It’s never a good time, but there are advantages to a pre-Christmas redundancy
Question:
I was made redundant just before Christmas. I was talking to a previous manager about this, and she said it’s common for employers to do this. Why is this practice so commonplace, and why can’t employers leave it until just after Christmas?
Answer:
I’m really sorry to hear that you lost your job. I hope you were able to still enjoy the end-of-year holiday period and have had better career news in the new year.
I asked Professor Denise Jepsen from the department of management at Macquarie University about your question. She told me that she wonders whether there is ever really a “good” time to be unexpectedly made redundant.
“Let’s look at it from the manager’s perspective first. Making someone redundant is never a nice thing to do and usually fills a manager with a sense of dread.
“The Australian Christmas is a major calendar milestone followed by the summer break and school holidays. It is not surprising that most managers want to get the nasty, difficult and dreaded tasks out of the way before finishing up for the year. Biting the bullet and giving the news before Christmas means they can come back to the new year with a clean – or cleaner – slate.”
Professor Jepsen said that it’s appropriate for an organisation to communicate major changes when they are known and confirmed, and when there is no chance of a reversal, rather than to keep them a secret.
“Some might say it is even immoral to keep employees in the dark by withholding news of a major change.”
From an employee’s point of view – and assuming that this redundancy hasn’t come as a relief – Professor Jepsen asked is it better to go through summer in “blissful ignorance” or to use that time to contemplate and plan for the new year?
“Are friends and relatives – always our first line of support – more or less available to support you as you take in the shock? Or, would you rather be given the news on your return to work in the new year?”
The answer to your question isn’t that before Christmas is clearly a good time to fire people, or to be fired. It may not always be the worst one, however.
“The most important thing for managers planning redundancies at any time is to provide appropriate professional, dignified and respectful support for those being made redundant. That includes consultation on internal and external communications, generous financial arrangements and outplacement support, which includes career transition support, resume preparation, job search techniques and interview preparation.
“That support should be appropriate to the role and, in a case like the reader’s, available over the holiday period.”
Managers shouldn’t forget that remaining team members and colleagues will also be affected, Professor Jepsen told me.
“They are observing and noting how the organisation treats their employees and may adjust their psychological contract if they don’t like what they see.”
Professor Jepsen also has some general advice for anyone thinking carefully about their professional position in the new year.
“Take stock of your career this January. Is your resume or LinkedIn profile up to date? Have you recorded last year’s achievements before they become a distant memory? Have you planned your professional or skills development training for this year? Who might you discuss your career with, and when – is that someone within your organisation or outside? Are you ready if a career shock comes your way this year?”
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