People Are Feeling Righteous Anger Over Layoffs
Let’s chat about something that’s heavy on the minds of many: layoffs. It seems like more and more people are finding themselves on the receiving end of a pink slip these days, and the vibe is shifting. Just the other day, Melanie Ehrenkranz, a versatile writer and creator, dove into this phenomenon when she found herself laid off in 2023. Rather than wallow in self-pity, she took a unique approach by starting a Substack newsletter called “Laid Off.”
A Safe Space for Shared Experiences
Think of Laid Off as a virtual coffee shop for those navigating the rough waters of unemployment. It’s not just about sharing sad stories; it’s about creating a community. Ehrenkranz wanted a space where people could open up about the absurdity of job loss—like how awkward it feels to be released from your job over a Zoom call or what it’s like to throw a little shade at old employers in a group chat.
With over 6,000 readers already onboard, Laid Off is becoming the go-to place to talk about what folks really think after a layoff. Most readers come from sectors like tech, media, and healthcare, suggesting a broad impact across industries.
Turning Trauma Into Community
Ehrenkranz’s goal isn’t to dwell on the negatives; she wants to keep things light and cathartic. She says, “I don’t want this to be depressing or bleak.” Instead, she aims to create a fun community around shared experiences. It’s all about removing the shame that often accompanies losing a job. After all, those who’ve been laid off often wrestle with thoughts like, “What did I do wrong?” But Ehrenkranz wants the community to remind folks, “It’s not your fault.”
But here’s where it gets interesting: as stories of layoffs flood social media platforms like LinkedIn, more people are expressing their anger over job cuts, especially when major companies cite “poor performance” as their reasoning. Ehrenkranz sees this as a significant shift in perspective.
Anger Meets Action
The collective frustration is bubbling up. Many laid-off workers are becoming vocal, not just about their experiences, but also about the systems that seem to fail them, like healthcare tied to employment. People are starting to question the status quo, and it’s leading to some meaningful conversations.
In February alone, U.S. employers announced a whopping 172,017 layoffs—the highest since July 2020. With fears of a recession creeping back into conversations, the job market feels precarious.
Ehrenkranz observes, “With so many vying for the same positions, it’s tough to stick to the traditional narrative that hard work always leads to success.” Instead, folks are rethinking what success truly means for them. Some are exploring side hustles or completely pivoting their careers.
Finding New Paths Forward
In Ehrenkranz’s Laid Off community, many members are swapping advice on how to reinvent themselves—turning their layoff into an entrepreneurial opportunity or finding fulfillment in new skills. Whether it’s launching a side hustle or changing careers altogether, people are rising to the occasion out of necessity, and who knows? Some of them might just land on something even better than what they had before.
So, if you’re feeling the weight of job instability, know there’s a whole community out there sharing similar stories, working through their experiences, and finding the humor in it all. Because sometimes, when life hands you lemons, starting a newsletter and connecting with others is the best way to make lemonade.
