Do you know someone who’s been laid off? More than one someone? Has that someone been you?
If you said yes to any of those questions, you’re not alone. According to a 2014 survey by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, 20% of workers in the U.S. had been laid off in the preceding five years and 22% of that number still hadn’t found new employment.
As though that weren’t depressing enough, the psychological effects of a layoff aren’t good either. A recent study found that “individuals who experienced a layoff were 4.5 percent less likely to trust even 17 years later.” Researchers surmise such persistent trust issues have to do with feelings of powerlessness and lack of control.