricity bills and food but better than having no flat. Budget, budget budget and then look at ways of making the most of your savings. Prepare for the worst case scenario and then anything better will be a bonus! I have been trying to maximise my income through Dooyoo and mystery shopping just as a means of back up. I think its really important to be realistic, you still need to have treats but those treats might be friends round for a bottle of wine rather than a night to the pub.

4. Have short term goals
A simple strategy but to avoid the depression that can come with being out of work my partner is still planning to get out of bed at the same time each day and has the aim of continuing with studyingtowards his final qualification. Small focuses and small successes but at times like this I find it best not to look at the bigger picture and focus on the things you can be proactive about. Having a cheap Christmas is currently my goal and Im picking up items in the sales already and feeling pretty pleased with myself!

5. Be positive
It will not always be like this, he will get another job and we will continue on our merry way. Try not to see it as a disaster but as a new start and a new challenge.

Thank you for reading, I hope in some way I have helped one of you!

Summary: A tough time but support one another and you could come out smelling of roses