Chris, you were laid off, as I was, along with approximately 1,500 others at Turner Broadcasting in November/December 2014. As a people manager at Turner, you couldn’t fire an employee without documentation and usually without putting the employee on notice and giving that individual a chance to improve. Neither of us was in that situation. Both of us were laid off, and I’m betting that someone in the Finance department looked at our salaries and benefits and determined that the bottom line would improve when the company didn’t have to pay those costs any longer. I couldn’t have done a better job. Indeed, the VP in my department told me so at a going-away party for myself and several others. You couldn’t have written more, been more insightful, been more witty or droll. It was the numbers for both of us. And that is the bottom line.
In the non-contract, at-will employee world, the difference is not semantic - it is monetary. If you are "fired" for cause, you are not eligible for unemployment. If you are "laid off", you are eligible. Often the "laying off" is a firing, but in order to not be heartless some managers and organizations label it as a lay off and eat the unemployment compensation.
It’s not a close call. You were part of mass lay-offs. I know it’s incredibly difficult not to take it personally. But it wasn’t personal. As I previously wrote on this space, your job will never love you. Nor will it ever be a credible arbiter of your worth.
Just want to say that I appreciate your transparency about dealing with your situation. You never know who might be reading. Someone in a similar situation might find your reflections helpful. If another reader doesn't want to hear about it, they don't have to read that post.
Chris, I've thought about commenting on this to you for awhile. I think it's important from a mental health* perspective to pay attention to the language you use to talk about yourself (especially the language you use *to* yourself to talk about yourself). You were definitely "laid off," which, as the definitions note, means it wasn't because of any shortcoming on your part.
*Disclaimer: I am just a lowly attorney, not a mental health professional, so this is just a layman's personal opinion.
YES! I think the language I have used with myself over this has been pretty negative -- and I think it's influenced how I have felt about the whole thing and my role (or lack thereof) in it.
But….being “fired” from the roiling cesspit of CNN at the time that you were laid off might be attractive to potential employers. If you were not meeting their “expectations”, being fired doesn’t mean that you did something wrong or bad, only not consistent with what CNN wanted, however misguided that might have been at the time. But, “fired” or “laid off, you’re a very talented journalist with a very interesting “So What” and likely some very good career opportunities in the coming year.
I’ve survived a many entity turnovers, but in one case, I was not chosen to continue in my role. The job existed, but it was going to be done in a different city than I lived. Technically, I was laid off, but if anyone asked what happened I say I “got canned”. It’s the same as “fired”, but it adds a bit of levity when self confessed. I’m also a fan of “let go” which sounds mutual. Not of fan of “axed” which sounds violent.
Yeah...it's hard. The language matters -- at least to me -- because it sort of shapes how I think about what happened and whether I could have done something (anything!) better.
Absolutely keep doing what you are doing! As someone else mentioned... if a reader doesn’t want to read it, they don’t have to read it! The mixture of politics, sports, and personal perspective makes your Substack interesting and relevant! Thank you for sharing!
You were definitely laid off. I was too, in 1993, when my company downsized. I had been there the longest in my department, which I guess meant not that I was more experienced but that I was more entrenched in the 'old ways' and more expensive to keep. As Del B said, it also meant I could collect unemployment, as firing for cause meant you could not. Some employers give you an option on how to leave so you can collect unemployment, but that to me does not change whether you were fired or laid off. I took some comfort in knowing it was not because of me - I had not even met my boss as I had been on vacation, but she added me to the layoff list anyway.
As for getting over it, it is like any other major loss. Everyone process differently, and timing is also different for everyone. Being in the public eye makes it different for you than for people like me, who was not. Ignore 'get over it' and process it like YOU need to!!
Thanks for sharing, and for letting me share here.
Chris, I'm very glad to see you make this distinction. It is important. I'm always surprised to see people think of the two as synonymous.
Being fired is, generally speaking, a major black mark on the resumé. Every interview you have thereafter will inquire about the circumstances. Being laid off isn't a black mark at all. In fact, you work in corporate America long enough, it's almost guaranteed to happen. Additionally, there are differences in compensation packages, unemployment benefits, etc.
You were laid off. Period. Neither my husband nor I worked in corporations the size of CNN, however, in our experience, a lay off was due to budget cuts. If laid off, if things turned around and you were available or interested, you may get rehired. It’s one reason we would never want to burn our bridges. If one was fired, it was due to doing something wrong, after a warning and not correcting. If it was something so abhorrent, you’d be fired without warning. The company would not consider a rehire.
As someone who was laid off (though feels like he was fired), I want you to keep writing about this because it feels therapeutic.
I was laid off and got three months severance but at the end of the day my job chose to pick me over other people so it feels like I was fired. I know there's a difference and had the company been doing well I'd likely still have a job, but it's like, why did they pick me over employee x? It's really hard to shake, especially since I know for a fact I was great at my job and co-workers valued me.
Chris, you were laid off, as I was, along with approximately 1,500 others at Turner Broadcasting in November/December 2014. As a people manager at Turner, you couldn’t fire an employee without documentation and usually without putting the employee on notice and giving that individual a chance to improve. Neither of us was in that situation. Both of us were laid off, and I’m betting that someone in the Finance department looked at our salaries and benefits and determined that the bottom line would improve when the company didn’t have to pay those costs any longer. I couldn’t have done a better job. Indeed, the VP in my department told me so at a going-away party for myself and several others. You couldn’t have written more, been more insightful, been more witty or droll. It was the numbers for both of us. And that is the bottom line.
Thanks, Gail. Makes me feel better!
You’re most welcome, Chris.
In the non-contract, at-will employee world, the difference is not semantic - it is monetary. If you are "fired" for cause, you are not eligible for unemployment. If you are "laid off", you are eligible. Often the "laying off" is a firing, but in order to not be heartless some managers and organizations label it as a lay off and eat the unemployment compensation.
Del that is super helpful context. Thank you!
It’s not a close call. You were part of mass lay-offs. I know it’s incredibly difficult not to take it personally. But it wasn’t personal. As I previously wrote on this space, your job will never love you. Nor will it ever be a credible arbiter of your worth.
Good advice. Thanks, Todd.
Just want to say that I appreciate your transparency about dealing with your situation. You never know who might be reading. Someone in a similar situation might find your reflections helpful. If another reader doesn't want to hear about it, they don't have to read that post.
Thanks, Laura. That's my view too. I know other people are struggling through similar things.
Chris, I've thought about commenting on this to you for awhile. I think it's important from a mental health* perspective to pay attention to the language you use to talk about yourself (especially the language you use *to* yourself to talk about yourself). You were definitely "laid off," which, as the definitions note, means it wasn't because of any shortcoming on your part.
*Disclaimer: I am just a lowly attorney, not a mental health professional, so this is just a layman's personal opinion.
YES! I think the language I have used with myself over this has been pretty negative -- and I think it's influenced how I have felt about the whole thing and my role (or lack thereof) in it.
But….being “fired” from the roiling cesspit of CNN at the time that you were laid off might be attractive to potential employers. If you were not meeting their “expectations”, being fired doesn’t mean that you did something wrong or bad, only not consistent with what CNN wanted, however misguided that might have been at the time. But, “fired” or “laid off, you’re a very talented journalist with a very interesting “So What” and likely some very good career opportunities in the coming year.
Thank you! And thanks for reading!
I’ve survived a many entity turnovers, but in one case, I was not chosen to continue in my role. The job existed, but it was going to be done in a different city than I lived. Technically, I was laid off, but if anyone asked what happened I say I “got canned”. It’s the same as “fired”, but it adds a bit of levity when self confessed. I’m also a fan of “let go” which sounds mutual. Not of fan of “axed” which sounds violent.
Yeah...it's hard. The language matters -- at least to me -- because it sort of shapes how I think about what happened and whether I could have done something (anything!) better.
Absolutely keep doing what you are doing! As someone else mentioned... if a reader doesn’t want to read it, they don’t have to read it! The mixture of politics, sports, and personal perspective makes your Substack interesting and relevant! Thank you for sharing!
Very true. And thanks for coming with me on this journey.
You were definitely laid off. I was too, in 1993, when my company downsized. I had been there the longest in my department, which I guess meant not that I was more experienced but that I was more entrenched in the 'old ways' and more expensive to keep. As Del B said, it also meant I could collect unemployment, as firing for cause meant you could not. Some employers give you an option on how to leave so you can collect unemployment, but that to me does not change whether you were fired or laid off. I took some comfort in knowing it was not because of me - I had not even met my boss as I had been on vacation, but she added me to the layoff list anyway.
As for getting over it, it is like any other major loss. Everyone process differently, and timing is also different for everyone. Being in the public eye makes it different for you than for people like me, who was not. Ignore 'get over it' and process it like YOU need to!!
Thanks for sharing, and for letting me share here.
Absolutely. Thanks for sharing your own experiences, Marcy.
In many ways it’s a distinction without a difference, since the end result is the same. But I agree with the US New definition.
Laid off. We have all been there. Life
Chris, I'm very glad to see you make this distinction. It is important. I'm always surprised to see people think of the two as synonymous.
Being fired is, generally speaking, a major black mark on the resumé. Every interview you have thereafter will inquire about the circumstances. Being laid off isn't a black mark at all. In fact, you work in corporate America long enough, it's almost guaranteed to happen. Additionally, there are differences in compensation packages, unemployment benefits, etc.
You nailed ir Chris!
Stick to it! Of course you were laid off. And, it was definitely a wrong move on CNN's part.
You were laid off. Period. Neither my husband nor I worked in corporations the size of CNN, however, in our experience, a lay off was due to budget cuts. If laid off, if things turned around and you were available or interested, you may get rehired. It’s one reason we would never want to burn our bridges. If one was fired, it was due to doing something wrong, after a warning and not correcting. If it was something so abhorrent, you’d be fired without warning. The company would not consider a rehire.
Thanks, Elaine!
As someone who was laid off (though feels like he was fired), I want you to keep writing about this because it feels therapeutic.
I was laid off and got three months severance but at the end of the day my job chose to pick me over other people so it feels like I was fired. I know there's a difference and had the company been doing well I'd likely still have a job, but it's like, why did they pick me over employee x? It's really hard to shake, especially since I know for a fact I was great at my job and co-workers valued me.
This this this. Nailed exactly how I feel, Sam.